Chapter 21: Comfort and Sorrow
"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit! Lily, what am I going to do?" Hermione wailed hysterically, "I can't leave the room and I can't find my wand! I think I left it in my dorm room, so I can't focus my power on even the most basic spell and I think there are some pretty powerful wards on this door! I can't even find a door knob or handle, either!"
Her heart was beating in her chest as though it would burst through her skin at any moment. She had been glowered at a number of times by the former potions master and she had no idea how he was going react to finding her in this state when he returned, but she knew that all of the options were anywhere from terrible to absolutely loathsome.
Hermione. I want you to take a deep breath.
Hermione laughed hysterically at Lily's suggestion. A ghost- or whatever the hell she was-telling her to take a deep breath?! The world was going mad around her.
Hermione, listen. You've had a terrible shock, but I'm going to help you as much as I can in my state, and I just want you to know…I think, all things considered, you're handling things surprisingly well.
"Well bully for me! Why not just have a party while we are at it?! The theme can be 'Hermione is now a ruined woman, so let's all laugh at her'! Well?! Aren't you going to laugh at me?!"
Hermione. I would never do that. And you're not ruined.
"Well then, what do YOU suggest?" Hermione heaved, a few stray tears still stuck to her cheeks.
Hermione, there's a shower here. You can get yourself cleaned up and you'll be able to think more clearly.
"But what if HE comes back?!" Hermione pointed a shaking finger at the door to the chamber as she tried to stop the tears and compose herself, "He-he-he's going to want to murder me! He's going to scream and-an-"
Hermione, I'm going to do my best not to let that happen. Remember, I know Sev better than I think he even knows himself. Now, let's go into the shower. I have a theory I want you to test. It may just solve the yelling problem.
Hermione looked down at her abdomen, still painfully aware of what Lily had mentioned earlier.
"And what about..?" she sniffed sadly.
For all we know, it didn't take. We will just have to see if you start...er...your "monthly curse" as you so eloquently put it? It's a good thing Remus isn't here. He might be offended.
"You know about his...er...'furry little problem'?" Hermione smiled sadly.
I can explain while you're getting nice and clean in the shower. Come on, now. You will feel like a new person afterwards.
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Pun intended?" she said, wiping a tear that had slid under her jaw.
Lilly's giggles were like silver bells that echoed ethereally as they followed her into the shower, and somehow Hermione felt a teensy tiny bit better, even though she knew she should still be angry at the girl who had taken over her body the night before. She felt a pang of guilt, wondering if she'd done something to deserve or cause her current predicament, but she kept it buried in her heart because she couldn't find the words to say it out loud. That would make it more uncomfortably real than she could bear. Best to focus on getting cleaned up first. Thinking could come later.
Neither of them noticed that the golden patterns on the door to the chamber behind them were slowly beginning to reappear.