Hey there :) I really am terribly sorry for the extremely long wait for this chapter. I hope you will all forgive me and enjoy this next chapter! xx

Decisions

Hermione sat in the Great Hall, flicking through her Charms textbook and scrawling away furiously on a piece of parchment. Her foot and a half essay was due tomorrow and Hermione had only just started. Her workload had doubled over the past few weeks as she had been given extension work for most of her classes. To get through it all, she stayed up into the hours of the night and took Alertness Potions each morning to concentrate in class. Due to her hectic schedule, she barely had time to write more than a few words to Ron each week. She felt guilty but she couldn't help it. There was just so much to do.

Next to her, Ginny was swearing under her breath as she struggled to finish her Potions homework due in the next period. Across from her, Dean was drawing on a piece of parchment. It was of a pretty girl with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and dressed in Gryffindor Quidditch robes. Dean tapped the page with his wand and the girl sprang to life, zooming around on her broomstick and waving. Dean had obviously paid special attention to her smile, for her teeth shimmered and sparkled in the light of the sun. He eyed it proudly.

"What are you drawing?" asked Hermione as she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Nothing," Dean replied quickly, a deep blush forming across his cheeks. Seamus smirked and gave Dean a knowing glance. Dean shot him a warning look and shook his head. Hermione merely smirked and took a sip from her goblet.

"Bloody Slughorn," growled Ginny as she threw her quill down in a huff and stretched her fingers. "As if I haven't got enough homework already? I thought Potions with Snape was bad."

Hermione patted her friend on the back gently. "Don't worry, you'll manage. I think I now understand why the seventh years were always so stressed."

"But it's only the beginning of the term," complained Parvati with a frown. "I don't even want to imagine how stressed we're going to be come exam time."

Ginny gave a shudder and began rolling up her essay before stuffing it into her book bag. "I'm stressed enough already and it's only October."

"Is that your Potion's essay?" asked Luna as she approached the Gryffindor table. Ginny nodded. "That's a lovely drawing, Dean," Luna added. Dean muttered a rushed, 'thank you' before stowing the picture away in his robes. Seamus looked as though he was about to explode with roars of laughter.

"Luna?" said Neville suddenly from across the table, who appeared quite pale. "Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?"

Luna beamed at him dreamily. "Oh yes, Neville. That would be lovely."

Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks and smirked but Luna didn't seem to notice. Neville seemed rather chuffed with himself and began engaging Luna in conversation; ignoring looks from his friends.

"So, have you heard from Harry lately?" Hermione asked Ginny.

Ginny shook her head and glanced at Hermione with concern. "I haven't heard from him since before he went away on his training expedition. You don't think anything could have happened to him, do you?"

Hermione smiled and patted her friend's hand. "Of course not, Ginny. Harry's just probably busy. Ron never answers any of my letters and he's just at home."

Ginny seemed to brighten up at that thought. Poor thing, thought Hermione. It must be horrible knowing that Harry has such a dangerous job. I'm just lucky that Ron didn't get accepted. It's bad enough me worrying about Harry. At least I don't have to worry about Ron too.

A few minutes later, the post arrived and Xenia landed gracefully in front of Hermione with her leg out. Hermione stroked her affectionately, earning a soft nip on her fingers, and untied the letter from the tawny owl's leg.

"It's from Ron!" said Hermione cheerfully as she opened it. "He's finally decided to reply."

But as she read it, her cheerful mood soon vanished and was replaced with horror. She gasped and clutched her chest.

"What is it?" demanded Ginny, and she snatched the letter away from Hermione and read it herself.

"Oh my..." cried Ginny as her shock set in. She rose from her seat and race from the Great Hall. Hermione quickly followed her as snatches of Ron's letter echoed numbly through her mind

"Harry is missing... Going to find him... Don't try to follow me..."

By the time Hermione entered the Entrance Hall, Ginny was sprinting towards the front oak doors. Her eyes widened and she caught up to Ginny before she could do anything rash.

"Ginny! Wait!" Hermione shouted, pushing through a group of disgruntled Slytherins and grabbing Ginny's arm.

"Let go, Hermione! Or I'll hex you!" she threatened, as she tried to pry herself free from Hermione's grasp.

"No! Ginny, you can't –"

"Harry's... missing!" she stuttered in disbelief, and struggled harder against Hermione, who was using both her hands now. "How can he be missing?"

"I don't know," Hermione conceded. "But we can't –"

"And Ron's going after him... idiot! He's going to get himself killed!"

Ginny clamped her hand over her mouth and looked up at her Hermione – whose face had turned white and whose eyes were the size of dinner plates.

Ginny froze and turned to look at Hermione – whose face had turned white and whose eyes were the size of dinner plates.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," said Ginny hurriedly. "I didn't mean – I'm just worried."

Hermione nodded her head and gave Ginny a weak smile. "It's okay. I'm worried too." Harry was Hermione's best friend and the fact that he was missing in Norway frightened her. "But... oh, Ginny... we can't go and help Ron. We'd be interfering with the Ministry and I'm certain they'd have Aurors out there looking for him. They couldn't risk losing Harry."

"We have to follow him," Ginny argued. "We have to find Harry!"

Hermione shook her head. "No, Ginny. We can't. You saw what Ron said: 'Don't try to follow me.'"

Ginny rolled her eyes and scoffed. "And since when have you ever listened to Ron?"

"Because he's right. If we follow, we're only putting ourselves in danger. The last thing Harry would want was for you to risk your life on the off chance of finding him."

"Hermione! You honestly can't tell me you would rather sit here and eat yourself up with worry. Surely you want to make sure Harry is safe?"

"I do!" insisted Hermione, taking Ginny's hand. "If I had a choice, I would be there beside Ron, helping him find Harry. But we have to trust that Ron will find him. If anyone knows Harry, it's him."

Ginny scowled and looked away.

"Listen, I know you're worried. I am too. But the best thing we can do is remain here at school. That's what Ron and Harry would want us to do."

Ginny appeared as though she was attempting to find a loophole in Hermione's reasoning. But eventually, her shoulders slumped and she grumbled, "Fine. I'll stay here and do nothing."

Hermione watched her march angrily back into the Great Hall. Of course, Ginny would hate waiting idly while Harry was in danger – Hermione loathed the idea too. She was just glad Ginny had missed the bit in Ron's letter that the Ministry hadn't sent out help. Hermione was gripped with fear for both Harry and Ron, but she had made the right decision…hadn't she?

I kind of feel bad for Ginny right now. If it was me, I'd be saying 'bye bye Hogwarts' and 'hello Norway' to find Harry. Let's just hope that Hermione made a good decision :) Please read and review and Happy New Year! xx