Yeah, yeah. This chapter is really late. But it's not my fault! I just started highschool on Tuesday, and before that I was getting all my back-to-school shopping done, and before that I was on vacation with my family! Also, I suffer from extreme writers block when it comes to this story, because when I say I have something written out, it usually means that I have it written out in my head, not on an actual Word document. So I apologize for the lateness. But it's finally the weekend, so I'll (hopefully) be able to get some good writing done.
I also can't help but notice that no one reviewed! I'm starting to think that no one is actually reading this story. Actually, the only reason I'm still writing this is that I like this story, because apparently no one else does. Shame on you, people! I cry!
Disclaimer: Avada Ke-disclaim!
(That was really lame, wasn't it? Oh well, I can live with that)
Hermione POV
"I think I'm going to name her... Cyrena." Harry looks at Ron and I, and asks "What do you guys think? It's my grandmother's name. Well, according to Sirius." His eyes sadden a bit at his godfather's name, and I hurry to bring him back to the present before he can start thinking about how he died.
"It's great, Harry." I say. Ron doesn't say anything, so I elbow him.
"Ow! What the- I mean yeah, I like it too." Ron reaches out to pet the owl, who is beginning to fall back asleep, but I guess she doesn't like to be woken up, because she snaps at his fingers and lets out an irritated hoot.
"Ow! Bloody hell, Harry, that thing has a temper!" Harry laughs and slips the cover back on Cyrena's cage.
"So, what do you guys want to do?" Harry asks.
"Well, I still need to get all my books and a new cauldron for school. What about you two?" Harry and Ron both look down. Rubbing the back of his neck, Ron looks awkwardly up at me.
"Well, um, the thing is, 'Mione, Harry and I aren't really... going back to Hogwarts this year." I gape at him. I draw a breath to start shouting at him about how important it is for us to finish Seventh Year, but he interrupts me and says
"Hermione, in the past seven years the three of us have had more experience with the Dark Arts and all that then most wizards have in a lifetime. You know that Harry and I want to be Aurors, right?" I nod "Well, the Ministry says we could start this year, without finishing school."
"But- you two still haven't finished training! You don't know how to make half the potions in the books, you, Ron, still can't turn a rat into a decent wineglass, and what about Apparating? Forgive me for saying so, but the two of you can hardly manage to Apparate ten feet on your own!" I can't believe this! My two best friends, leaving me? And without finishing their schooling! I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm more than a bit scared at the thought of them fighting what's left of the Death Eaters. They'll be targeted by every last one of Voldemort's followers! And no matter how much experience they've had, they still don't know everything they need...
As if reading my mind- a skill which he probably picked up from Dumbledore- Harry takes my hand and says comfortingly.
"Hermione, we'll be alright. It's nothing we haven't done before, anyway. And you can visit us when you're on holidays, teach us everything we've missed, if you like. But this is something we have to do." I nod sadly, knowing he feels like this is his responsibility, and nothing I say will change that.
"I just don't want you two getting hurt." I say quietly. Ron takes my other hand and runs his thumb over the back of it. We sit like this for a while, then I suddenly stand up.
"Enough of this. In the past month we've done enough moping. Now, I don't know about you two, but I need to do some shopping." Ron and Harry both grin at this, and we get up to leave.