OMG I can't believe my story has got this far and I can't believe the kindness of all of the readers. Thanks to ALL of you. I just have to say that I LOVE KENNETH BRANAGH, he is a GOD! And I understand that some of you aren't happy with some of the mistakes I make in my stories. I will try and make sure I have no grammar and spelling mistakes. But unfortunately we all make them and my worry is more on what goes into the story than it being 100% perfect. Agree? If any of you have any comments on this subject then just put it in a review please!!!! It's very important to me!!!!!!!!! I honestly never in my wildest dreams thought people would really like my story let alone beg me to write more. So without further ado I give you…
Chapter 14- Hermione's Plight
The journey to Dumbledore's office, though far from fun, gave Hermione the chance to think about what she would say to Ron and Harry. She knew she hadn't handled the situation well before and she was sure that now she was calmer she could make Ron and Harry see sense.
"Well" said Dumbledore when they had assembled and sat down "Now we are all here let's get down to business" he said smiling around at everyone. Ron and Harry were still looking at Snape as thought they wished him nothing but harm. "Harry, Ron I understand that you are not quite happy with your friends choice of…for want of a better word suitor is that correct?"
"Yes Professor" said Harry and Hermione could see the anger rising in him already "I don't understand why.."
"Harry listen to me" Hermione said exasperatedly "I LOVE him don't you see? I've found someone that I love!" At these words Ron looked away.
"But why Hermione? Why did you have to fall in love with a man old enough to be your father?" he said, "If you can call it love," he added. Snape stood up at this but Dumbledore motioned for him to sit back down again. He sat and held out his hand for Hermione who took it smiling at him.
"I think Harry and Ron that we can safely establish that they are in love with each other"
Snape and Hermione smiled at each other, and Snape leaned forward to kiss Hermione's forehead.
"Stop," said Ron "You're making me sick"
"Look Weasley" Snape thought again "Ron please listen to me, I would never hurt Hermione I promise you I love her. I know that as her friend you worry about her but I honestly…"
"Of course I worry. The thought of what you might do with her is…" he stopped. Like Harry had earlier he couldn't finish the sentence.
"I will never force Hermione to do anything she doesn't want to. I'll never force her to stay with me if she doesn't want to"
"Mr Weasley, Mr Potter I should think that the happiness of your friend should make you happy too, and it is obvious that Hermione is happy with Severus"
"O.K Professor" Harry said, "I accept that Hermione is with Professor Snape"
"Please Harry outside of my classroom call me Severus. If that is o.k. Albus?" Dumbledore smiled.
"O.k. Severus" Harry said. The word was foreign on his lips and he hoped he wouldn't have to say it too much. "Ron?" Ron looked severely embarrassed. Hermione stood up and walked over to Ron's chair.
"Please accept it Ron," she said, "It won't feel right if you don't accept it. I'm sorry Ron, I never knew how you felt" Ron looked away form her but determinedly said
"Fine I accept it if that makes you happy".
"It does Ron, it really does" Hermione felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. From the look on Ron's face at that moment it looked like all of Hermione's weight and some was now on his shoulders. Hermione however didn't notice. Outwardly Ron looked resigned, not happy certainly but resigned. Inwardly Ron was still mad with fury and sadness. How on earth had he let Snape get to her before he did? Snape had won and yet again Ron was the bad guy. Just like last time, he thought. Only that time it was Krum. He had lost her, possibly forever. Though Ron hated the idea of Hermione being with Snape a lot he couldn't wish her relationship to fail, he cared for her too much. Ron had never seen her so happy and he knew deep down inside that she deserved it and that Snape seemed to be the one causing it.
"I have one last thing to ask you and I beg that you listen. This conversation does not go further than these walls. Anything discussed here must be kept between the five of us. Understood?" They all nodded their heads. "Well it's Sunday so I suggest you all go back to enjoying your free time". Dumbledore beamed around and then said "Severus, I want to talk to you about these attacks, they seem to have stopped so I think the security trolls can be taken away from the entrances. I don't believe they had anything to do with Voldemort. Especially as the only ones attacked were you and Mr Weasley" Snape nodded
"I'll go and tell them that they needn't come back tomorrow Albus"
They all left the office and Snape headed outside to the trolls, leaving Hermione with Harry and Ron. The atmosphere walking back to Gryffindor tower was almost unbearable. They walked upstairs in silence.
"Fancy a quick Quidditch practice Harry?" said Ron, who obviously couldn't wait to get outside and vent his anger by flying high in the air.
"Yeah, good idea Ron" said Harry who felt the same as Ron.
"Well I'm off to the library" she said heading off in the opposite direction "bye." Neither Ron nor Harry looked back to see her, or said goodbye.
At dinnertime Hermione sat alone. Harry and Ron were talking to Dean and Seamus about Quidditch as usual. She looked up occasionally to see if they had even noticed that she was there. But they didn't look at her at all. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and she tried to blink them away. She was unsuccessful and huge tears began to slide down her cheeks and land with a splash on the table.
"Are you alright Hermione?" said Lavender in a concerned voice. Harry and Ron looked up. Ron felt guilty; this was what he and Harry had done to her. He hated seeing her like this and knowing that it was him causing it made him even sadder.
Hermione couldn't bear it anymore. Why did they have to make her feel like this? She had never felt so unhappy in her life. She got up from the table and stormed out without giving Lavender an answer or finishing her dinner. Everyone in the Dining Hall looked around. Dumbledore and Snape looked worried. Snape made to get up and go after her but Dumbledore forced him to sit down. They both looked at Harry and Ron who went red and looked severely ashamed. Immediately Snape realised what was going on.
"Mr Potter, Mr Weasley I word please" Snape said when everyone had finished eating. Reluctantly they both got up from the table and followed Snape outside. When Snape was sure they were out of earshot he turned angrily to them both.
"You have made your friend severely unhappy merely because she found someone she wanted to be with. You may not be happy with it but don't take it out on Hermione. You have spent many years as her friends and as far as I can see neither of you have realised just how special a person she is." Ron and Harry felt uncomfortable when they thought about the way they had treated over the last few years. "In my eyes neither of you deserve her" Ron went even redder. That is what he had been thinking for the last year and Snape had just confirmed it. "Just think about what you've done please. She's done nothing to deserve the way she has been treated by both of you. She deserves the best, she deserves to be happy". Snape left them both feeling very ashamed in the Entrance Hall.
"What was all that about?" said Seamus as he met Harry and Ron in the Entrance Hall.
"Oh nothing, just some forgotten homework" said Harry brushing this aside and walking up the stairs. Ron was determined to find Hermione and apologise. After all friendship with her was better than nothing.
"I'm going to find Hermione" Ron announced when he reached the top of the stairs.
"Last time I saw her she was in the girl's loo crying" said Parvati
"Wait a minute Ron!" called Harry as Ron sped off on the direction of the girl's lavatory "You can't just go in there". But Ron did as soon as he got there.
"You can't come in here" a Hufflepuff sixth year cried to him as he burst in
"You just watched me!" said Ron "Hermione where are you? Look Hermione please come outside I have something to tell you" nothing. He looked under all the cubicles but she wasn't there.
Walking back up to Gryffindor Tower Ron was worried. Where was she? As he walked towards the Portrait hole he heard a scream to the left of him, coming from behind a huge wooden door.
"HERMIONE!" he shouted trying desperately to open the door. He heard another scream. "HERMIONE I'M TRYING TO GET IN HANG ON!" Another blood chilling scream and a huge thud. The door suddenly opened and Ron walked in. There was no-one in the room, except a motionless figure on the floor. Ron ran up to her and shook her. "Hermione can you hear me? HELP" he shouted as he heard voices outside the room "HELP SOMEONE!!" Harry and Dean ran into the room
"Ron? What's happened?"
"Get Dumbledore, I think she's…" his voice trailed off. Don't let this happen to Hermione please. Please Hermione wake up.
Harry ran to Dumbledore's office as quickly as he could. Dean stood in the Entrance Hall looking worried. Snape, who was walking back inside the castle stopped him as he made to go back upstairs
"What are you doing hanging around Thomas?"
"It's Hermione Professor, she's been attacked"
"WHAT?" Snape face went, if possible, even paler "Show me where"
Dean and Snape ran upstairs and went to the room that Hermione was lying in. When Snape saw her he gasped and ran towards her. He put his arms around her back and held her against his chest. Tears fell down his face as he ran his fingers through her hair
"No" he said sobbing "No Hermione you can't leave me like this, this isn't how it's supposed to be. Don't leave me here alone" He kissed her forehead tenderly and his tears fell onto her face "We're supposed to be together" he howled "Oh Hermione I love you so much, I can't let you go"
"Severus we have to get her to the Hospital Wing" a voice from behind him said. It was Dumbledore. Snape wouldn't let anyone else touch her.
"I'll take her Albus" he said tears still running down his face. He picked her up and carried her to the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey half screamed when she saw Hermione lying limp in Snape's arms. He lay her down on a bed and covered her up with the blankets. Madam Pomfrey leaned over her as if making a diagnosis. She took her pulse and looked up sadly at Snape.
"NO!" he shouted unable to control himself "No God please give her back to me"
****So will Hermione pull through or is she gone forever? Sorry guys I can't tell you that.
If you want to argue the case for Hermione dying/staying alive then just IM me or mail me!