Hermione was overwhelmed, to say the least. The flat she lived in back home was actually owned by her parents. She hadn't ever purchased anything so big before. What was a good price? She never thought she would need guidance when it came to simply choosing a flat. She knew nothing about the town, so how would she know what a good neighborhood was?
Hermione held her forehead in her right hand and stirred her tea with the other. Her eyes focused on an ad. It had already been circled with a green highlighter. It was a small, one-floor building, with just two apartments. Perfect, thought Hermione. That means I'd only have to deal with one neighbor! One bedroom, one full bathroom, a spacious living room, and complete kitchen. I guess that's all I really need.
She left a few dollars on the table and used the payphone outside the café to call the number in the ad. Hermione hadn't noticed how her voice changed while she was on the phone. She was nervous, to be honest. This was the only flat that had appealed to her, and it was her only chance at staying in Marlow happily. Well, as happy as she could be at this point.
"Right. Tomorrow morning, 16 Barley Way.. Of course. Thank you so much." Hermione placed the phone back on its hook and sighed. She was hoping to see the flat by tonight. But as she looked around, Hermione realized that the sun was almost gone and the only light around her after her ten-minute phone call was coming from the street lamp.
Luckily, the man on the train had been correct. Hermione turned and immediately saw a bed and breakfast. She ducked inside and quietly checked in to the cheapest room she could find. Hopefully, by the end of the next day, she would be using her money to pay for the quaint little flat at 16 Barley Way.
"This is absolutely insane. A convicted death eater. Proven. With heavy evidence that he has killed innocent people and all of the sudden he's just free to go. I'm appalled." Ginny Weasley sat at the kitchen table of the Burrow, her hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. Her face was rosy from crying. Harry sat beside her, clearly uncomfortable. He was accustomed to cool, calm, easygoing Ginny. This side of Ginny made him, well... fear for his life, quite honestly.
And he'd been in fear since Hermione had left the day before. It was weird to think she had only been gone for less than twenty-four hours, because it felt like weeks. He was sure Hermione was doing just fine for herself. She was always so independent, and self-sufficient. Perhaps she just checked into a hotel for the night, and would return later today. Yes, that must be it. Hermione always had a plan.
Molly placed another cup of tea in front of Ginny and gave Harry a pat on the shoulder as she passed. She had mostly been busying herself with cleaning dishes manually. "Ginny, just relax, alright? I'm sure there's some kind of misunderstanding." Harry said calmly, leaning his elbows on the table.
Ginny shook her head. "I just can't help thinking about Hermione. She's gone and probably has no idea what's going on!"
Molly fumbled the plate in her hands and it fell to the floor, smashing and spreading across the hardwood.
"Oh, bollocks!" Molly cursed, bustling to fetch a broom.
"Are you alright, mum?" Ginny asked, looking up from her tea. Molly laughed loudly.
"Oh yes, just fine! I wish I could say the same for the plate!" She began sweeping up the plate and Harry stood.
"Er.. Mrs. Weasley? Repairo." The pieces of the plate floated from the pile and molded together. The plate was as good as new.
"Well, I suppose that would have been the easier thing to do.." Molly breathed, picking up the plate and placing it back in the sink. "Maybe I just need a cup of tea," she decided, turning toward the kettle.
Ron stumbled into the room, yawning with his arms behind his head. Harry looked away. He didn't even know what he was supposed to do. It was a terrible thing that Ron had done. If it had been anyone else to hurt Hermione like that, he'd curse them into oblivion. But Ron was his best mate. He didn't know how to act. So he just focused on the clock, and that's what he would do for the next ten minutes until it was time for him to go to work at the ministry.
Clearly, Ginny had decided to take a completely different approach. The noise that she made as soon as she laid eyes on Ron, was something Harry had never heard before. It was this feral growl, a screech, all coming from her throat. A sound that could only be made my a woman.
Ginny stood and obviously tried to push back her chair, but the sheer force of her movement tipped the chair onto the floor. Ron finally looked at her, his expression clearly confused. Ginny made eye contact with him, silently. Harry almost wanted to say, Don't make eye contact with her for too long, you'll turn to stone!, just to lighten the mood. But he knew that would put him on the same level as Ron in Ginny's mind.
Ginny stomped out, clipping Ron's body with her shoulder as she passed. Ron's nose wrinkled.
"Women."
Molly picked up the plate that had just been repaired, and threw it on the ground. It broke into even more pieces this time.
"NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" she bellowed, gesturing at the plate. Ron and Harry both stared at her, incredulous.
"Well? Clean it up!" she screeched, bustling out of the room, her footsteps heavy. Harry could hear her sniffle in the hallway.
Ron wasn't quite sure what had just happened. But he repaired the plate and set it on the counter. He sat across from Harry and exhaled.
"And they wonder why I didn't want to get married." He leaned back in his chair.
"Ron, that's not what they're wondering. We're all wondering how you could manage to be such a terrible prat." Harry growled, standing and walking out.
Ron sat for a moment. I guess I'll be making my own breakfast, he thought. With a groan he stood and walked toward the cupboard.
Harry reached Ginny's door and knocked gingerly before opening it slowly. She was just sitting at her mirror, brushing her hair. She did that a lot.
"Gin? I have to go to work. Will you be okay?" Harry crossed to her chair, and placed a hand on her shoulder. She put down her brush and they met eyes in the mirror.
"I suppose. Will you be home late again?" she asked, her voice hopeful. Harry sighed and sat on her bed.
"I can't make any promises, Ginny. We've been doing a lot of raids, and now that Malfoy is walking among us, security's going to be high. I'll try to be back out our flat for dinner, alright? If not, I'll make it up to you. I promise. I love you, Gin." He stood. Ginny let out a breath.
"Alright. I love you too," she replied. Harry planted a kiss on the top of her head, grabbed his coat and walked out. Ginny sat still until she heard the front door open and close. She would give anything to have her best friend right now. She needed to talk to her, and she needed to talk to her bad.
Because there was a reason she was so emotional, and fatigued, and bloody starving all of the time. She could feel it.
