He looks like the boy she left in June. Same determination in his eyes. Same stance that tells he has a mission. This is the boy who everyone has placed their faith in. One look in his eyes tells a different story.
From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/8068/
Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Harry Potter or the song Paradise which belongs to Vanessa Carlton. Only the plot is my own.
Author's Note: This was started just after HBP came out. It's my response to it and how I saw things going. I guess I'm still one of those not completely happy with how things turned out so I am continuing to write this version. We'll see how it goes.
Paradise
Chapter 1
well nothing hurts and nothing bleeds
when covers tucked in tight
funny when the bottom drops
how she forgets to fight ... to fight
The view is brittle. The limbs of trees sway in the cold, winter-like wind…the sky gray, heavy. Staring out the window, Hermione felt at one with the scene. Downstairs she hears her parents moving around, probably making dinner. Food is the farthest thing from her mind as she exhales on the window.
Using her index finger she draws a little squiggle. She's never been one for doodles, but right now she's not herself. She doubts anyone would recognize her if they got a good look. She looks nothing like the girl who left him on the platform in June. Nothing like the girl who promised to meet them as soon as possible to begin the search.
Once she returned to her parents house (because this no longer felt like home to her), they began the intrusion. The intrusion into her life. She was informed of the decision after it was made. She would be taking her levels and begin the process of applying to university. This life that she had been leading was not what they wanted for her; they expected more…….normalcy. She snorted at that though. Normalcy? She had never had it, she had never been normal. Why did they expect it now?
Hermione fought with them about it. She spoke calmly and informed them of the precautions taken. She spoke more forcibly and told them of her views on the decision. She yelled and screamed that it wasn't fair. She stopped talking altogether and ignored their pleas.
every time she closed her eyes
she saw what could have been
She has this constant feeling of pressure in her chest now. It's as though breathing has become a struggle. She hopes that they are waiting, wondering why she hasn't responded to their letters. They were to meet days ago. Her only hope was that he….they would become worried and come for her. He knew that she was with him on this journey. He would surely wonder where she was. Unless…no…she wouldn't think that. It did seem as though she was easily cast off.
The thing was, is that she is seventeen now. She is of legal age in their world. Anyone else would have packed up and left when the arguments failed. Hermione though, was different. She respected her parents. She was terrified of disappointing them, and it seems she had. She didn't want to make it worse by disappearing. With things so frightening right now, she didn't need the pressure of losing her parents and being at odds with them.
She hears footsteps on the stairs and she quickly wipes the window with her sleeve. With a short knock comes the voice of her mother, “Hermione? Dinner is ready. Come down and eat with us.”
Once again she remains stoic. She hasn't eaten today, not that she's notice that. Her thoughts remain on him. Always him.
The footsteps retreat as she gets up from her vigil. Their pleas are becoming less and less.
Thoughts of escaping invade her mind again. A quick note. A carefully packed bag. A promise to return and explain everything once this war, battle, fight, was finished. Once her job was done.
Hermione reaches under bed to grab her duffle. Sweaters. Jeans. Trainers. Toothbrush and paste. Books. Paper. Everything that could help. Wand. Note to parents. Fifteen minutes, one bag, a note, and a look at her room. She could do this. She could defy them just this once. When it was over, they'd understand.
With a deep breath, she shrinks her bag, puts it in her pocket, grabs her wand, turns, and disappears.
Her arrival at The Leaky Cauldron goes unnoticed. He…they are suppose to be here. Maybe they haven't left yet or they left word of where they were going. Spotting Tom wiping down a table, she approaches, “Tom.” She pauses, “Is he….are Harry and Ron here?”
Worried eyes meet hers as he stops to look at her. His eyes dart around as if to see if anyone is listening. Quietly, “Harry's here, but not the Weasley boy. Room seven.” He goes back to his chore.
With a mumble of thanks and thought about the safety of staying where information is given so easily, she goes to the second floor. The pressure in her chest has lessened with the news that he's here still and her footsteps quicken when she sees his door. With a hurried knock she waits. And waits.
well all she wants and all she needs
are reasons to survive
Tears fill her eyes. He obviously went out, but that doesn't help right now. Her need to see him and to know that this step she's taken is okay is important. She needs to know that he needs her here. That he needs her.
With a sigh, Hermione sits in front of his door and tries to not be in the way of guests. Harry will come back and she'll be waiting. Her bag that was shrunk down is pulled out and enlarged. She gets out a book she “borrowed” from the school library (quickly shrinking her bag again) and begins to read where she left off. She was hoping to find some answers in it, but her hope was not being answered.
It's quieter than she thought it would be, but people still come and go. It's only the sound of footsteps stopping does she look up.
He looks like the boy she left in June. Same determination in his eyes. Same stance that tells he has a mission. This is the boy who everyone has placed their faith in. One look in his eyes tells a different story. They speak of his tiredness, of his own lack of faith in the world around him. She even sees disbelief.
“You're here.” His voice is almost soundless.
Getting up, she nods her head. “I'm here.” Following tradition, she goes forward and envelops him in a hug. She's not surprised to feel his arms circle around her. Pulling away she begins her explanation, “Sorry I'm late. Hope I haven't messed things up.”
Watching as Harry unlocks the door; she grabs her book and follows him in. “Where's Ron?”
“He's not coming; thinks it's better to stay with his family.” Harry's voice is detached as if keeping something to himself.
“Okay….” Hermione made a mental note to return to that comment later. Putting her book on the desk, she takes a look around the room. Maps litter the floor and desk. Papers with locations and question marks are on the bedside table. “You've been hard at work. Come up with anything?” She picks up the stack and sorts through them.
“A few ideas, but nothing concrete. Dumbledore probably kept notes or something. I need to check his office.”
Going to sit by him on the bed she asks, “Can we even get in the castle? Is anyone there?”
“You think I'm going to let that stop me? Someone has to be there. Hagrid…..someone. All I know is that I need to get into his office.” Harry shifts around the messes and leans against a dresser. “Are you going to tell me what's going on?”
Taking a deep breath Hermione began, “My parents decided that I wasn't going back to school. They wanted to remove me completely away from this nonsense as they now refer to it. They made plans for me to take my levels and apply to university.” She was trying to get all of it out hoping that by telling him, it would all seem less real. “I told them I wasn't going back to Hogwarts; I was going with you and Ron. We were going to end all of this.” Hermione let out a breath and began fiddling with the blanket.
“They went mad. Said I couldn't. That's when I realized how much I had disappointed them. I can't stand to do that to them. So I stayed, as long as I could. Tonight it just became too much. I'm seventeen, I can leave. You needed me.”
Hermione looked up to meet Harry's eyes. “I didn't know when you were leaving. I hadn't heard from you or Ron. That probably meant you were both leaving without me, or you were leaving us here. Both, which are incredibly stupid plans. And I am going to take a guess that you were lying about why Ron isn't here.”
Harry shrugged his shoulders. “I am going alone. I don't need the two of you hurt.”
Throwing her hands in the air Hermione tried not to yell….too loud, “We told you in June that we had our chance to turn back and we would rather be beside you.”
“God I wish you weren't so stubborn.”
“Look who's talking.” She watched as he threw himself back on the bed and put his arm over his eyes.
“We're a fine pair.”
Hermione laughed as she lay back beside him. “Yes, quite a match.”
Harry let out a sigh and looked at her. “So what are the chances of Ron not catching on to my plan?”
Raising her eyebrows and pretending to think, “He's smarter than he looks. He'll figure it out.”
It was several moments before either of them made a sound. Hermione felt the bed move as he rolled to his side to look at her. “Do you….want to stay here then?”
She looked at him, “If you don't mind.”
“Yeah. I mean, no, I don't care. You can have this,” gesturing to the bed, “I'll take the chair or floor.” He made to grab a pillow.
“Harry, stop. There's plenty of room and I'll be fine.” Hermione rolled her eyes as she grabbed her shrunken bag out of her pockets. With a quick wave of her wand, everything was normal sized.
She heard a quiet chuckle and looked up. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and grabbed something comfortable to sleep in. “I'll be right back.”
Once down the hall and in the bathroom, Hermione checked her appearance. Puffy, red eyes with a nose to match. Frazzled hair. `Well perfect,' she thought, `Not that Harry would notice.'
She tried not to care about Harry's opinion. His mind was occupied with life and death issues and he'd just ended things with Ginny. Her own emotions were new and could possibly be the result of recent situations. Plus she had spent the last year acting like a jealous teenager when she actually didn't understand her own feelings about Ron and Lavender.
This evening was just a regular evening. Well…a stressed out, run away from home, slightly awkward, regular evening. `Things will be better in the morning,' Hermione repeats in her mind as she looks in the mirror once more.
She quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth, changed, and headed back to the room. As she walked back into the room, Hermione put her hair up messily.
“So, you're okay with this?”
Harry turned from the window and smiled. “Yeah, sure.” Something about his voice wasn't that convincing and the smile didn't reach his eyes. He gathered his own stuff and mumbled about being right back.
Hermione yawned as she climbed into the right side of the bed and faced the window. It wasn't long before she was asleep and thoughts about the eventful evening were long forgotten.
Please read and review
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Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Harry Potter or the song Paradise. Only the plot is my own.
Author's Note: Thank you to those reading this. I love my one review I have! Thanks! If this is completely terrible, horrible, and no good, could someone maybe let me know so I don't keep posting more? Just small request really…Well on with it! Read…read!
Paradise
Chapter 2
Harry awoke with a face full of hair. Reaching behind him, he felt around on the table for his glasses. Once they were in place, he became better aquatinted with his surroundings.
Lying next to him, facing the window and hugging a pillow, was Hermione. Her hair that she tied up before sleeping seemed to escape its bindings. It now covered her pillow, the space between their pillows, and part of his.
He didn't think she'd appreciate it if she knew that he compared it to Devil's Snare right now.
Rubbing his eyes behind his glasses, he tried to think of what needed to be done today. A set plan of where they were headed and what to do to once they got there, but Ron needed to be contacted first.
Letting his arms flop to his sides, he let out a breath he'd been holding. Harry couldn't help but feel once again guilty at getting his friends involved. This wasn't their fight, but he knew it was no use. They'd be there—every step of the way. They had been since day one and would be till the last. He could only hope that no more of his loved ones would be taken away during this fight. It was a hopeless situation, but he felt it all the same.
He needed his friends, no family, with him. Not buried somewhere. Harry knew he couldn't do it alone. He wanted to, but he realized that some people wouldn't let him.
Carefully, Harry slid out of bed. With a quick a look back, he confirmed that Hermione was still asleep. Grabbing a change of clothes, among other things, he left the room and headed towards the bathroom.
Back in the room Hermione let out the breath she'd been holding and opened her eyes. She couldn't believe she had slept through the night. Usually when she felt at odds with her parents, she couldn't sleep. Maybe outright defying them made her exhausted. She briefly wondered what they were doing…how they reacted.
Shaking her head from the thoughts, she got up and went to the window. Below witches and wizards were going about their business. They were all moving quickly as though they wanted to get their items and flee the area before bad tidings could fall upon them.
She smirked to herself, those people had no idea what lay just beyond their sight. A war was brewing and the results were going to boil over into everyday society. The Ministry would not be able to withhold it from the public. Hermione wished it wouldn't happen, but she was a smart girl with the knowledge of how things worked. The bad people don't go away if you hide your eyes. She was no longer a child who hid in her parent's bed. Reality was here and she gave up hiding long ago—about the same time a troll followed her into a girl's loo.
The door to the room opened quietly. Glancing at it she said, “I'm up, no need to tiptoe.”
Harry entered the room dressed for the day. “Is everything okay?” At Hermione's look of confusion, he pointed to her face. “You're crying.”
She reached up and felt the wetness on her cheeks, “Oh, I didn't even realize.” She looked back out the window, “I was thinking about how different everything is. These people think they know, but they don't. Not really.”
She heard Harry toss his stuff down before coming over to the window. “They never will. Some may be affected by it more than others, but to them, someone else will take care of it. It's not their problem.”
“I wish you were wrong.” Hermione turned to look at him. “I know what you have to do and I'll do all I can to help.” She put her hand up to stop Harry from interrupting her. “You need me. Whether it's to research or just to listen, you need me. So I'm here, to help.” She shrugged her shoulders and looked away. “You even need Ron, believe it or not.” She heard Harry quietly chuckle at that.
Turning back to him, she held his gaze. “I won't leave you. You can try as hard as you want to lose me along the way, but I will not leave you.” The agreement went unspoken between them. Hermione knew she needed him just as much as Harry needed her.
Looking back at the room she knew they needed a plan. “So what's next? We have a few options.” She started ticking them off on her fingers. “Ron needs to be contacted, destinations planned, research started.” She looked at Harry. “Where do you want to start?”
How she could suddenly change gears amazed Harry. Hermione could go from challenging his opinions to organizing a plan of action in less than a minute. If he'd blinked, he would have missed the transition.
“Harry, have you heard what I've been saying?”
Harry shook his head of his thoughts, “Sorry. I guess we should write Ron first.”
Hermione sat at the cluttered desk and began a letter. As she wrote, she spoke her thoughts. “We probably shouldn't be so giving with details of where we are or where we're going. But would Ron read between the lines to figure it out? It is a public place, but who's to say that would stop them from trying something. Oh I don't know. What should we do Harry?” She turned herself around and looked at him questioningly.
Harry shrugged, “We could just go there. See everyone. Not listen when they try to convince us not to do it.” His tone was not lost on her. She watched him walk back to the window and look out.
“Ginny would be there.”
“If you're trying to sell me on the point of seeing Ginny, it won't work. Seeing her or not seeing her has nothing to do with it.” He kept his back to her while she struggle with her next words. Saying something wrong could make her thoughts known to him.
“Did something happen between the two of you?”
“We're not together. At the fun….funeral I told her it wasn't safe. She just nodded and walked away. Like it all…” Harry turned around to face her again. “So seeing her, not real high on my list. But do I think we should go there? Yes, but we're not staying long.”
“Okay. So we'll go there. Yes.” Hermione had a feeling that what he said had occurred, but no one confirmed until now. The news left her feeling a bit sad that yet again happiness was something that eluded Harry. That wasn't to say that the news didn't make a tiny bit of hope flare up inside her. She mentally chided herself, `Now isn't the time.”
Hermione tore up the note and got up. “So are we coming back here? We could take our things with us. It might be better since…”
“Something could, and most likely will happen and we'll have to make a quick escape?” Harry cut her off. “Yeah, we'll pack up.”
While packing Hermione took notice of the research Harry had been taking so far. She was amazed at how thorough he had been. She knew that this wasn't the time for that though and soon papers were organized and folded, maps were put up, and bags packed. All was shrunken for easy travel. It took less than an hour.
Harry grabbed her arm before leaving. “Thanks.”
“Anytime,” she replied while smiling and meeting his eyes.
“Shed,” was all she heard next before he disappeared before her eyes. With her own quiet pop, Hermione followed.
So please, pretty please review? Thanks…
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Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Harry Potter or the song Paradise. Only the plot is my own.
Author's Note: Thank you again to those reading this. I just want to say THANK YOU for the reviews and words of encouragement. It means a lot! Just to hear that someone was actually excited to see me posting this again after taking it down before brightened my day (you know who you are). Thanks! So here is chapter three. I still hope you enjoy it. Also, to the reviewer who let me know that having so little reviews is possibly a good thing---thank you too. I get what you're saying. Thanks again!
Paradise
Chapter 3
Hermione stared up at the house before her. A house that once brought comfort to her, was now seen, in her eyes, as the house that would take away her time with Harry. `You're getting selfish. You are hardly ever alone with him as it is, so get use to it.' She sighed, `Probably won't be here long anyhow.'
A hand on her shoulder made her jump. Hermione looked up to see Harry smile sheepishly. “Ready?”
“I suppose. Let's go.” Harry's hand dropped back to his side and he quickly took the lead to the back door. It opened loudly before they reached it. Questions being fired at them like gunfire.
“Who are you?”
“What's your favorite jam?”
“How could you possibly know that if we don't know who they are?”
“What do you want?”
“Fred and George! Get in the house.” Molly Weasley stood before them, hands on hips, and a look of welcoming gracing her face. “Harry, Hermione! Come in, come in. You'd think those boys would remember that the wards are set for certain….although, knowing the two of them, they're just looking for a chance to jinx something.”
They were soon ushered into the kitchen. “Move, move, let them inside.” The matriarch of the Weasley family directed the twins out of the way. “Sit down. I'll fix you something to eat. You both look like you haven't eaten in days.” Just as she set about to it, a loud bang shook the house followed by laughter. “Boys! If I've told you once, I've told you a million times!” Soon, Harry and Hermione were once again alone after watching the twins run upstairs with their mother closely following. Life was never dull here.
Hermione quickly looked down at the table she was seated at. Being here made her realize again just what she had done last night. Suddenly it hit her hard like a wave; her parents would be so angry and disappointed in her. She gripped the table in effort to stop the flood of emotion and tears. Harry placed his hand on her left one and gave it a little squeeze. Looking up, she shared a smile.
“I'll be okay,” he mouthed. She knew it couldn't possibly be, but his words were nice.
Her attention was drawn elsewhere when loud voices rang out, “What do you mean Harry's here?” Hermione noticed that as quickly as the words were heard, Harry pulled his hand away.
Ron bounded into the kitchen and stopped abruptly. Hermione couldn't think of anything to say for once. She still felt uncomfortable about the last year, but she was saved from speech as Harry summed up the visit quickly, “It's time.” Hermione knew he was being careful about his words since this family was know for listening in.
Ron's focused gazed shifted from Hermione to Harry. “Are we ready?”
“Does it matter? We have no other choice. It has to be done and since someone thinks I can't do it alone…anyway.” Harry's voice died off.
Ron leaned against the wall. “Still thinking you can go off and save the world alone.”
“Ron, stop. I've already talked to him about it and made him see reason. He knows.” She couldn't stand to have the fighting start between the three them now about who's staying and who's going.
Ron threw himself into a chair across from her. “So how did you manage to escape? I would've thought you'd have hardest time of it.”
Hermione studied the table again.
“Wait a minute. You did tell your parents, right? They let you go after explaining it all with charts and graphs and research.”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
Ron began laughing but then stopped. “You just left? You didn't say anything?”
Hermione watched through her eyelashes as he sat back with a look of disbelief on his face. “They wouldn't let you go?”
Hermione shook her head. “That's why I don't want to talk about it. I've never defied my parents, but they just didn't understand. I had to do this.” She took a deep breath and tried to keep the tears at bay.
Harry kept his focus on the table, carefully etching a line with his nail. Hearing it again just made him feel guiltier. She should be at home, studying. Not getting herself killed over this, over him.
Silence settled over the three. Each lost in their own thoughts. Ron couldn't let it linger any longer or he was likely to go mental. “So tomorrow then?”
Harry shook his head and looked up. “Now.”
Hermione's head shot up in shock. “Now? But we're not ready. We don't know where we're going first.” Her voice was getting higher with each word. “We don't have a plan. We need a plan. I need a plan.”
“Sounds like Harry had a plan…leave.” Ron shrugged. “So we leave. You do know where we're going right? Godric's Hollow?”
“I figure we'll hit Hogwarts first. I need to get into Dumbledore's office. He had to leave some sort of clue of what to do next or possibly wrote something down. Plus the library is there, we'll need to do research.”
Hermione mumbled to herself about adding breaking and entering to the list of rules she had broken since meeting the two of them, but was cut off when Ginny entered the room.
The tension in the room was almost too much. No one spoke and Hermione was positive that no one was breathing. Taking a chance and looking at Harry answered all her questioned. A look of indifference was imprinted across his face and she hoped that those cold eyes never looked at her. She could tell he was trying not to care.
Ginny didn't seem to notice or care who was in room, but she knew better. This had to be a game and she prayed that no one was playing. Hermione watched as she grabbed a box of something and turned to leave the room without giving the three of them a glance. The minute she was out of sight, a breath was let go from all. Hermione almost wanted to laugh.
“So I guess I'll go get some stuff and say my good-byes. Don't know how mum will take this so…okay then.” His voice died off when he realized no one was listening. “I'll be right back.”
Silence once again filled the kitchen.
“Harry, are you…”
“I'm fine. It's done.” She could see the walls going back up around him.
“So, back to Hogwarts. I doubt we'll have any trouble getting there. I'm sure McGonagall is there and will let us see if Dumbledore left you anything.” Hermione focused on the bigger problem at hand. She figured that if she kept her mind on solving where the horcruxes were and then destroying them, she couldn't linger on her feelings.
Harry got up out of his chair. “Where are you going?”
“Out of this house. I need to think.” He let door slam behind him.
`That's the last thing you need Harry Potter.' Hermione thought watching his retreating back. Getting up and going to the window, she debated following him. He was likely to leave while no one was around. `Him and his damn heroics.' Hermione pushed away from the counter and followed him outside.
Hermione was quiet as she came up and stood next to him. `When did he become so much taller than me?' She felt small next to him. Harry wasn't as tall as Ron, but there was something about Harry's presence that made her feel so much smaller than him.
She was startled out of her musings by his voice. “It's cold.”
“Yes.”
“It's July, almost August.” His eyes stared straight ahead but didn't seem to be focused on anything.
“Yes.”
“It's cold.” He repeated as if she was missing his point which she wasn't.
“I could explain why, but it creeps me out.”
“Please don't.” Harry looked down her shivering form. “You need a jumper or a coat. You're freezing.”
He was once again worried about someone else and not himself…typical. “I'm fine.” Hermione rolled her eyes and bounced on her toes a little.
“You're shivering Hermione. You need a coat.”
“Harry, I said I'm fine. Now drop it.” Would he ever realize that she knew how to take care of herself?
Harry sighed and looked at the woods ahead of them. “Why are you out here anyway?”
“I thought you'd leave without me.” She kept her eyes on the trees in the distance and tried not to think about the possibility of him disappearing from her sight.
He sighed again. “I still could.” She did realize he could vanish in a blink of the eye right here and she'd have no clue where to start looking.
“You won't.” Her voice held more confidence than she actually felt. She prayed he didn't see through it. Harry just nodded.
Their silence was broken when Ron came out. “Better leave now before she comes to her senses. Dad isn't here to help.” He stopped next to Hermione and rubbed his hands together. “I'm actually glad the twins are pulling pranks. Takes the focus of me.”
Hermione looked at the boys. “So outside the gates of Hogwarts then, because you know we can't…”
“…apperate inside the grounds of the school.” Harry and Ron finished for her.
Hermione beamed. “You do remember!”
Ron grumbled, “How could we not with you reminding us every five seconds.” Harry let out a soft laugh at that.
Hearing this made Hermione smile. She laced her arms through Harry's and Ron's, “We'll be fine.”
Harry took a deep breath, “See you at the school.” Hermione glanced up at him. “I promise I'll be there.”
Letting each boy go she turned to Ron, “You'll be okay, right?” She could help but worry still. It was ingrained in her.
“Yeah. I've got it down. Go ahead; I'll be right behind you.”
She heard Harry leave behind her and with a small smile at Ron, she turn and disappeared.
******
Once again Hermione herself staring up at a building that such a significant impact on her life. Hogwarts was her home. That's where she met the two most important people in her life. That's where she learned who is really was. That's where she learned all that could possibly save his life.
Looking around she spotted Harry a few feet away glaring at their former school. Hermione noted his clinched fists at his sides, his back straightened, eyes focused, jaw set. He looked so determined. Times like this frightened her. Harry had so much power in him. Add that to the anger stored in him over sixteen years and you've got a ticking time bomb.
`You have no time to be thinking about that.' A pop was heard beside her and Ron appeared.
“Now what?”
“Ron, shhhh!”
“What? Why? We're just standing here.” Ron had his arms thrown out and he was turning around looking at the surrounding area. “No one is here.”
Sometimes he was completely impossibly. “Ron, just give Harry a moment. He's coming back to where it all fell apart just a few weeks ago. Let him get through this. Can't you see this is difficult for him?”
Ron's head dropped and she could hear him scuffing his feet. She hated getting on to him about this but she could tell Harry needed this time to come to terms with all that had occurred this past year. She would do what she could to give that to him. She really had no idea how you got through that, but she would stand by him and try her hardest to be the best friend he needed.
“Right, let's go.” Harry's voice broke through her jumbled thoughts once again. She quickly jogged up to where he was standing and she noticed immediately that he had his wand out. She wanted to believe…to reassure him that they wouldn't need to go inside with wands drawn…that nothing could get them here, but she didn't believe her own words. So how would he? Not after what had happened.
The three of them began the walk to the castle's front entrance. Any second Harry expected Dumbledore to appear and begin telling him that he needed to speak with him, he had news, but no one was coming out of the castle to greet them.
The area was eerily quiet. He had never been around when there was no sound. No birds. No wind. Creepy.
When they entered the building, their footsteps echoed off the halls. Hermione was taken back with how normal everything looked inside. If she closed her eyes, she could almost convince herself that was just another early morning and she one her way to the library before breakfast. But this wasn't just another chance to catch up on school work before meeting Harry and Ron in the Great Hall. They were here for answers.
“I knew to be expecting the three of you soon.”
So please, pretty please review (but only if you really want to)? Thanks… :)
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