Unofficial Portkey Archive

By: FayeValentine00

Chapter 10

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Harry and Hermione spent a better part of the next hour explaining everything that had happened since Ron's death. Professor McGonagall's face darkened when they'd told her of the attempted attack at the burrow but when they'd told her about the danger that Hermione was in, she visably paled. They began to tell her about the previous night but McGonagall simply raised her hand to stop them.

"I've heard enough. I want you both to know that this is not the first time student's have left their rooms for moonlight strolls but this time it is a bit different."

"Never made the front page of the Daily Prophet, I'm sure," Harry spat out with obvious malice.

"Exactly." To the surprise of Harry and Hermione, Professor McGonagall's eyes softened slightly before she continued. "Now the question is how to deal with it. The headmaster has already recieved numerous howlers from angry parents, asking why we allow such irresponsible behavior from our students. As you can imagine, those photos are the talk of the wizarding world."

Hermione groaned loudly and sunk as low as she could in her seat. Obviously understanding that if people had seen the pictures, they'd probably read the article. Her face had flushed of any color that had remained and Harry thought she might become ill at any moment.

"Thank God my parents don't get The Daily Prophet," she muttered softly.

"Miss Granger, I think the first thing you need to understand is that not everyone believes what is written in that... that... paper." It seemed to take every bit of control not to say exactly how she felt about The Daily Prophet.

"Professor, I think it was a student that took the pictures." Harry suddenly spoke up, trying to take the attention off of Hermione.

"What, Potter?"

"Well, last night we heard noises not to far from where we were... talking," he finished lamely. "Who could have gotten on campus at just the right moment to take those pictures? It just seems more likely that it was a person already staying here, right?"

Her eyes widened slightly at Harry's suggestions. "Well that is something that we'll deal with later. For now, I have to give you both a weeks worth of detention and take away 50 points each from Gryffindor." She waited for some kind of argument but when none came, she leaned over and patted Hermione's knee in a rather motherly way.

"I trust that neither of you will be repeating this kind of behavior so I suggest that you simply stay here today. Somehow, Headmaster Dumbledore will find a way to work this out. By breakfast tomorrow it will all be okay. Understand?"

Harry and Hermione both nodded sliently but said nothing further until Professor McGonagall was gone for several minutes.

"Well, that was better than I'd expected," Hermione said slowly, her voice still slightly shakey.

"Did you see her face when we told about the vision? I'd thought she'd faint dead away."

Hermione smiled at Harry's poor attempt at cheering her up, knowing that staying upset wasn't going to slove anything. "We have to find out who did it, Harry. This is crazy."

"I know. Don't worry. We'll find them, I promise."

Harry and Hermione spent the day studying for the upcoming NEWTs at the end of the year. Every once in a while they would take a break but it wasn't until just after lunch that Hermione said something that took Harry's full attention.

She'd been reading her potions textbook when the words seemed to slip out of her mind unconciously. "We haven't lost this many points from Gryffindor since Ron was here."

Harry froze in his seat. The topic of Ron didn't seem to get any easier. In fact, the thought of their days together seemed to make his absence even more painful. He didn't respond at first, unsure if Hermione even realized what she'd said but when he heard the soft sniffle come from behind her book, he understood.

Harry stood up from his seat and walked over until he stood towering over her. "Hermione?"

"I'm sorry. I'm fine." She wiped her eyes quickly on her sleeves but didn't look up to meet his eyes.

"No, you're not."

"I didn't mean to get upset. We're supposed to be over it, right? I don't know what made me say that." Her voice cracked as she spoke and her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

Harry leaned down and pulled Hermione into his arms tightly, finding it hard to keep back his own emotions. Both of them had tried to put Ron's death past them but the truth was that the pain would probably never completely go away and part of Harry was happy about that. He never wanted to forget Ron. He was too special to just forget so easily.

"We're not supposed to be over it, Hermione. You know as well as I do that he'd never forget about us so how are we ever supposed to forget about him." Harry's voice was uneven at best but he still spoke, hoping to calm both Hermione and himself. "It's okay to still think about him."

"I wish he was here, Harry. I wish I could tell him everything that's happened."

"He'd protect you just as strongly as I do."

"I know," she nodded, forcing a smile at the thought.

"It's wrong. It's just all wrong. We were the trio. We did everything together and although I wouldn't change my relationship with you for anything, I just... I just wish he was here to be happy for us."

Harry only nodded, not trusting his voice. He couldn't count the number of times that he'd laid in bed, wishing he could tell Ron all about the different emotions that were running through his head. It felt like a piece of him had died with Ron that day and Hermione was the only person holding him together.

"Let's go to Hogsmeade next weekend."

"What?" Harry pulled Hermione away from him and looked into her eyes in confusion.

They'd skipped the last Hogsmeade weekend that had passed and had no intentions of attending this next one. He had a hard time understanding why she'd want to return there.

"I need to go there again, Harry. I have to go back and look at everything again. I mean, I know that it won't really change anything but I... I just think it will help. We'd been so happy that day."

"Do you really want to go?"

"Yes. I think we should."

"Alright. We'll go." Harry nodded reluctantly. He wasn't sure he was ready to return to the place where Ron had died but something deep down told him that Hermione was correct, like she so often was.

Later that night, after the common room filled with students, Harry and Hermione said goodnight and headed off to their rooms. Neither of them seemed very willing to answer the hundreds of questions that had been thrown their way.

Hermione had laid in her bed for only about 5 minutes before she heard a soft, familiar voice in the doorway.

"Hermione, are you awake?"

With a sigh, Hermione pulled herself into a sitting position and waved Ginny into the room. Once the red head was settled next to her, Hermione smiled weakly. "What can I do for you, Ginny?"

Before Hermione could even finish her sentence, the younger girls arms were wrapped around her neck. She hugged Hermione tightly as if she was her sister.

"I want you to know that I don't believe anything that The Daily Prophet writes."

When she finally let the older girl go and sat back down, Ginny smiled widely. "Neither does my family."

A flood of emotions flowed through Hermione's mind but the most prominent one was thankfulness. "Thank you. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been worried."

"Well, don't worry. In fact, the twins think the whole thing is brilliant. They owled me first thing in the morning, asking for all the details. I obviously ignored it."

Hermione let out a sigh of relief before breaking out into a surprised laugh. "Please tell me that you're joking."

"I'm serious, I swear. I can show you the parchment if you'd like."

"No. That's okay. I don't think I really want to see it."

This time both girls laughed and they seemed to build an even closer relationship then they'd had before.

"Can I ask you a question, Hermione?" Ginny waited until she received a nod before continuing. "Do you love Harry?"

"What?" Hermione's looked at the younger girl in shock. It'd been the last question that she'd expected.

"Do you love him?"

"Why are you asking?"

"It's just that I've never been in love before and I want to know what it's like. You and Harry have always been close but there's something in your eye's when you look at him that I don't understand." Ginny's eyes seemed to light up as she explained to Hermione what she saw between her two friends. "When you're studying or thinking, you just look like everyone else but the moment Harry walks into the room, something sparks and you're whole face lights up."

Hermione could feel her face growing warm and knew she was blushing but something about the honesty and innocence in Ginny's explination made her want to talk openly.

"I guess I can't really explain it but I will try," she began while Ginny focused all of her attention on her words. "When I look at Harry, everything suddenly feels right. It's like every stress or worry in my head simply disappears. Somehow I just know that as long as he is by my side, everything will be okay. He gives me a wholeness that I've never felt before. Does that sound stupid?"

When Hermione came back to reality, she found Ginny staring at her with tears swimming in eyes. "No, Hermione. It's not stupid at all. Ron knew that Harry loved you a long time ago and I'm sure that, where ever he is, he's happy that you both finally realized your true feelings. He only ever wanted you guys to be happy."

Tears immediatly spilled down Hermione's cheeks at the girls words. They were the words she'd wanted to hear for so long and somehow, hearing them from Ginny, washed away any doubts she may have had about her future with Harry.

"There is one other thing I wanted to tell you," Ginny spoke again when both girls had become a bit more composed. "My parent sent a letter of their own to The Daily Prophet so don't be surprised if you see something else in the paper tomorrow, okay?"

"Alright. Thanks again."

"No problem, Hermione."

Ginny left the room not too long after that and once she was out of earshot, Hermione found herself talking into thin air.

"Well, Ron. If you're listening to me, we miss you and love you. I want you to know that Harry and I are happy together, Ron. We really are. I promise to never forget you. Someday we will all be together again, just wait and see. Goodnight."