Zero Gravity, Zero Control
Hermione had been studying for almost six hours in succession when Madam Pince warned her that the library was getting ready to close. Hermione looked up at the large clock near the entrance doors and noted that it was nearly midnight. Usually Madam Pince didn't mind if Hermione stayed late, but the old crone was especially rushed and Hermione gathered up her books, annoyed that she would have to try and study in the common room with the raucous laughter and annoying antics of her fellow Gryffindors.
She made her way up the long staircases to the seventh floor where the Gryffindor Tower could be accessed. The fat lady glared at Hermione through one sleepy eye and reluctantly sprung open when the girl produced the password. Hermione climbed through the portrait hole and was immediately met by cheering and a series of loud bangs from one corner of the room.
The Weasley twins were testing products again. Unfortunately Hermione had neither the patience nor the desire to engage the twins after studying for so long and settled in a chair in the furthest corner from them, determined to finish writing her arithmacy paper that was due the next day. She worked diligently while slowly, the common room emptied out and she was left alone, with Lee Jordan and Katie Bell who were quietly arguing by the fireplace, and Neville, who seemed to have something on his mind as he furiously scribbled in a notebook a few feet away from her.
Once she had finished her lessons Hermione stood and closed the gap between herself and Neville, curious about what had him so emotional. "Are you alright?" she asked him, settling herself down on a cushion next to him. He looked over her for a moment, and then let out a long, pent up sigh.
"Not really. Gram's not doing very well. My uncle Brodus wrote me and told me that she was sick about a week ago. I got another letter today that makes me want to visit. I don't think that she would want me to leave school to see her, though." Neville admitted this to his friend with his eyes glued to his notebook.
Hermione put a hand on his shoulder sympathetically. "It's alright. I'm sure she'll be fine, Neville. And if you want to see her, you should do it, no matter what she thinks."
"I don't think Dumbledore would mind, but Gram would pitch a fit," Neville said, finally looking her in the eye. "Do you reckon that she would be able to yell at me if she was sick?"
"I don't think she'd punish you for worrying," Hermione told him.
"You don't know Gram. With her, education is most important. She wants me to be great, like my parents were."
"You will be," Hermione assured him, standing and coaxing him to his feet. "You should get some sleep though. Classes tomorrow. I'll help you get a way to see your Gram tomorrow if you'd like."
"Would you really?" he asked, eyes lighting up.
"Sure. Right now I need to get to bed, though."
"Alright, Hermione. Thanks." Neville followed her to the stairs and they parted ways when the stairs split. Hermione couldn't help but worry about Neville. He had been acting very strange in the last month and she could only attribute his behavior to worries about his grandmother. She hoped that he would feel better after seeing the woman, who was apparently very sick. But it was very late, so without much more thought to Neville's situation, Hermione fell into bed, completely drained.
At dinner the next day, Hermione talked with Neville about apparating to his home to see his ailing grandmother since he had already passed his tests. She suggested that he talk to the headmaster and get permission to leave for the weekend and that way he wouldn't miss any class. He was still unsure about how his grandmother would feel about his visit, but agreed to talk to Dumbledore the next day.
Hermione hoped that he would have the courage to face his grandmother, sick though she was, and clear his head of all things that were distracting to his schooling. She didn't like seeing the one of her close friends in such turmoil. He seemed more upset than she could ever remember and had to wonder if there was more to his desire to leave the school for a while than what he had told her.
Her suspicions were heightened the next day when he asked her to accompany him home. She agreed, however, not wanting to leave him alone to deal with whatever was going on. He seemed relieved when she said yes and rushed away hurriedly to start getting things together. Hermione decided that to question Harry and Ron about Neville's peculiar behavior.
"He seems dead set on going home and keeps saying that his grandmother is very ill," she explained to the two boys. "Do you have any idea what could be going on?"
"For someone bright, you're really dense sometimes, Hermione," Ron said in typical Ron fashion. "He probably just wants to see his sick grandmother."
Hermione glared at Ron before turning to Harry. "Well he hasn't said anything to me. I don't know what to make of it. Perhaps he really is just worried about her."
"He's seemed to be afraid of her the whole time I've known him, but now he's really worried," she pointed out.
"He could be both," Ron suggested.
"True. Or he could be more afraid of something here," Harry added.
"Whatever it is, I plan to find out."
"You do that. Chase the bloody git around all weekend; I'll go to Hogsmeade alone." Ron seemed miffed and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Harry's here, he'll help you waste a day at Hogsmeade," Hermione told Ron. She and Ron were currently unsure of how they thought about the other. She knew that he was her best friend, but he seemed annoyed with her more often than not and she was beginning to think that perhaps he fancied her. She sighed as he went back to his game of chess and she stood. Harry squeezed her hand gently as she walked away and she felt a sense of sanity for the first time in a long time.
"Watch out for him," Harry told her, speaking of Neville, "Ron will be fine."
"Right. I'll see you after the weekend." She left her friends to gather a small satchel of clothing and essentials for her trip with Neville, pondering the strange events that were starting to happen around her. She met Neville at 6 p.m. and they walked down to the gate together before leaving for Neville's house. Hermione had a feeling that it would be a long weekend.
