Chapter 11: Time to say goodbye

(Hogwarts)

Hermione was packing up a few things. All the stuff she wouldn't need for the rest of the week. Her Summer clothes, The Quidditch Equipment she never used and never will use, A few Books she might wouldn't need but she would put them of top, just in case she needs them anyway.

It felt crazy. This was her last week in Hogwarts. Her brain couldn't really catch this. She knew she was supposed to freak out or feel somewhat melancholic, but she had none of that yet. She was sure it would catch her sooner or later.

She didn't tell anyone except harry, about what happened when the doctor wanted to talk to her. Harry was happy for her, but the sadness was way heavier. He and Hermione got to be really close again ever since their talk in the three broomsticks. Now he felt as if he's losing his best friend. Hermione was thinking about what to say to make him feel a little better, but there just were no words.

A knock at the door, pulled her out of thoughts. "Yes?" she asked, curious who it could be. Her roommates never knocked. Surprised she watched as a certain bunch of red hair slid through the door.

"Can…..can I talk to you?" Ron stared at his feet ashamed, only letting his head pass the doorway and hiding the rest of himself behind the wooden door. He was by far the last person Hermione expected to speak with tonight.

"uhm…sure come in Ron, no ones here except me." She wasn't sure how to act. Happy, that he talks again? Angry, because of how he acted lately? Sad, because they wasted their last days together with ignoring each other? The uncertainty about this, made her next comment sound a little bit too harsh. "What do you want?" she unintentionally barked at him.

Ron's pouted and avoided looking directly at his friend. "I…if you don't want me here, I can leave again." He mumbled to a random spot at the wall.

There was a moment of awkward silence, neither of them speaking. Hermione felt too proud and to much in the right position to actually apology for her slip off there and Ron wasn't sure if he was here as friend or enemy.

After a few painful moments of silence it was surprisingly him who took the first word. As he stared around the room and noticed all the piles of clothes and books and the half filled trunk he remembered why he came here. "You….you are leaving, aren't you?" he asked a little shy, scared for her answer. He knew it the second she left the classroom earlier to talk to this stranger. It just hit him like a bludger.

She nodded somewhat hesitantly. "At the end of this week" it was nearly a whisper. She knew it would hurt Ron, but it wasn't something she could exactly keep a secret. Even if she could he deserved her honesty, let alone for making the first step in talking to her again.

Ron scratched his right elbow nervously, still avoiding to look at Hermione. "The strange man that was there today…..is that who you are going with?" he tried to make it sound like a casual question, but failed.

"Yeah." Hermione answered more confident now, feeling an echo of the happiness she felt earlier. "Doctor Cullen, we met him…" Hermione remembered their fight in the broomsticks "never mind." She said finally. "He is a really kind man and he has a few children adopted already" she tried to change the topic.

They got interrupted by two Gryffindor girls, that entered the room. Both shot a disapproving look at Ron, clearly not being happy to have a boy in their room, but they did not dare to give Hermione the same attitude instead they greeted her with a soft "Hi, Mione" and went to sit on one of their beds to chat.

Hermione's face turned red, knowing exactly well, that the girls would turn this situation into their newest gossip. "Maybe we should move this talk to the common room?" Hermione offered and Ron gave a dedicated nod.

It didn't take long for Harry to join them once they moved to the common room. Hermione sat on the ground on that red-golden carpet she knew she would miss. Her head rested on one of the comfy couches , that harry went to sit on. Ron took another seat on the floor, surrounded by some candy his brothers got him. Not out of brotherly love, but to make him shut up when he was complaining about his two friends to them, earlier this week. All of his siblings made pretty clear, that they would side with Hermione, if they had to. Not necessarily because she was right, but because it gave them a reason to prank him whenever they felt like it.

There was a rather strange moment, when Harry joined them and Ron apologized for the broken glasses. But ultimately they all were a lot more relaxed, being together as a trio again. They stayed up way too long that night. Catching up on the events they missed in each other's life sharing some crazy ideas about how Hagrid went shopping for clothes his size. They wondered if he made everything….and they meant everything, himself or if the tailor in town did such custom work. Ron shared a few more stories from home. It kept on until 11pm, when their prefect caught them still awake and send them to bed along with a few curses and lectures.

Hermione finally had a deep slumber again this night.

…

(The Three Broomsticks)

Carlisle paced up and down in his room for a while. He felt a little unhappy that he couldn't convince himself to stay longer to finish the potion they were working on, but if he was perfectly honest, then he couldn't do much at this point anyway. He helped them sorting out the mystery of vampire venom, and wasn't any help in the actual part of brewing the potion in a way, that would extend it's duration. And his family needed his attention, there still were things to be solved, even more so now that he would bring Hermione. He was nervous about that. Alice promised she would take care of everything at home, but why hadn't Esme called him yet then?

He felt as if something was not as it should be, so he made the call. Standing at his window, looking out at all the crooked roofs, that should by no means be stable that way, he picked Esme's contact and pushed the call button. It only rang one time before she picked up.

"I wondered when you would finally would miss me enough to call." His wife joked on the other side of their connection. Carlisle let out a chuckle. Oh how he had missed her voice, the version that came through his phone was only a weak copy of the original. "I hope you are not calling to tell me, that you have to stay longer" She threatened in a played strict manner.

A wide smile spread on his face. How could he ever be able to do such a thing to her. "No, no darlin. I will be home by Friday night." He tried to pacify her and could nearly hear how her facial expression changed to her usual warm smile.

"Good! Because I think Alice tried to give us some private time, the kids will all be gone by Friday for a whole week." Her voice shifted to a seductive melody. Usually Carlisle would have been down for this game at any time but in this particular situation it made him freeze like a statue.

"Didn't Alice talk to you?" he asked somewhat shocked. There was some silence. He wasn't sure if Esme tried to recall information or was making up murder plans for her daughter.

Finally she spoke "Nothing besides their trip to Italy." She hinted, clearly waiting for more input.

Now the doctor turned nervous. What did Alice think? "Mh….I am sorry my love, but I won't be returning alone…..Alice said she would talk to you and that everything would be good." Now this was more a mantra to himself than any useful information for his wife.

Esme, the perfect housewife as always didn't get angry at him. "Who are you bringing, so I know what to prepare for?" was all she asked.

He felt his heart ache to take her in his arms. She was just so very kind. "Oh dear, you know that you are the best, right?" he memorized the soft chuckle on the other end of the call. "You know what, just prepare one of the bedrooms…I think Alice' will do, as little reminder for her broken promise." An evil smile spread on his face. "We can speak about anything else when I am there and find a more permanent solution."

Again some silence, before she spoke "A more permanent solution? How long will our guest be staying?" She asked a little confused.

Now Carlisle realized what his daughter had in mind when she didn't say anything. "Let it be a surprise, darlin. You will like her." This was all hint he gave her.

"Oh Carlisle, I hope you aren't up to anything risky!" She admonished him. Even though she never saw him taking a risk that would have been too much for the family.

"No worries Esme, this will be alright. I see you on Friday my love." And then they hung up. He hoped it would really be alright.

…..

(Hogwarts)

Friday came faster than felt proportional to the rest of this week. Now Hermione had all her Bags and her Trunk packed up. She had cried out badly, when she put her School-uniform along with all other Gryffindor Things in one of her bags, knowing that she would not need them anymore.

Everyone was at class, except her, Harry and Ron. The headmaster excused them, so they could say goodbye properly.

Hermione stood surrounded by all her belongings in the big hall at the main entrance. She was sobbing. Tears ran down her cheeks and gathered at her chin, ready to drop into her scarf at any moment. Snot gathered on her upper lip and she resisted to wipe it all away with her sleeve. Ron didn't gave a better image. Even though he saw no reason not to wipe himself clean with his sweater. Only Harry kept any fluids from smudging his face, although he wasn't less affected by the moment. He just kept in mind how much better Hermione looked ever since she confessed her plans to them. He was sure this would be for the better.

"maybe this all was a bad idea and I should tell doctor Cullen that I stay here." Hermione mumbled between some sniffles.

Ron nodded in agreement. "Yes! You can't leave us alone" he cried.

Harry decided that he had to be the adult this time, since Hermione clearly wasn't in the condition to use her wits. "I don't want to hear any of that, Mione!" he scolded her. "if you aren't scared to live in a house full of vampires, then you should not be scared of leaving us either"

Ron's face turned into a grimace, that could clearly be read as a horrified 'WHAT'? since Hermione purposefully 'forgot' to tell him this detail. But he never got to word his question as Harry continued

"We still can send owls and I am sure we can visit! If any of us is able to pull off such a restart, than it's you! You hear me" he hugged Hermione tight and she pulled Ron into this hug as well.

"I thought this will be a happy departure" a grandfatherly voice made the trio let go of each other. "It doesn't happen every day that someone finds the luck of home" Dumbledore reminded. He handed a handkerchief to Hermione, while Ron wiped his face on his sweater again. Dumbledore wore unusual decent colored clothes and a matching hat that looked similar to a fez. He was here to escort her to the airport, where they would meet the doctor.

A few more hugs got exchanged, before the headmaster finally calmed the trio down with a few encouraging words and send the boys back to their classes. And then she left Hogwarts for the last time.