"W-where… am I?"
A groan stretched out to her left. She herself sighed from the soreness that seeped into her very bones.
"I'd know those white walls anywhere. It would help if you opened your eyes Daph." A pleasantly familiar voice rasped out, its owner clearing her throat.
"... Not in the mood Tori… I had a bloody terrifying dream about freezing everybody's asses off after… something... wait, you're not Tori… your voice isn't as grating and squeaky as hers…" She slowly regained her bearings, pushing her straight hair out of her face and groggily turning to the source of the voice, who was stiffly lying on a lavender hospital bed less than 2 feet away from her.
"Hermione…" She whispered, staring bemusedly at the bushy haired brunette, who tiredly stared back at her friend.
"Wait- H-hermione!? What's going on? Why are we both in hospital beds?" She was sitting up in a flash, blanket thrown off her chilled body.
"About that 'dream' of yours…" Hermione started off with a careful lilt to her voice, trying not to bowl Daphne over with the most recent and traumatizing highlights of the week. Though judging by how the blonde's eyes widened, and how hands cradled a face that gradually morphed into speechless shock, she no longer needed a hand in recalling.
Hermione was hoping Daphne would handle the news well, thus seeing tears start to pool as she shook like a fallen leaf while gazing at Hermione with a heartbroken expression made the Gryffindor's own turmoil spike. How is she supposed to comfort a crying girl? She couldn't even comfort her cat when the feline threw hissy fits!
"U-uhh… hey, come on now!" Cracks were heard as Hermione's body groaned in protest while she carefully positioned herself to sit up, the covers slipping from her lithe frame and pooling at her waist. This wasn't a good move, as her friend actually squeaked, freezing and staring in horror at her blued arms, her mind going haywire, blasting off in a million directions, all of them involving unhealthy tons of guilt Hermione immediately strove to destroy.
"Daphne Greengrass, don't you dare blame yourself! They're just side effects from the chill that my fire's already working on melting!"
"B-but Mione- " At this point the blonde couldn't even look at Hermione and stared down at tear stained covers, biting her lip to keep from spewing obscenities at these damned lapses of control… and from crying in front of the brunette. Such a thing would be terribly unsightly and undignified... something Draco would say.
"Nope! I'm not going to hear it!" She vehemently shook her head, yet stubborn glare fading away when the brunette's words failed to stop tears from leaking down her friend's cheeks, droplets already drying from the spelled bed sheets.
"Ah… I can't quite move well enough yet, but…" She grunted to herself, wiggling her toes and unfolding the folding her knees like a machine in dire need of some oiling. The movement smoothed out after a couple of times of repeating the ministrations, and so she inhaled sharply, turning ninety degrees as her feet hung off the bed, big toes barely grazing the cool marble floor before shivering. Shook it off. She couldn't stand seeing Daphne- or any of her precious friends- cry.
With one hand grasping the bed post, she made her first step on her partially numbed limbs, sighing in relief as they supported her enough to awkwardly wobble to the blonde's bed like a penguin going up its hill to dive.
The pitter patter sound on the tiles made Daphne reluctantly turn to the noise, and before she could register what was going on, Hermione exhaustedly plopped onto the blonde's bed, legs still hanging out and on the floor, her expression victorious despite the signs of strain on her sweaty haggard face.
"See? I'm perfectly fine!" The cough and labored breathing didn't spell out fine to Daphne.
"Merlin… what the hell Hermione…" Daphne muttered, snapped out of her sullen brooding as she held the small brunette under her arm pits to pull the other half of her body onto the creaking mattress. She groaned at Hermione's smug expression, as she had no other choice but to stare straight into the Gryffindor's gleaming chocolate brown eyes.
It was more embarrassing to be in this pitifully teary and snotty state than expected. Next thing she knew, two warming hands were wrapped around her waist and back as her senses were overwhelmed, no, soothed, by waves of brown bushy hair that smelled of roses and ashes.
"I'm hurt you'd feel embarrassed about crying in front of me…" The brunette calmly muttered in turn, breathing returning to normal as she focused on the scent of mint and pine trees.
"I…I panicked again. It was path-" Her voice hitched, quaking along with her body.
"You weren't the only one. If I were in your place, I don't think there'd be a classroom left to practice with the boggart, much less a closet to trap it in…"
"I know…but-"
"You didn't freeze like the last time either! You actually froze the boggart! Who can ever say they did that?" She retorted, and Daphne didn't need to look at her face to know she was smirking.
"…After you, Harry and Cho had to witness your own deaths…" She bit out but regretted what she said a split second later when she felt Hermione let a shiver loose.
"W-we're fine. Harry and Cho are practicing at the dueling club as we speak, and I'm already warming back up." The dead silence from Daphne still harbored traces of uncertainty. She just stared at the blue patches along Hermione's arms.
"I'll p-prove to you my hands are fine. First thing we'll do when we break out is head to the music room, and I'll show you how my hands were completely unaffected. We'll even get some practice in for our upcoming opening of the club. Sound good?"
Faced with her best friend's icy silence, Hermione forced a grin, fishing for a reluctant acquiescence, knowing- hoping- deep down Daphne would burst with excitement at playing her precious viola, or simply bask in the calming scent of the music room and bathe in the pleasant musical memories they've weaved. She'd rather anything occupy Daphne's mind, even anger at her, than the crushing guilt from the Basilisk incident.
"Did I hear someone say 'breaking out?'" A sharp voice cut into their moment and Hermione let a screech loose before breaking away from the hug and hiding behind Daphne, blanket wrapped around her, all with dizzying speed.
"What the- Mione?"
"It's her again…"
"Hello, Madame Pomfrey." She courteously nodded to the medic who smiled at the Slytherin, before glaring at the cowering Gryffindor behind her.
"Despite the circumstances, I'm very pleased Miss Greengrass delivered you to your yearly treatment. I dare say, it's almost as if you're avoiding your appointments!"
"Gee, I wonder why…" The brunette sniped back, sneering at the smirking nurse while Daphne mustered a small grin.
"Alright, turn around." The two duelers did as told by Master Dueler Flitwick, pushing down their urge to grin at each other. Perhaps in the palpable silence the students surrounded them in, their mere act of their muscles stretching would be louder. Only a grin broke loose on Harry's face when he blasted a repulso faster than many of the spectators could blink. Others couldn't wrap their heads around how Cho scoffed while sidestepping it with casual ease, throwing her own grin at Harry before firing her own creative barrage of spells he countered playfully. He wished his two other friends were here to see how much he and Cho had approved. He bet they could take Daphne and Hermione on and win! And Ron... he really wished Ron were here too. It never occurred to him how he had unintentionally been neglecting his favorite red head, until the latter pointed it out. It didn't feel like he did anything wrong.
'If Ron says I hurt him then I don't have the right to deny those feelings. So now...'
He needed to make it up to him somehow. Letting his eyes flit across the crowds, and missing a single speck of fiery orange was more sobering than he thought. He could feel the emptiness left by his absent friend. It almost hurt more than the expelliarmus Cho just blasted him with during his crucial moments of inattention.
"Harry, what did we say about daydreaming? Especially whilst dueling Cho?"
"Sorry again, Professor..." He wheezed out, having felt Cho's annoyance from the way she threw the spell. They were building up their longest spell combo yet too.
'Right... focus with Cho now, then focus on making up... hopefully if he doesn't hate me by now... He sighed loudly, often lamenting the complications that came with having friends.
He wondered how many muggle sweets he'd have to get to start appeasing his friend.
"Daphne!" Hermione weaved through the trudging students once she noticed the head of strawberry blonde smooth hair, having missed the sight for several days.
She caught up to Daphne who was flanked by Pansy and Draco. Pansy's glare lifted slightly while Draco's darkened, and both clearly projected a most unwelcome aura.
Though it was Daphne's murkiness and feigned disinterest, her typical ice princess persona, that deterred her speech.
"Hey… I was wondering if you wanted to… go to the music room…"
"Not now, Hermione." She sighed, looking away from the perplexed brunette. The blonde sighed heavily, making Hermione feel like she's a burden on her friend. Her own frown materialized, out of worry and dismay.
Still, she tried to salvage the situation, rubbing her forearm while gazing up at her hopefully.
"Oh, okay, then… how about later? We could meet up with Harry and Cho…"
"I'll think about it." Clear cut, and contrite. Why was she blocking her thoughts from me? Hermione did her best to mask her own helplessness and nodded with a half-hearted smile, walking away while pensively scratching her head.
Had she… had she done something wrong? Daphne's been avoiding her this way for a week now, no longer returning her cheery smiles or waves, instead her face morphs into an expression of discomfort. If Hermione was feeling particularly mean, she'd say she looked constipated. She even called her Hermione! Daphne calls her Mione…Never Hermione!
Maybe she could talk to Cho and Harry about it… They're probably in the courtyard under the usual tree. The 'Idea Tree', Harry, expert at naming, dubbed very proudly. It was under that tree that most of the ideas for their music conservatory were formed, which Harry and Cho had been taking on the bulk of, and Hermione neglecting in favor of moping over Daphne's absence and getting scolded by Cho for her slipping grades.
It made her feel quite a bit of guilt actually. She decided to stop by the library and borrow the books necessary for her transfiguration essay, running into and greeting Luna who was walking around with a now calmer and cheerier Ginny… well calm as long as she isn't flanked by the twins and their pranking mischiefs.
Through the windows, she peeked and saw Harry taking a break, playing around with Natsu while Cho yawned, taking a small nap. The brunette paused, smiling at the sight of her two friends occupied with life's mundane gifts and mused with a hum- how to make it better? Well, what better way than with food?
She backtracked to the kitchens, greeting the elves there and asking if they happen to have any spare sandwiches or pastries. They gladly obliged, providing her with a snap of their fingers, never failing to amaze Hermione. She gathered them up in a wicker basket she transfigured from a toothpick lying around on the tables within the warm, welcoming room and headed off, walking merrily to the tree.
While Cho would have usually started off with a scolding, the sight of food and transfiguration books made her pause and she smiled at the grinning brunette, patting the spot beside her.
"Harry, Hermione got snacks!"
"Fantastic! All this running around with Natsu had me starved. Your cat is pretty uhm… 'murdery' Mione… it keeps looking around for things to kill and eat… just thought I'd let you know." He admitted sheepishly, scratching the back the head that adorned his ever messy hairdo.
"I think that's a healthy attitude for cats. As long as it doesn't target other pets… or humans…"
"Nice humans, you mean…"
"Harry please, the last thing I need is my cat being charged with homicide." Hermione had put her foot down on the damp grass before plopping down and snuggling up to Cho who was delightfully warm, wrapped up in her scarf and coat. Harry joined, hugging Cho's other side, both Gryffindors sighing contently.
"It sure is nice having a human heater…"
"Isn't that Hermione's job?"
"I'm not angry enough for that, so your normal powers will have to do." Hermione winked playfully while Cho rolled her eyes before letting a grin slip past, rubbing both her friends' heads, specifically the spot close to their necks where she knew would make them sleepy, and then, after a few minutes of piece and calm breathing, pushed them away swiftly, jolting them awake from their brief comfortable lull.
"Now let's get to work!"
"Ugh… Fine…" Hermione barely wiped the drool away with the sleeve of her black sweater before Cho took out and slammed the huge blue and pink portfolio in the center of the triangle the three formed, startling the daylights out of Hermione who jumped up almost high enough to grab onto a tree branch like Natsu.
"Merlin- Cho! You just woke us up-" Hermione flailed around her arms, un-ruffling her hair to gain some semblance of composure, interrupted by Harry's chuckle and Cho's infuriating little smile.
"You're more awake now, I hope." Despite the underlying humor, the Ravenclaw's eyes were brimming with excitement and vigor, determination to conclude the plans due next week burning without end within her gut.
"We're all serious now. Let's see what's left…"
"We've nearly planned it all out. The location of the classrooms-
"The room of requirements split into several sections"
"Instrument storage-"
"Trophy room"
"Right."
"Class times-"
"Before 12 pm classes Monday through Wednesday and orchestral practice after class, once we get to that point."
"And auditions- well not formal auditions, but just to see what instrument might suit someone if they don't already have one in mind."
"To be held in the great hall after or before dueling or in the room of requirements."
"Excellent. Posters?" They kept darting out the outline they've worked on, mentally checking they haven't missed anything.
"Being posted across the castle. I'll also post a small notice on the dormitory doors in case anyone forgets."
"Might as well mail it to them if they're going to be that daft-"
"Be nice now, they're your classmates- stupid or not. Oh, you're brooding again, aren't you?"
"Bah, forget it." Hermione shrugged off Cho's concern and the Ravenclaw sighed before reluctantly moving on.
All that's left is preparing a little something to give students an idea about what the club or conservatory will be about."
"Won't we need Daph-…." Harry stopped confused as Cho mouthed silently for him to stop, nudging her head lightly towards the slumped brunette who clutched her head in her hands, unconsciously brooding over her friend giving her the cold shoulder.
"Whoops…"
Cho shut her eyes and exhaled, opening them after a second.
"Enough of this." She muttered to herself, turning herself to face the daydreaming brunette, worriedly chewing on the end of her pencil.
She grabbed ahold of the brunette's shoulders, not too abruptly- the poor thing gets startled so badly a heart attack isn't that far of an option- but not too gently either, because if one thing Cho definitely is was clear. She said what she meant, and meant what she said.
"Hermione… please stop brooding. It isn't doing you, or Daphne any good. I understand you're trying to talk to her, coax her into hanging out with you, but if you haven't noticed from your 20th consecutive failure, it isn't working." She deadpanned, Hermione wincing at the true words.
"You need to be direct with her, and settle the issue. I can only infer what could be wrong with her. Merlin knows what pisses Slytherins off these days, but it will be something you, no, we will solve, as her closest friends." Hermione looked up hopefully at the mention of the word 'we' and Cho grinned.
"I admit, we might be part of the problem, for all I know, or if my hunch is correct. But!" Hermione straightened up again, hanging onto her clever friend's every words.
"Now is a waste of time to brood. Focus on the piece we ought to pick and practice for the students and staff. Also, if you don't raise your grades by the end of the month, I'll take away your violin."
"N-no!"
She could hear Harry and Natsu gasp while Hermione exclaimed, looking like someone had murdered a puppy before her eyes.
"Ch-cho you wouldn't!"
"Are you saying I don't hold my word, Hermione?"
'Oh shit…'
"F-fine! Just anything but that!"
'I'd hate to piss off Cho…'
'You and me both, buddy.' Harry replied to Natsu, greatly sympathizing with his properly chastised friend, but glad Cho snapped her out of her mental funk.
Hello Dear Readers!
I hope some of you are still following the story, for I assure you I haven't given up on it. Life has just been hectic for me these past few months and I'm still organizing my schedule to manage everything, writing this story included.
For those still willing to read on and follow the story, I thank you. I will keep writing for my own enjoyment and certainly for yours. And curiosity as to where this story will be by book 7. Who knows what I'll come up with :P
Any who, please feel free to leave comments and suggestions and until the Next chapter! have a good day/night and to all those celebrating the Lunar/Chinese New Year,
新年好! :D