Disclaimer: I don't own it.
written for Hogwarts online prompt of the day October 4th , and Harry Potter Fanfiction challenge forums prompt from the mods October 5th:Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy. the links are both on my profile.
Albus Dumbledore sat in the empty teachers lounge, waiting patiently. He paced the lounge slowly, back and forth. Suddenly a knock at the door came. He turned slightly before answering the knock. He knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time.
"Come in," he replied to the knock.
"Headmaster, might I have a word with you?" Hermione Granger, one of his best students questioned.
"Why Miss Granger, I was expecting someone else, not you. What is on your mind?" He sat down behind a desk and motioned for her to sit down as well.
"Headmaster, I'm scared," she admitted right off the bat without even thinking about it.
"About what?" Curiosity got the better of him as he sat straight up in the chair.
"About Harry, he's not acting himself these days. He's always off doing secret missions by himself. He won't talk about it. Believe me, I've tried. And Ron is always off with Lavender. I feel that I have no one left to turn to talk about being scared," she confessed.
"It is easy to be afraid," Albus claimed.
"Not for me, Professor. I hide it from others. But sixth year has proved to be the toughest so far. I'm scared Harry is trying to-." She paused for a moment and switched sentences. "Never mind what he's up to, I'm just scared of what's going to happen to everyone."
"I am fully aware of what Harry is up to. Do not worry about him," Albus stated.
"But professor, what if he's doing something wrong? And then there's Ronald. He's so high on Lavender right now he's completely ignoring me. I always thought this would be easy," she said.
"What would be easy?" Albus noted she played with her thumbs when she was nervous.
"Love," she said after several moments of being quiet.
"A bit of advice, Hermione, nothing worth fighting for is ever easy, is including love. Young love is so precious that many tend to forget how to fight for it," Albus said sadly.
"I think he has forgotten about me." Hermione looked at the floor.
"You aren't really scared about Harry are you?" He had figured it out.
"No, sir, I'm scared I have lost Ron," Hermione looked up at the Headmaster with tears in her eyes.
"You will have your chance. Just wait this out."
"But Headmaster, its hard," she said standing up.
"No one ever said love would be easy,"
"Thank you for listening, Headmaster." She turned to leave.
"Miss Granger," he called to her.
"Yes?" She turned back to face him.
"You will get through this. You are a strong woman and have been through a lot already. Love is just a next step in life," He smiled and reached for a lemon drop.
"Lemon Drop?" He offered. She smiled at him.
"No, thank you, Headmaster." With that said she left him alone. He popped the candy in his mouth and grinned.
"Love is a funny thing," he said to himself as the portraits around him nodded in agreement.