In.
Out.
Hermione forced herself to keep breathing slowly. Inhale. Exhale. She had to keep herself steady and calm. What happened to Malfoy wasn't her fault. If anything, he should be the one punished for trying to use the Cruciatus curse on her. But then again, having it backfired on you was punishment enough, no? Still, Hermione couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt. As she sat in front of Dumbledore's office, she could feel her heart beat rising again as footsteps approached the door.
"Come inside Miss Granger"
It was McGonagall. Hermione tentatively walked inside the office. Dumbledore's office barely looked anything like an office. Books crowded every inch of every shelf. Metal instruments and glass bottles containing silver liquids stood on small, circular tables. The room smelt faintly of lemons too, but Hermione didn't have time to take stare at everything. Snape stood in a corner and glared at her.
"Miss Granger, would you please explain again, what happened in the first floor bathroom and how you arrived there in the first place?"
Dumbledore's voice came out low. He didn't look angry, he looked exhausted. His head was stooping low and he clutched his mahogany table for support. He looked weary and completely drained of energy, so very unlike the first time Hermione saw him. Harry had talked about how Dumbledore looked weak and sapped and she had seen it too, on the few occasions he presented himself on the dinner feast but up close, the change looked tremendous.
"Um, uh, yes...of course".
Hermione went on to describe everything she saw and went into great detail to explain every action she made. She had told Snape everything as well but in the bathroom she had stuttered and was sure Snape hadn't believed a word. However, Dumbledore and McGonagall would believe her. She was sure of it. They knew she wasn't capable of using the Cruciatus curse on any living creature, much less a human. That may be the reason she hadn't been locked away yet. Snape didn't look her way as Hermione told her story; she found it easier to talk that way anyway. She told them everything except what Draco had said to Moaning Myrtle. She felt as though that was something only Dumbledore had to know. She didn't want Snape to know that she knew anything about Malfoy's plan…she actually didn't. But if Snape too, was involved, it would be best to stay silent for now.
"Alright Miss Granger, we believe you. The Cruciatus curse is not something one can so easily use without losing a part of yourself to the Dark Arts." Dumbledore gazed at her again. "I don't think you've lost that part yet".
Hermione sighed in relief.
"Draco Malfoy has been sent to St. Mungos. Fortunately, he did not seem to have been hit by the curse very hard so I suppose he will be back in a few weeks. Now you may return to your common room, and I strongly urge you to not speak about your encounter with Mr. Malfoy to everyone."
Back in the common room, Hermione felt as though her head was floating. Everyone around her laughed and discussed Quidditch or played chess or listened to the radio, completely unaware or Hermione's bizarre afternoon. Ron spotted her on the corner sofa and shouted:
"Oi, there you are! We've been searching everywhere for you. Where were you?"
Behind him, Harry came into view as well. His hair had suddenly become long again and covered his scar. Why had Hermione just noticed that now? Harry and Ron seated themselves next to her and Hermione began telling her story. She didn't skip Malfoy's words to Moaning Myrtle this time. By the time she was done, they were the only three people left in the common room; everyone had left for some reason on the other.
"Bloody hell," muttered Ron. "You sure you're alright?"
It felt nice to have Ron ask her that but she honestly wasn't sure she was alright.
"Yes, of course I'm fine", she answered hurriedly.
Harry was lost in thought. "Malfoy's going to do something soon. I don't know what but it's going to be bad. He was crying! He's definitely being forced into by Voldemort."
Ron cringed slightly at the name. "We don't know what it is though. And anyway, he isn't gonna be able to do anything soon because he's in St. Mungo's, remember?"
Hermione sated quiet throughout all this. She just wanted to lie down on her soft bed and go to sleep forever. Forgetting all about Malfoy and Arithmancy and Voldemort and Snape and Ron and all the homework she had left to submit tomorrow.
Suddenly she got up.
"Well I have two essays of Transifguration and one Ancient Runes essay to finish so I'll be here studying. Now if you two would just stay silent…so I can focus…"
Her voice trailed off as she began rummaging through her bag for parchments and a quill.
"She really needs to sort out her priorities..." she heard Ron whisper to Harry.
Harry laughed and Hermione couldn't help smiling at her empty parchment.
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