Amour by FLH

Chapter 2

Harry's voice was still swirling in Hermione's head. The cover of the book which she was holding had been torn in her hands, fingers clenched. She still remembered that sentence" What did it matter? Did you get a cold in August." Every cell in her body froze right at that moment. How could he? How could he insult her like that? She refused to answer that question, or to look at those emerald eyes where the friendship used to bury deeply inside. She couldn't be aware of what she said and what their response was. Her acts annoyed them, and they left her alone in hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was holding a potion, heard it all but didn't say a word during this.

Back to the beginning

Hermione came around, found herself laying on the sheet which sending a smell of grass. With mist in eyes, the figures around was unrecognizable. She reached out a hand, caught another one, sweating, heart pumping. Who was there? "Can you see me clearly, Mione?" It was Harry. She wiped her eyes, still couldn't. She turned, tried to be lying in another angle, but failed. Disappointed, she shook her head, didn't feel like to talk. She could hear Ron sighed, Harry's hand ceased and then back in humid. "It won't last long." Her friends said, the usual tone couldn't assure her. She was gracious to what they said, but who could say thank you after waking up, founding the poor eyesight you had newly? She tried to smile, only managed to let her lips curved a bit.

In a few minutes, no one explained anything to her. She wanted to know, but she didn't want to ask. She was afraid of the truth, though curious about it. She didn't know how to stop silence, or if she wanted it to stop. She was acting so strange, so temperamentally. She shouldn't have been in this way. Several minutes after, she heard Dumbledore's voice "Miss Granger, it is so good to hear you woke up." Footsteps striking towards her. "Could I have time along with her?" inquired him. The boys nodded and left the hospital wing.

"I am a bit late because of restoring the corridor, I hope you won't mind this. Since that day, loads of students have suggested me to make some difference for they don't want to recalled it every time they walked near. Most of them are Gryffindors, maybe it has something to do with the student, he might have had a lot of friends from your house. Oh, I think you would like to know what happened that day." A pause. Hermione agreed of course, though it wasn't really needed. He must have come here for this. She knew that.

"You must know that there is a lake in Hogwarts called The Great Lake. There are many fantastic creatures, some of them haven't been known to the public. I have been there once twenty years ago, and I have to say that I am not able to deal with some of them. Harry and Ron followed behind you that day, and when they finally got near you, you were in that lake, whole body shivered, hands up, struggled for help."

Hermione wanted to deny, but Dumbledore continued his depicting.

"As you may assume, they were scared. But thanks to the cold weather, which I thought have helped them to find themselves back. They swam to help you back to the shore. Your eyes were bruised. And you are here now for a better treatment. It is a pity that we can't distinguish what attack you that day, however, fortunately they have a little effect on you that you will recover soon and back to class this week. Harry and Ron were so excited to hear that news. You may want to know the student who died that day. The student died in the corridor 'cause he slipped and fell down to be hurt seriously. We are so proud that we have a student that has so much sympathy and kindness towards a stranger, we also want that student to take better care of herself." She blushed.

She didn't know when he went, she just kept thinking. What was he trying to hide from her and why couldn't she know it? She had expected to learn something more than lies, however it was impossible. What thing could take place in a crowd and no one even notice it?

Harry and Ron brought her food for dinner. She gobbled up.

"What did that student experienced?" She asked tentatively.

" He fell down and injured by the sharp edge of the stair." A brief answer.

Did they believe it? Yes. Why? They saw it, they shouldn't.

"What lessons have professors taught?" She tried to pick up another topic.

"Nothing important, you know, the new term has just started." She let out a sigh. She knew that answer before the question had asked. She hated silence, but she didn't know what to do.

"Hermione, are you better now? What happened to you that day?" Harry 's hoarse voice.

He must have been so tired these days.

"Much better, thanks." Her voice cold like ice. She wanted this to stop.

"Everyone is normal that day, what do you want to lie to us?"

"Sorry, I'm –"Cut down by her thoughts.

What was wrong? What could she imply?

"Do you know that student? He was recovered a few hours later. Things like that happens everyday. What did it matter? Did you get a cold in August?"

"Miss Granger, it is time for them to leave, you should take these potions twice time a day for a week. If you have any pain, come to me." Madam Pomfrey.

"Thanks."

"Do you have any other problems?"…

She wandered around the castle, and eventually came to that corridor.

She bet that it was Dumbledore's style, the mix of bright color actually made her smile, with tears filled up her eyes.

Only a couple of days, but she just felt that she had been old already.

Nothing could be seen now. It seemed like it was a dream. So poor the student was, none of them could remember his death.