Chappie 4
"Harry I have a meeting with some Ministry workers. Are you going you going to be okay here alone?" asked a concerned Lupin. "Of course I'll be okay. The Dursleys left me alone for weeks at a time when they go on vacations.", said Harry nonchalantly. Lupin tensed up at the mention of the Dursleys. "Well okay then. See you at dinner." He then set off towards his meeting closing their hotel door.
I sat at the window awaiting my letter I sent to Ron and Hermione over a week ago. Hedwig must be bone tired from all that flying. I've been busy all week helping Lupin with all this paperwork he's been getting from the Ministry. Ever since Voldemort came into full power the Ministry has been working to recruit new aurors and protect its citizens. Everyone's in a cautious state; wondering if Voldemort is going to attack or if he's planning to come get them personally.
An hour passed before I saw a white dot coming closer and closer. I opened the window and Hedwig flew in. She landed on my shoulder with a weary but happy hoot. I placed her in her cage and went to my trunk to get her some owl treats. I took the parchment from her leg; I smiled when I read what Ron wrote back but the smile slid of my face when I got to Hermione's reply.
Hi.
Not much happening.
H.G.
Something had to be wrong with Hermione. At the beginning of the summer things seemed like normal. But I have noticed a change in her. Her letters are smaller and she always seems on guard. Even when I ask the most innocent questions in my letters I get back no detail answers. I'm getting worried, what if something or someone is hurting her. I can't get even a good bye, farewell, hope to see you soon…. I'll have to owl Ron and see how he feels about this. I can't do it right now; I'll have to wait till tomorrow.
Later on in the evening Lupin got back from his meeting looking haggard and remorse. On a lighter side, his stack of papers wasn't its usual height, only a small neat stack. He sunk on a couch in the room and put his feet up on the coffee table. "Hello Harry." "Hard day?" Lupin only nodded yes. "Lupin I have something to talk about. I just need you to listen.". "Oka-" "You, see I have this friend who I think something may be wrong with; at the beginning of the summer everything seemed okay. But now everything seems to be falling apart." "Harry, well maybe this friend if yours needs a little time and patience; let them come to you when they think its right. If they don't come then be careful how you approach them." "Thanks Lupin." "Oh no worries, now let's get something to eat and then I have to hit the hay." "Yeah." I said a little unenthusiastically as Lupin opened the door and led me out to the stairs.
The next morning I was awakened by Lupin gently shaking my shoulder. "Harry time to get up, I need some help on this report I'm doing. I need to do some research on a mandrake root potion that cures the most dangerous of poisons.", said Lupin's warm fatherly voice. "Okay", I said sleepily. "Meet you downstairs in 20 minutes."
I looked over at Hedwig's cage; she seemed rested and alert. I gave her some new water and ran to get dressed and brush my teeth. With ten minutes left got out a piece of parchment, a quill and ink. I hurriedly wrote out a letter then tied it on Hedwig's leg. I set her out it to the sun kissed sky. I walked downstairs to meet Lupin and hoped Ron would agree with me about Hermione. Hopefully he can read my letter with all those ink smudges.
&7!&$&4&8
"Ginny do you have a boyfriend?" I inquired. "Well, right now I go with this boy named Blaise Zabini.", answered Ginny picking the lime green nail polish from her nails. "Is he cute?" "Of course, he's tall, has dark brown hair, smoky hazel eyes and a lush mouth." "I see you two make very good uses of each others mouths." "Oh shut up. But seriously I don't know if I really want to stay with him." "Why not?" "Because this guy Harry, I've always had a crush on him since he started to go to Hogwarts. Last year he started to fancy me but I was going out with Blaise."
"Well if you like him so much and he likes you then you two should be together." "I would love to but he's my brother's best mate and I don't want to cause a rift between them." "The best thing to do is listen to your heart." There was a thoughtful silence after that and was broken by Ginny. "Do you like my brother?" That surprised the hell out of me. I mean I do think he's cute but why would he like me. "Ummm …Ron…well maybe." "Morgana's wand! I knew it, I knew it. Every time you get around him you start smiling like crazy." Ginny screamed. "Ginny be quiet, before the whole house hears you. Okay I may like him-fancy him but I don't think I could tell him that." "No problem, I'll take care of that." "No Ginny come back." I called after her into the hallway.
"Hey Gin." Said Ron as Ginny walked outside into the garden where Ron was sitting. "Do you fancy Naima?" asked Ginny. Immediately my cheeks began to burn. "I'm, why do you ask?" "Because she likes you but is to shy to tell you, so I am." "She does, I mean she really does are you just trying to mess with my head?" " No and if you don't believe me then ask her yourself." Ginny pointed toward the backdoor way where Naima was standing looking nervous.
I stood up and slowly walked toward the Naima. "Hey I was talking to Ginny." "Yeah I saw." There was a brief uncomfortable silence. "Okay I'm really nervous and I know I haven't been here long and …. I want you to know that I like you a lot." As Naima rushed this out her cheeks rose to a rosy red. "Well that's good to know because I fancy you a lot too." Said Ron with a smile spreading across his freckled face. "Well then, the pressures off." Said Naima with a mile wide smile smacked on her face.
Ginny stood by this and watched the plan being unfolded before her. She was happy for them both, very happy for Ron because he really needs a girlfriend. Even though she felt happiness for them she didn't feel any for herself. Was she going to always be the one who puts people together and end up with someone who liked her for her pretty face instead for her thoughts? Naima her newly found girlfriend, now was blissfully happy but now she knew what to do with her love life. Ginny lifted her gaze towards the sky and slowly saw a white dot moving towards them fast. "Sorry to break this up you two but look it's Hedwig." Ginny smiled happily as the snowy owl descended. Ron looked up at the sky. "Blimey, it is sure is about time Harry sent word." Ron griped Naima's hand expectantly.
Hedwig flew down and landed slowly on Ron's shoulder. She stuck out her leg and Ron took the letter from her. "Ginny go and get some owl treats." Ron said as he fumbled with the clasp on the letter. Ginny went into the Burrow and returned with the treat. She handed the treat to Hedwig who hooted in gratitude. "What did Harry write?" Ginny looked down and started to play with the buttons on her shirt. Inside she was elated and couldn't wait to see Harry again but she didn't want Ron to see the emotions running on her face. Ron opened the parchment and a struck look came across his face.
Dear Ron,
I don't know if you were able to read what Hermione wrote, so I'll just sum it up.
Hi. Nothing much happening.
H.G.
Really it doesn't need summing up that's all she wrote, Ron I'm worried about her. Something is really wrong, I know it. If you haven't noticed her letters have been shorter and shorter. This is getting out of control we need to be there for her. I've talked to Lupin about this (don't worry I didn't tell him it was Hermione), he thinks we should give it time. Let her come to us when she's ready. It's almost time for us to go back to Hogwarts, so we'll see then.
P.S say hello to Gin for me.
Write back, Harry
"What's wrong?" Naima said as she was trying to loosen the fingers clutching her hand. "Oh sorry Naima, It's just that Harry's worried about Hermione." Ron said in a monotone. "Okay thanks for loosening the grip you could have broken a few fingers. Now who is Hermione?" "She's my other best mate, her and Harry." "Ron what are what are we going to do? I agree with Harry. There is something wrong with Hermione. She didn't even want to come here this summer. And I asked her twice, once at the beginning. Then she told me that she could come later in the summer. When I asked again she said that she didn't want to. Now Ron something had to happen, you know that this is just like a second home to her." Ginny's eyes brimmed with tears. Her words were spoken fiercely; Naima grabbed Ginny's shoulders and soothed and tried to calm her down.
"I know Gin; I know that both you and Harry are right and that there is something wrong. I knew for a long time." Ron's heart felt so full of some thing he couldn't or didn't want to identify. He knew what it was-guilt. If Harry hadn't said anything he would have blocked everything that he knew wasn't right with Hermione. He couldn't help that he wanted everything to be like it use to be. When Hermione would always be right there when ever they needed help, she was the glue of there friendship.
"Well even though I don't know who Hermione is, I hope you and Ginny know that I'll do everything to help her. Cause I know how she feels." Naima whispered the last part and then squeezed Ron's hand. Ginny looked at Naima surprised at what she had said. She…..knew what it's like. Ron looked down at their intertwined hands. "You need to know how I am or was. If you don't like it I don't blame you if, you want to, you know not go out." "No. I don't care if you sold your bloody body or tried to rob a bank and got sent to jail. I want you for you; nothing is going to change that." Naima smiled and brought her hands up to his face and held them against his cheeks. "You still need to know, both of you." They walked inside and Ron wrote a quick reply to Harry and set Hedwig off with it. Then they walked upstairs to Ginny room where Naima began her tale from when her father was taken from her life and to when her life began to tumble down outside of her and then slowly rebuild in front her eyes.
888!
We where still in the library researching about mandrakes. The sun was just setting outside; I heard a faint tapping at the window. I got up away from our table of books and saw at the window Hedwig. I immediately opened the window and let Hedwig in and sheltered her on my shoulder. I walked back over to Lupin and whispered, "Lupin can I go back to the room. Hedwig has a letter for me and I need to put her in her cage." "That's fine Harry I'll just finish up here and get us something to eat then I'll come up to the room." Lupin said this while busily engrossed a book.
When I entered our room, I immediately took the parchment from Hedwig then put her in the cage. She drank some water and waited for the night to settle so she could go hunting.
I sat on my bed and opened the letter and hopeful read Ron's reply.
Dear Harry,
I have to say (Harry takes a sharp piercing breath) I've know for a long time that Hermione has been not the same. Ginny agrees too, we have to help her. Harry if you hadn't said something I would have ignored it all. I would have just pretended that everything was alright. I don't want to lose her. If we don't help she's gonna spin out of control. (Harry pauses at this and continues heartily)
On a lighter note me and Naima, she's the girl from Egypt, are going out. Ginny says hi and wants you to write again soon.
P.S. I know that you fancy Ginny, I'm okay with it because I know that she fancies you too.
Always, Ron W.
Sorry for the wait, way too much home work and my sister came from California. This story is symbolized around the novel Jane Eyre. It's because of all the gothic themes that I wanted my story to have the symbolism and dark themes. To think all this coming from a 9th grader. I want to thank all of you who reviewed. (Fictionpress) ;)
-weepingeyes of babylon