-- CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE --

Dinner in the Great Hall

It was hard to ignore the looks, whispers, and giggles that erupted as Harry and Hermione entered the Great Hall. The sick feeling in the pit of Harry's stomach told him that they might have made a mistake coming to dinner with the rest of the school that night. By now everyone had heard the rumours that Ron and Hermione had been found in the dungeons together. He was too tired and too miserable to answer any more questions about it. Almost everyone was staring at them. The Slytherin table had even begun whistling at Hermione. Harry could see her face turn red and was secretly glad that Ron hadn't come to dinner with them. It was a good thing that he didn't have to endure the stares and questions that his classmates were going to have about his absence.

The noise in the hall vanished and Harry's classmates quickly found their seats around the large wooden tables that they ate their meals at. Startled by the sudden change, Harry looked around the room and noticed Headmistress McGonagall standing at the head table silently commanding order among her students.

"I have an important announcement to share before we begin tonight's meal, said the Headmistress. "A serious matter has befallen our school this past week. You might have noticed that your professors have been patrolling the castle more vigilantly, which I understand, has led to some wild rumours circulating throughout the school."

Some of the students giggled and Harry saw Seamus kick Hermione under table. Seamus' smile quickly faded as Hermione glared at him.

"Silence!" McGonagall voice echoed through the chaos in the hall.

The noise in the room was quickly replaced with the student's silent shock. Harry couldn't remember hearing McGonagall loose her temper before.

"My decision to increase the security at Hogwarts is due to an intruder that breached the school's grounds the night of the last Quidditch game. Though the intruder was unable to get within the castle walls, one of our students crossed paths with this person on the grounds. Ginny Weasley, who many may know as a sixth year student, was this unfortunate person and it cost her life."

The hall was silent. Harry looked over at Hermione. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. If they knew that McGonagall was going to use that evening's dinner to reveal Ginny's death to the school neither of them would have come.

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay here," Hermione whispered.

McGonagall paused to watch Hermione run from the hall. "Your professors and I have been speaking with the Ministry at length and since Ginny's death was a random act, the school will remain open for the remainder of term. Under the circumstances, I have put strict curfews into place for your safety. I must stress this B no student will be out of their common room after dark without written permission from myself."

Harry looked at McGonagall in disbelief. He didn't need to hear anymore. He got up from his seat to find Hermione.

*****

Hermione, curled up on a chair in front of the fireplace, was quietly sobbing as Harry walked into the common room. Without saying a word, he pulled the nearest plush chair toward her and stared at the fire.

It didn't take long for Hermione to break the silence. "I can't believe that McGonagall told everyone without even considering how we might feel. I thought that she would have at least mentioned that we have dinner with the Weasley's if she was going to tell everyone about Ginny's death. Could you imagine if Ron had decided to come to the castle with us tonight?" Hermione's eyes were red as she dabbed them with a tissue.

"It only got worse once you left. McGonagall has the students believing that they don't know who killed Ginny. She actually told them that her death was a random act."

"I can't blame her, I guess. Think of what would happen if she told everyone that one of their professors had come back to Hogwarts and started murdering his students. Parents would be pulling their children from classes before the owl post arrives in the morning, said Hermione."

Students had started returning to the common room after dinner. As the curfew was already in effect, the common room was more crowded than usual. Trying to avoid the questions that would no doubtly come, Harry and Hermione quickly said goodnight and left for their dormitories. Changing into his pyjamas, Harry noticed a small envelope that had been placed on his bed. Opening it, he examined the loopy handwriting on the parchment inside.

I give Harry Potter permission to leave

the dormitories after dinner tomorrow, the

first day of November,

in order to visit me in my office.

Headmistress M. McGonagall