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Author's note: Thanks again to all who have reviewed and read! You guys are great! I appreciate it, keep 'em coming!
Chapter Five
Wherever You Will Go
"And maybe, I'll find out
The way to make it
back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your
days
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
Well I hope
There's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you"
-The Calling
Wherever You Will Go
(Hermione)
Today was September 1st. Today I should have been aboard the Hogwarts Express on my way to begin my sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Was I there, though? Oh, no, I wasn't. I was finishing my fifth day at a school that I absolutely detested.
Kit had told me about Ramsey Preparatory Academy, but I don't think she'd done the place justice. For all that she had said, it was much worse than I ever imagined. The classes, the students, and the teachers were all nightmares. Of course, it didn't help that I walked around all day with a surly look all over my face. My father said that it didn't help matters when I went in predisposed to hate the place. That had been his response when I told him how much I hated the school.
I would give my father that. He'd made this decision and he was going to stick to it, regardless of how unhappy or miserable I was. I wished that they'd at least have waited until my final year at Hogwarts to pull this because I would have at least known how to apparate by then. If I knew now how to do that, I would have apparated back to London so fast my head would spin.
The thing that kept me going was the memory of Harry's unexpected phone call. Words cannot express how happy that three-minute phone call had given me. To know that he missed me---well, it just did something to me. For one thing, it strengthened my resolve to find some way to get myself out of this mess. For another thing, it eased my mind as to his condition. I had really been worried about him these past few months.
The school day here was quite a bit different from Hogwarts. For one thing, the subjects were complete opposites of the Hogwarts curriculum. I began my day with something called "homeroom"---this was where attendance was taken and where announcements and notices were given. This was followed by first formal class---Biology. After that, I had American Literature, Latin, Computers, then Lunch. The day closed out with a class in Advanced Mathematics and Physical Education.
For the first time in my life in a classroom setting, I failed to pay attention to the teacher. I sat there at my desk, doodling or writing notes. I admit this was all pretty pointless, especially the notes I was writing. It wasn't as if I could sent these to anyone.
In comparison to me, my parents were thriving in their new life. They'd found an office space in the downtown area and had been busily setting it up. They were both adjusting fine, which irritated me to no end.
This animosity between us was unfamiliar to me. I'd never had a problem with my parents before. Now, I walked around angry all the time, mainly at them and at the situation. I didn't like the person I was becoming and I knew my parents weren't too fond of her either.
The only happiness to my school day came when the final bell sounded at 2:35 p.m. Another end to another terrible day at Ramsey. I wondered what Ron and Harry were doing. They'd been back at Hogwarts for at least a few hours by now. They were probably enjoying the feast in the Great Hall.
I should be there, I wanted to shout. I should be there watching as Ron stuffed his face with as much food as he possibly could. I should be there as Harry laughed as I rolled my eyes at what a pig Ron was being. I should be there urging Harry and Ron to pay attention during the Sorting Ceremony. It should be me who was pointing the first years in the right direction as they received their first tour of Hogwarts. It wasn't, though. It didn't look as if it ever would be me again.
(Harry)
We finally finished with the feast in the Great Hall at a little after nine. I was tired, but didn't feel as if I could sleep. I was too wired. Ron, who'd had to show the first years where to go, had bid me goodnight as I headed back to the Gryffindor Tower, following Dean and Seamus. We'd both wanted to talk to Dumbledore, but he'd left the Great Hall abruptly after making his final remarks to the students.
I knew, though, that if I didn't talk to him tonight, I'd not be able to sleep. He may have some more answers as to why Hermione's parents did this.
This whole day had been difficult. The entire day something seemed off, something seemed to be missing. We all knew what it was. Her absence spoke volumes.
The train ride back to Hogwarts was just as I expected it to be. Ron had left me to go and meet with the other prefects. In Hermione's place, Lavender Brown had been named a prefect.
Ginny and I had found a compartment near the middle of the train and were joined shortly by Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, and Luna Lovegood. Dean and Neville were playing a game of exploding snap which Seamus was watching and shouting insults back and forth, trying to make Dean and Neville upset. Luna and Ginny were discussing something about their class schedules and I, well, I was looking out the window watching the scenery as it passed by.
When Ron had joined us in the compartment a few minutes later, Luna had brightened up and had begun to stare at him like he was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen. She didn't speak to him, however. Ginny and I caught on to this immediately, and exchanged a look as we watched Ron, who was oblivious to it all.
Things were actually going quite well, or as well as could be expected. Ron had just sat himself down and helped himself to a handful of pumpkin pasties when the moment we'd all be dreading happened. Draco Malfoy sauntered into the compartment, followed as always by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Hey, Potter," he said, looking in my direction. "I heard a rumor and I wanted to see if you could confirm it for me."
"I can," I said. "Yes, you are the world's biggest prat. It was confirmed just today."
Everyone giggled, except of course for Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Very funny, Potter," he said, wearing a frown. "That wasn't the rumor I was talking about. I heard that the Mudblood you run around with was kicked out of the school."
"She wasn't kicked out," Ginny said hotly. "She was withdrawn from the school by her parents, if you must know."
"Easy, Red," Malfoy said, surveying Ginny. "Don't get all upset. It doesn't matter, really. As long as she's gone, I'm happy."
"She'll be back, Malfoy," I said determinedly. "You can count on that."
"Oh, how touching," Malfoy said. "Weasley, you did know that Potter liked the Mudblood, too, didn't you? You aren't the only one all googly-eyed when she's around. You both should know better, she's not worth the waste of time."
Both Ron and I rounded on Malfoy at once. We'd both grabbed our wands and pointed them at Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle then proceeded to grab both Ron and I and try to hold us back.
Through all the pandemonium, we heard a loud, "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" and watched as all three of the Slytherins, collapsed to the floor in one fell swoop. We all turned to see Luna, putting her wand away and smiling, somewhat sheepishly.
"Sorry about that," she said, smiling at Ron. "I just couldn't stand hearing him anymore. I really don't like him much at all."
"No problem," Ron said, smiling at her for the first time I could remember.
"You're welcome," Luna had said, beaming at him.
So, now here I was, making my way to Dumbledore's office. It occurred to me half the way there that I had no idea what his password was and would no doubt have to wait for his return.
Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long, as Dumbledore came down the corridor within a few minutes. He smiled knowingly when he saw me and nodded his head.
"Harry," he said. "I was expecting to hear from you or Mr. Weasley soon."
"Yes, Professor," I said. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Alright, then," he said. "Let's go upstairs to my office."
I watched as he muttered his password and the entrance to his office was opened. We walked up the spiral staircase in silence and upon arrival to his office, I sat in one of the chairs directly across from him.
"So, this no doubt has to do with Miss Granger, am I right?" Dumbledore said, peering at me over his half-moon spectacles.
"Yes, sir," I said. "Could you please tell me why Hermione's parents took her out of school? How you could let them take her out of school? I mean, she's probably the smartest, most clever person here. We need her here."
"I agree with you, Harry," Dumbledore said. "But, you see, they are her parents. They have the final say in where their daughter receives her education. You know that a number of parents have expressed their misgivings about the safety of this castle. I tell them that we provide the best protection that we can. Some of the parents are not easily assuaged of this, though, I'm afraid. Hermione's parents are scared. She is their only daughter; their only child. They want to protect her. I told them I didn't agree with their decision, but I respected it, if they felt they were acting in the best interest of their daughter."
"But they weren't!" I exclaimed. "Can't you see? She's not happy where she is! We need her here with us! Not cooped away in some Muggle school!"
"I understand," Dumbledore began, but I interrupted him.
"I don't think you do," I said hotly. "The one thing I've always been able to depend on, no matter how bad things got for me, was that my friends would always be there for me. Ron and Hermione mean everything to me. After what happened last year and you telling me about the prophecy, I don't need this. I know it sounds selfish, sir, but I want her here with us. She belongs here with us!"
"Harry," Dumbledore began again. "I've seen a number of students pass through these halls. I've seen friendships form and break. I've seen friendships that you knew would stand the test of time. The bond that you three have is a special one. It's based on trust, loyalty and bravery. All of these things are what landed all three of you in Gryffindor House. You need to hang on to that bond. I know it seems like a desperate, hopeless situation, but if you have faith and you hold on to that trust, things will work out in the end."
I could only nod. He continued.
"She needs you now more than ever, Harry," he said. "I know you're upset right now, but give it time. It is my belief that her parents will see past their fear and know where their daughter belongs."
"That's your answer?" I asked him in disbelief. "You've always said we could come to you when we needed help or if we had questions."
"You can, Harry," Dumbledore said calmly. "You may not always like the answers I give you, but you can come to me when ever you have a problem or a question."
I sat there for a good while, just staring at him. Maybe I was waiting for him to give me some sort of wisdom that I could use to get Hermione out of this situation. Maybe I was waiting for him to tell me something, anything that I could build on. I don't really know what I wanted him to tell me, but I did know that I didn't need to hear that I should respect her parents' decision and to give it time and pray for the best.
"Perhaps you should be getting back to your dorm, Harry," Dumbledore said. "It's getting rather late and you do have a busy schedule tomorrow."
I nodded and walked down the staircase into the corridor, my disbelief growing with every step. When I returned back to the Common Room, I wasn't surprised to see that it was deserted. By my best recollection, it had to be near midnight by now. I was about to ascend the staircase to the boys' dormitory when I heard snoring from the couches. It was Ron.
Walking over to him, I nudged him on the shoulder and he awoke with a start.
"What time is it?" he asked me groggily, sitting up on the couch. I took a seat a few spaces away from him and looked into the fireplace, which provided the only light in the Common Room.
"Almost midnight," I said.
"Did you go see Dumbledore?" he asked.
I nodded.
"And?" Ron said impatiently, rubbing his eyes.
"Nothing," I said. "He said we should respect her parents' decision and give it time. Same old story we've been hearing for weeks now from every adult and authority figure we know."
"Makes you think they all got together and came up with this standardized answer to use whenever anyone questioned them about it," Ron said. "I wonder how she's doing."
I was quiet. I hadn't told Ron about my phone call to Hermione. I didn't know why I hadn't. I told myself it was because Tonks had said to keep this private. Yet, somehow, I knew this wasn't entirely true. Tonks knew that Ron was my best friend and that he was Hermione's best friend as well. He had just as much right to know how she was doing as I did. Yet, it was me that Tonks had gone to with the telephone.
"I think she's doing okay," I said diplomatically. "I mean, she's Hermione. She
adjusts."
"Yeah, but, this has got to be terrible for her," Ron said. "You know I would be out of my mind if my
parents pulled something like that on me."
"Yeah," I said, continuing to look into the fire.
"We better get on up to the room," Ron said, stifling a yawn. "Early start tomorrow." He got up from the couch and started for the staircase and turned to see me, still sitting at the couch staring blankly at the fire. "You coming, Harry?"
"In a minute," I said. "You go on ahead."
He nodded and walked up the staircase. I was alone.
As I stared into the fire, I was thinking of two thoughts. I felt guilty for not telling Ron about talking to Hermione on the phone and I wanted desperately to find a way to see her. There had to be something I could do.
Then, an idea came to me. It was so simple. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it before. Despite the fact that I was exhausted and I knew that I would pay for it tomorrow, I didn't care. I quickly made my way out of the portrait hole and up to the Owlery. This couldn't wait.