Get ready, because here's chapter two! Thank you so much to all of you who have read, followed, favorite-ed, and reviewed! It means absolutely so much to me. I'm sorry this took so long to get out, but finals snuck up on me a lot quicker than I thought they would – on the plus side, I have all of winter break to get ahead on this fic! Get ready!
Sadly enough, I don't own Harry Potter.
Last Chapter:
"Your friends are fine." She must have seen the distress on my face. "Ron is recovering nicely from his burns, and Harry...will be alright with time." What does she mean alright with time? What happened to Harry? Ron was injured just jumping the gun, as bloody usual, but what happened to Harry? "Oh no, I thought you'd seen. When the Order came to help you, Sirius would not be left behind. He had to help his godson, and he wouldn't be deterred." She scoffed. "In the Death Chamber, Sirius dueled with Bellatrix Lestrange. She hit him with a curse, and he fell through the Veil." Sirius was dead? Harry must be absolutely devastated. He's probably nearly insane with grief right now. If only I could move and go to him.
"So, Miss Granger how is your pain? Can you rate it for me on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being barely there and 10 being unbearable?"
I open my mouth to answer her. Nothing will come out.
Chapter 2: What Am I Supposed to Do Now?
Madame Pomfrey has sent me home, back to my parents' house. I was unable to rate my pain for them; I wasn't able to talk at all. I had gone into the washroom, the one with Moaning Myrtle (for privacy), forgetting momentarily that the students had already left for the summer, and I could likely have privacy in whatever washroom I chose. Harry and Ron had already left on the Hogwarts Express, and I have no idea whether they know where I am or have come to visit me. Clearly, I am unable to ask.
In the washroom, I found that I was able to speak when I was alone. I've been practicing whenever given a moment of solitude – I don't want my parents to know what happened. But maybe they already do, or have been warned of my condition, once again, I've been unable to ask. I'm hoping that with enough practice, I will be able to force my vocal chords to cooperate.
"Are you ready Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall inquired – she was referring to side-along apparition. Since the train is long gone, to wherever they store it when it isn't needed (that wasn't mentioned in Hogwarts, a History). They, tenured Hogwarts faculty, decided that the best way to return me to my parents for the summer would be to simply apparate me to their doorstep while under the Disillusionment charm. I don't think the noise, similar to that of a car backfiring, has occurred to them. Or maybe it has, and they've figured out a way around this obstacle – I have no way of asking. I'll have to owl order from Flourish and Blotts this summer to do some further reading on the ins and outs of apparition and cloaking charms. I'd taken to long to acknowledge my favored professor, so I nodded.
She grasped my arm, a little too tightly for my own personal comfort. I felt the unfamiliar sensation of being pulled through a space far to tight for my battered body. Before I knew it, we were on my parent's stoop. Professor McGonagall knocked, and apparated away as soon as the doorknob turned. What? What's going on that she can't even wait for me to get inside? Neither her nor any of the other professors present had seemed particularly perturbed.
"Honey! You're finally home!" My mum seemed far more excited to see me than usual. But she didn't immediately ask how I was. Maybe she hasn't heard…that would certainly be a blessing. I walked in the door, smiling at her, and hoping that my attempt at a smile didn't look too much like a grimace. I looked behind her, and saw a pile of…luggage?
"Didn't you get our owl? I know that you were spending the last week with the Weasleys and Harry, but darling, you must read your mail." My dad is always harping at me to keep on top of such things. So, they told my parents that I was with Ron and Harry. Interesting. I wish they'd told me this so that I could come up with some stories as to what we did.
"Where are you two going?" I flinched. My voice sounded far too raspy.
"We're taking a second honeymoon! It's our twentieth anniversary! I know that it's your holiday, but this is the only time that we could get enough time off. We'll be gone for the rest of the month honey. We'll be back to take you to Kings Cross. We thought you'd be back earlier today, so that we could visit with you before we left!" Well, at least she didn't notice how off my voice sounded.
"Alright, well, where are you two lovebirds going?" I'm hoping that my joking will throw them off of how hurt I am – not that they're seeming to notice.
"We're going to Majorca!" My parents look so excited. I can't possibly deny them this, after everything they've put up with from me.
"You two are going to have so much fun! I'm so glad you're doing this for yourselves; you've definitely earned a break. I love you!" I hope that I sound enthusiastic enough for them. Judging by my mum's smile I have.
"Well, we must be off, or we're going to miss our flight. The taxi is here. We love you darling, have a good holiday. Stay safe, call us if you need anything, all of the numbers are on the table in the kitchen!"
And just like that, I was alone.
