Chapter Twenty-One: Trouble in Hogsmeade

The weekend arrived quickly, and even faster for Hermione who rarely looked at her classes as a chore or something to dread. The morning appointed for their Hogsmeade trip was beautiful; it was the first clear spring morning they had had that year.

It was obvious to Hermione how disappointed Harry was that he couldn't go to Hogsmeade as the trio walked to the entrance hall. He told she and Ron what he planned to do while they were gone for the day, but Hermione still stood by her suggestion of placing all his efforts into trying to get Slugorn to reveal the memory, not investigating Malfoy or the Room of Requirement. Harry angrily replied that he had been trying to, but Slughorn was wise to him.

"Well, we've got to get going," Hermione said as she watched the other students lining up to pass through Filch's inspection. The caretaker was always entirely too eager to poke and prod them with that Secrecy Sensor of his. "We'll see you later, Harry."

"Good luck," Harry waved half-heartedly as he started to walk away, definitely not on his way to take her suggestion, and she knew it.

The Apparition lesson went well. Hermione had Apparated "perfectly," as Twycross put it. Ron had executed the lesson better than he ever had before; his mark was to land outside Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, but he managed, instead, to at least land near Scrivenshaft's. He'd scared an older wizard coming out of the shop, causing him to spill his new bag of writing quills all over the street.

Hermione and Ron were now seated by themselves a few feet away from the rest of the students. They'd all stopped off at the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. Even from the other end of the table she could hear Twycross talking about Hermione. "I'll be right back," she said under her breath to Ron.

He downed his mouthful of butterbeer. "Where are you going?"

"Callum's staying here while he's posted at the school. I thought I'd pop up and say hello."

"How do you know he's here? Maybe he's up at the castle," Ron retorted.

"He won't be back at the castle until Monday," she said as if it was obvious.

"Don't you think it's a little..." Ron colored and then continued. "...inappropriate to be going up to his room...?"

"Ronald!" Hermione snapped as quietly as her temper would allow. "How ridiculous! I'm just going to say hello."

Ron slumped back in defeat in his chair as she quietly slipped from her chair across from him and over to the stairs of the inn. She could still hear Twycross singing her praises as she ascended the stairs.

Room six, she thought to herself, recalling a conversation Callum and she had had weeks earlier when taking a stroll across the grounds. She smiled softly, happy at the prospect of seeing him, and rapped on the door.

It was a moment before the door opened, and Hermione couldn't help but gape. There stood Callum unlike she had ever seen him: his eyes were red and his face pale, his clothes disheveled. "Callum-" she said with immediate concern, "Are you sick?"

It was obvious that she was the last person he'd expected to see. "No, no— I'm perfectly well," he replied, "What are you doing here?"

"The apparition lesson— it's today. We stopped in for a quick butterbeer..."

"It's foolish of them not to take you all back to the castle immediately," he sighed.

"Callum, what's wrong—"

The sound of seats being pushed back and people moving about below echoed up the stairs. "It sounds like they're leaving. You'd better go."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong," Hermione insisted, ever stubborn.

"Hermione. Please just leave." It was the shortest he'd ever been with her, and Hermione had to admit to herself that hearing him take that tone with her made her almost sick.

But then he seemed to realize himself, and with a soft sigh that Hermione suspected wasn't directed at her, he led her gently by the arm down the hallway and to the top of the stairs. Hermione heard the students shuffling out the door below. "I'll see you the day after tomorrow?" she asked tentatively, her eyes not leaving Callum's face for even a second.

Callum shook his head. "It'll probably be a few days until I see you again."

Hermione's worry and concern must have clearly shown on her face because Callum carefully pushed a strand of her brown hair from her face and smiled for her benefit. "You know you have the most beautiful hair in the world?"

Under any other circumstances Hermione probably would've blushed, but she was too distracted at the moment. He softly and almost silently kissed her forehead and then took a step back from her. "Don't worry. I'll find you first chance I get."

"Callum..." she attempted once more.

His only response was a slight gesture of his head toward the stairs, and Hermione had no choice but to descend the wooden stairs, glancing anxiously back at him several times along the way.

"There you are," Ron, who was standing by the door waiting for her, said when he saw her. "I didn't think you'd ever come down. What's the matter? You and Callum have a row?"

Hermione didn't answer. She simply made her way outside.

Author's Note: Will I ever post updates regularly? I'm sorry for the delay, again! I actually had this chapter done and ready to upload last week and forgot. I hope you're all having a good week.