Disclaimer: Really, come now. If you don't know by now than check the earlier chapters. I'm 100 positive that I am not in fact Jo Rowling in disguise and never will be.Sorry to burst your bubble.
Chapter 6
Hermione stared moodily at the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, holding tears of contempt at bay. Harry sat to her right grasping her hand in his own, splitting his focus between pretending to be interested in his plate and sneaking glances at his friend. Ron sat at Hermione's left, focusing his angered astonishment on the Headmaster who he could have sworn was avoiding looking toward the three of them. "I can't take this." Hermione sighed, anguished. "No, I need to be alone. I need to think." Hermione coaxed Ron and Harry back into their seats before she made her departure from the Great Hall.
Skye, who was seated further down the table with the Weasley twins, noticed Hermione leave and hastily followed. The hall was lit dimly in comparison to the bright and lively Great Hall. "Hermione." Skye quietly spoke into the darkness. She heard sniffling coming from the stairs and hurried toward the sound. "Oh, Hermione!" Skye dropped to her knees next to Hermione, who was curled up at the foot of the stairs. "It's okay, don't cry, please don't cry." Skye cooed, wrapping Hermione in a tight embrace.
"No its not, its not okay... something's wrong, terribly wrong. My parents, I think they're... Dumbledore wouldn't tell me...oh Skye, I think..." Hermione wept.
"Shh... let it out. Everything will be alright."
••
Harry, Ron and Skye sat around the fire in the Gryffindor common room, waiting for Hermione to emerge through the portrait hole. "I should have gone with her." Harry groaned. Ron nodded. ("We both should have.")
Skye shook her head. "She wouldn't have let either of you and you know it." She paused, staring into the last burning embers of the fire. "Everything is going to be fine. It'll all work itself out."
"What if..." Harry was cut off by the opening of the portrait hole. Hermione walked into the room, head bent down and shoulders stiff; rigid even. "Hermione." Harry said tentatively. She stopped in her tracks but didn't look up and didn't answer. "Hermione." Harry said again, almost desperate for an answer. Skye held up her hand motioning for Harry to be quiet for a moment. Skye rose from her seat, and slowly walked toward Hermione.
Skye extended her hand and laid it on Hermione's shoulder. She didn't move, but a tear slipped down her cheek. Skye moved closer and warped Hermione in a tight hug. Hermione broke down. Her knees gave way and her tears soaked Skye's sleeve, had it not been for Skye's tight hold around her Hermione would have collapsed. "Come on." Skye urged softly, directing Hermione over to the couch that Skye had previously vacated.
The room was silent aside from the crackling of the dwindling fire. Even Hermione's sobs were silent. The three listened as Hermione drew a shaking, deep breath. "They're gone." She paused, the others stayed respectfully quite. "He killed them. Voldemort killed my parents!" Hermione spoke in deep loathing. She sharply shook her head, and bit her lower lip and squeezed her eyes shut momentarily in an attempt to dry them up. She harshly wiped her cheeks dry. Hermione wasn't crying anymore, in fact she didn't even seem sad anymore, more like infuriated. "Voldemort murdered my parents." The fire was reflecting in Hermione's normally soft Chestnut eyes.
"Hermione." Ron softly spoke for the first time since Hermione's arrival. She didn't take her gaze away from the fire, she didn't even flinch; nothing to indicate she had heard him. Ron turned to Harry, shooting him a helpless look.
"Hermione." Harry tried. She still didn't respond.
Skye was about to attempt to say something, when Hermione began talking again. "That bastard killed my parents, for no reason, none at all."
"He kills without reason, Hermione, there's never any reason behind madness." Skye whispered.
"This is all my fault." Harry stood up, and stared out the window.
"Everything's just always your fault isn't it Harry!" Hermione yelled, standing abruptly and fiercely walking towards Harry. "Have you lost your mind! There was no reason for my parents to die, my parents didn't even know you!"
"But you do." Harry calmly answered her, not backing down. Ron still sat in his chair by the fire, at a loss. Skye watched the feuding duo, wondering what on earth Harry was thinking.
"So its because of me my parents are dead, not you!" Hermione reasoned, still yelling. "My parents are dead, AND ITS ALL MY FAULT!"
"Hermione, that's ridiculous. You-Know-Who is just a lunatic and you know it. If anything he killed your parents because they were muggles, you know he's all psychotic about blood." Ron stood entering into the battle, trying to be the voice of reason.
"Yeah, because his blood is so pure." Harry added sarcastically.
"Would all of you, all three of you, just..." Skye couldn't even finish her sentence, she just screamed. The others turned to her, stunned. "Harry, it is not your fault. Is it possible that Voldemort did it because he knows how close you are to Hermione? Yes it is, but that does not make this your fault. Hermione, I realize this is distressing, but its in no way your fault either. I never had the privilege of meeting your parents but I'm sure they loved you with all of their beings and they wouldn't want you thinking like this. And Ron..." Skye paused in her tirade, wondered momentarily when exactly is was that she had stood up and walked across the room, shaking her head she turned back to Ron. "Honestly Ron, would you just use his name. There is no reason to fear a name!" Skye finished. The room was deathly silent, the four sixth years formed a square in which tensions were high.
••
"Looks like great minds really do think alike." Hermione smiled half-heartedly as she took a seat in the grass by the lake at Skye's side. "It smells like rain." Hermione commented contemplatively. "I love it when it rains."
Skye nodded. "There was a big storm last night." The duo fell silent. "Hermione?"
"Hmm..."
"I'm sorry." Skye fiddled with her short red hair, staring at the rippling lake.
"For what?" Hermione played dumb, quite a feet for her.
"Last night." Skye needlessly clarified. "I had no right..."
"No... no, you were right. Everything you said...you were right. I was just reeling from all the information over-flow. I tend to have quite a temper." Hermione shrugged. "It wasn't anyone's fault, not anyone other than Voldemort himself anyway." Hermione uttered the last part in a barely audible whisper.
"I suppose there's no use arguing with you?"
"Nope. I can be quite the stubborn little witch when I want to be."
"Isn't that the truth." Harry teased. "Best take her word for it Skye. Wouldn't want to be stuck out here all day." He and Ron each seated themselves along the lake. Hermione slightly shoved Harry's shoulder, and cut him off just as he was about to forge on with his own apology.
"Don't you dare Harry Potter. Don't you dare tell me you're sorry." She met each of the boys gazes, with her own firm one.
"Now why would I do such a thing." Harry paused dramatically, grinning lopsidedly. "We all know I'm always right." Skye couldn't help but laugh, and as it would seem neither could the others because she wasn't alone for long. She was quick to notice that not one of their smiles reached their eyes.
••
Defense Against the Dark Arts was supposed to have started all of five minutes ago. However, the full classroom was devoid of a very important feature, a teacher. Harry wondered where the new professor was, all that he knew for certain was that their surname was Gregor. The air was buzzing with anxious excitement, the students were eager to meet their new mystery professor. So far she had eluded any meal that had thus far been held. Fred and George had refused to tell them anything about the new professor, her name aside.
A chair in the back of the room screeched across the floor, breaking the silence that had woven around the room. Immediately, heads turned to meet the scene. A girl stood haphazardly and began her descent down the middle of the room. Confused mur-muring rose amongst the anxious sixth years. Who is this girl? Surely she hasn't been here all along. Is she new? What exactly does she think she's doing? The girl cleared her throat and lifted her person onto the front of the teachers desk; the room fell silent.
The students watched in awe as the seeming student before them transformed before their eyes. Suddenly they were staring at a young woman with short spiked, rainbow hair. Her face was heart-shaped and her eyes were dark. Hermione gasped, Tonks smirked and winked before she started to introduce herself. "I," She put her hand over her heart. "am Professor Gregor. Your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." She rolled her eyes and grinned. "That, however, is an obvious given." Most of the class laughed while a few select slytherin's merely sneered.
"Having settled that nonsense," Tonks continued. "you will not be needing books for today's lesson. Feel free to tuck them away." The students eagerly disposed of the thick textbooks. "My introduction to you all today was a perfect example of the use of Surprise. The element of surprise is one of your greatest allies when you are in a position where it is crucial to your survival that you defend yourself." Tonks walked the length of the room as she continued to speak. "Just as you yourselves know this, so will your advisories." She paused and gazed around the room. "Whoever they may be." She said the last part rather softly and darkly before returning to her previous, light mood.
"That is why, you must always be prepared for your plan to fail. As my dear friend Mr. Moody," The Trio turned and watched as Malfoy sunk lower into his chair, growing increasingly pale. Tonks cleared her throat, holding back her amusement, she had heard the ferret story. "As Moody would say, you should always be alert, 'Constant Vigilance'. To panic is to start making mistakes, keep your head about you, next to the element of surprise, common sense is your next best ally." Tonks paused, propping herself back up onto her desk and sitting cross legged. "As I also demonstrated today, always expect what is not expected. When your backed into a corner the impossible can become possible, even when what was once possible eludes you." She paused allowing what she had just said to filter through the room. The silence was so thick you could have heard a pin drop, had anyone daned to drop one. A few people jumped out of their skin when the bell toned signaling the end of class. "No homework!" Tonks shouted over the shuffling of students attempting to flee from the classroom.
Soon only Harry, Hermione, Ron and Skye remained in the room. Hermione began to speak, but Tonks shushed her as she raised her wand and raised silencing wards around the room. Tonks nodded and smiled. "Tonks!" Hermione breathed, flabbergasted.
••
Hermione sat curled up in a blanket on the floor of the sitting room near the fire. Her eyes glowed bright as she stared into the flames over her opened book. Biting the inside of her lower lip was all that kept it from quivering, and her eyes were moist with the tears that she held at bay.
"Hermione." Someone spoke from near the door. Fred walked further into the room, plucking the rather large volume from Hermione's frail grasp. "Tsk. Tsk. Hermione, really, Hogwarts: A History..." Fred paused, noticing her hands were shaking terribly. "Hermione." He cooed gently, kneeling down next to her, a single tear slid down her cheek.
Hermione began wringing her hands in futile attempts to stop their shaking, her eyes remained fixated on the blazing fire. "Fred." Hermione finally broke the silence, tears gushed down her cheeks. Fred smiled softly.
"How'd you know?" He asked, curiosity gripping him.
"My little secret." Hermione teased, smiling through her slowed tears. She hiccupped. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying. I must look all sorts of stupid." She attempted to wipe her tears away with her sleeve.
Fred shook his head and grabbed her arm away from her face. "Your too smart to ever look stupid. Couldn't manage it if you tried. What's got you crying over the holidays anyway?" Hermione hesitated, moving her gaze to the floor. Fred gave the hand he had yet to relinquish a tight, reassuring squeeze.
Hermione allowed a smile to tug at her lips as she brought her gaze up to match Freds. Her half smile vanished as she began to speak. She sounded weary. "I just... I can't believe their gone. I miss them, I miss them so much." A few more tears trickled down her pale cheeks, she blinked trying furiously to vanquish any more. "They weren't supposed to... not yet, not now, not like that." Hermione took once more to staring at the carpeting, hiding the tears she could not withhold.
"It's not fair." Fred spoke after a pause, staring into the fire. "Nothing about war... about life, ever seems to be." Hermione's head bobbed up, she seemed surprised. Was this Fred Weasley, being... serious? Fred met her gaze with his trademark smirk. "Yes." He answered. "I have my moments." Hermione smiled, Fred brought his free hand up to her face and wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"Thank you." Hermione whispered, Fred cocked his head to the side as if to ask what it was exactly that he had done. "For listening. Thank you." Hermione lifted her own free hand and laid it atop Freds, which was cupping her cheek. Each of them leaned forward until they were merely inches apart.
'Pop'
"Oi, Fred! There you are!" George spoke just as the duo sprang apart and Fred nimbly shot to his feet. George hadn't noticed a thing, or at least, he pretended not to.
"Yeah?" Fred stepped towards his twin, assuming his usual mischievous disposition.
"Operation RPH is a go."
"RPH?" Hermione inquired, raising haphazardly to her feet, unable to keep the curious undertone from her voice.
"Now, now Hermione dear, we all have our secrets." Fred answered with a wink. "However," He pretended to consult his watch. "by my calculations, you should know by breakfast tomorrow." He shared an almost sinister smirk with George just before the duo dissasperated away with a small 'pop' each.
Hermione shook her head, smirking to herself. "What are you two up to?"
••
Dumbledore sighed. "Now Moody..."
"No Dumbledore, I've kept my peace long enough." One of the many portraits lining the headmasters office snorted. Moody shot it a steely glare. "She should know. She deserves to know." Dumbledore remained silent, staring over Moody's shoulder and out the window, lightning streaked across the starry sky. "Dumbledore, she should know who her father is."
••
Yeah! A new chapter, to be truthful I didn't think I would have another one to post before the release of HBP, aren't I awesome? Of course I am. (12 more days!) Lol, Anyway, I just had to celebrate, I passed my Road Test! I am now an official driver! Go me!
Anywho, on a completely different note, I hope you liked this one, I'm not too sure about it. But you could always reassure me, or not, whichever you prefer. Though can't you hear the call of the review button? It's calling out to you, I swear it is! Not that I'm begging for your opinion or anything... no, of course I'm not. Now I can absolutely guarantee that I will not have a new chapter up before the relese of the HBP. So, Happy Reading y'all!
Once again I would like to thank my loyal reviewer, Lesalanna. You're the coolsest! Everyone go read her story, Harry Potter and the Dragonriders of Pern. It's utterly awesome! ;)
Well, I'm out for now. Perhaps I'll go write my Profile (finally)... Hmm, not a bad idea. Catch ya on the flip side! (On a side note, what'd you think of that ending? ... I know, I'm absolutely horrid! Lol ;p )
Peace ;D
