Chapter
49
No Title
Whatever Harry was planning, he was keeping it a secret. Ron and Hermione didn't even know what was going on. Both Ron and Hermione wanted to talk to Harry, even if it was just to say hello, but Harry was too busy with his plans. When Ron and Hermione tried to ask him in class, all he said was that he was still working on it, and he would tell them later.
Ron remembered what happened the last time he and Hermione tried to confront Harry. It was the following Sunday morning in the Great Hall...
Flashback
begins: Ron and Hermione were sitting at the Gryffindor table
for breakfast. Hermione was reading in her Advanced Transfiguration
book. "Hermione, aren't you going to eat?" Ron
asked. "I am eating," Hermione said, grabbing a
piece of bacon without taking her eye off her book. "What
are you reading?" Ron asked. "I am trying to study
up for the Metamorphmagus test on Tuesday," Hermione
said. "Don't you know all of it already?" Ron
asked. "Most of it," Hermione said. "Put
the book down, Mione," Ron said. "In a couple
minutes," Hermione said. Ron sighed and looked around the
room. Someone up at the staff table caught his attention. "What
is he doing here?" Ron asked, pointing to Cornelius Fudge. "It
is rude to point, Ronald," Hermione said, her attention still on
the book, "He is Co-Deputy Headmaster, remember?" "Well,
this is the only time I have seen him since the opening feast,
Hermione," Ron said. "He comes and goes,"
Hermione said, "He is only here to make sure the security is
right." "I wonder what else he is doing," Ron
said, "If he is not here all the time." "How do
you know he is not here all the time?" Hermione said, "Have
you been watching his every move?" "No!" Ron
said. "Well have you ever thought that it might be none
of your business?" Hermione asked. "Fine, forget I
asked," Ron said, taking a bite of bacon, "So where is
Harry?" "Who knows," Hermione said, rolling her
eyes, "I don't really care where he is. If he doesn't say
anything to us besides 'I will tell you later', then I couldn't
really give a damn where he is. Can I get back to my reading?" "That
is kind of harsh, Mione," Ron said, "He might be really
busy." "He hasn't included us in it, has he?"
Hermione asked, "He promised that we would be included, and I am
having trouble counting how many times he has broken that
promise!" Ron was about to say something, but Ginny had
walked over to them. "Have you seen Harry lately?"
Ginny asked, "He has been ignoring me." "You
aren't the only one," Ron muttered. "What is going
on with that boy?" Ginny said, rolling her eyes, "He's been
like this since... since you guys met up with Dobby? Hey! How did
that go?" "Harry didn't tell you?" Hermione
asked, putting her book down. "Finally in the
conversation, are you?" Ron asked. Hermione rolled her
eyes. "No," Ginny said, shaking her head, "He
didn't tell me a thing." "You may get a chance to
ask him," Hermione said, nodding at the doors of the Great
Hall. Ron turned around. He saw Harry, who made no movement
toward the Gryffindor table. Instead, he walked toward the staff
table. Ron turned around and looked at Hermione and Ginny. "What
is he doing?" Ron asked. "Maybe he wants to talk to
Fudge?" Hermione asked. "I doubt it," Ginny
said, "After what happened the last time he talked to him." Ron
watched Harry, who looked as if he was talking to McGonagall and
Fudge. A couple seconds later, McGonagall nodded and smiled. Harry
turned around and walked over to the Gryffindor table. "Where
have you been?" Ron asked, "And what was that all about?
What did you talk to McGonagall --" Harry put a finger to
his mouth and motioned around the table. "Too many people
around," Harry said, "Good day." "Harry!"
Hermione said, "Talk to us! What is going on?" Harry
just smiled and piled some bacon and scrambled eggs on a plate then
walked away. "Harry James Potter!" Ginny
said. Harry just waved at them and walked out of the Great
Hall. "Bloody git!" Hermione said, sighing
loudly. "I swear to you right now," Ginny said, "If
I don't get a word from him for the rest of the day, then I... I...
well, let's just see how he likes the silent treatment!" Ginny
sighed and stood up, then walked out of the Great Hall. "Blimey,"
Ron said, looking at the door where Ginny had just disappeared out
of, "I almost feel bad for Harry." Hermione stared
at Ron. Ron looked back at her and grinned. "Almost,"
Ron said. End
Flashback
------------------------------------------------
Ron
woke up the next morning and got dressed in his robes. He walked into
the hallway to go toward the bathroom, then noticed that the light
was off in Hermione's room.
"She isn't up yet?" Ron muttered to himself, "It is six-thirty. I better wake her up."
He walked over to the door of Hermione's bedroom and knocked on it.
"Mione?" he said.
No answer.
"Hermione?" he asked, knocking on the door again, "It is six-thirty."
"I am not feeling too well today, Ron," Hermione said, "I think I have a cold. I think I am going to skip the classes today. Tell the professors I will make up the work."
"Can I come in then?" Ron asked.
"No!" Hermione said, quickly.
Ron raised his eyebrow at this, but quickly dismissed the thought in his head.
"I-I mean... no, you should go," Hermione said, "If you don't go now, you won't be able to eat breakfast. I love you. I'll see you later."
Hermione coughed and Ron sighed.
"Are you sure?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Hermione said, coughing again, "I will be fine."
"Oh," Ron said, "Okay. I will see you later. I love you, Mione."
"I love you too, Won-Won," Hermione said, before sniffling.
"Take care of that runny nose," Ron said, "Go see Madam Pomfrey a little later."
"I will," Hermione said, "See you later."
Ron sighed and walked away from the door. He went to the bathroom, then went to his room and put the ward up, then went to the Common Room. Harry and Ginny were there.
"Where's Hermione?" Ginny asked, when she noticed that Ron had come down alone.
"She isn't feeling too well," Ron said, "She said she would skip her classes today. I told her to go to Madam Pomfrey."
"Well, let's go down to breakfast then," Harry said.
Ron agreed and followed Harry and Ginny out of the common room.
---------------------------------
After
breakfast, Ron and Harry made their way to the Defense Against the
Dark Arts classroom. When they went inside, Tonks was there.
"Is Professor Lupin busy today?" Harry asked Tonks.
"Let's just say that it's that time of the month," Tonks said, grinning.
"What?" Ron asked, clueless.
"Last night was a full moon," Harry muttered to Ron.
"Oh," Ron said, "I see."
"Where is Hermione?" Tonks asked.
"She didn't feel too well," Ron said, "She asked me to collect the homework."
"I am afraid there won't be much to give her today," Tonks said, "We are doing something practical today."
"Brilliant," Ron said.
"Tomorrow is your Metamorphmagus test," Tonks said, "Have you been studying for it?"
"Yeah," Ron said.
"That's good," Tonks said, "All right, take your seats, please. Class will start shortly."
Harry and Ron sat in the front row. Ron decided he should question Harry now that Harry couldn't go anywhere.
"So are you going to tell me what you've been doing these past few days?" Ron whispered.
"There isn't much to tell you right now," Harry whispered.
"Come on," Ron whispered, "Does it have anything to do with the--" He looked around the class to make sure no one was listening. "The you-know-whats?"
"I can't tell you right now," Harry whispered.
"You promised you wouldn't exclude Hermione and I from this, Harry!" Ron said, just above a whisper.
"Shh!" Harry whispered, "I will tell you later. I need to figure everything out before I tell you, okay? Please stop asking me about it. Jeez, you're worse than your sister."
"What?" Ron asked.
"She said that if I didn't tell her," Harry said, "then she wouldn't snog me until I did tell her."
"Ouch," Ron said, grinning.
"I know," Harry said, rolling his eyes, "You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?"
"No!" Ron said, "She just told Hermione and I that she would give you the silent treatment."
"Damn," Harry said.
"And what is this about you not hanging around her much?" Ron asked, "I thought you would be with her when you weren't around Hermione and I. She said you haven't been around her alot."
"I've been busy," Harry said, "And no, I won't tell you so don't ask."
"Fine," Ron said.
Ron sighed. Well, no one could accuse him for not trying. Maybe Hermione would have a better chance. Right now, Ron was really missing Hermione. He wished the class would get over quickly so he could see her.
But it turned out that he was busy after class. Before his next class, he had to do his Head Boy duties. He found that he had to do them twice as much because Hermione was sick. With classes and duties, and a break to eat, he didn't get a chance to check on Hermione till around six-o-clock in the evening.
Ron walked up to his bedroom, then out to the hall and toward Hermione's bedroom. He knocked on the door.
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
Nothing. He knocked on the door again. Maybe she was lying down.
"Hermione?" Ron asked again.
Nothing.
"Won-Won," Ron said, lifting the ward from Hermione's room.
He opened the door and walked in. Hermione wasn't in her bed.
"Where is she?" Ron asked himself.
He walked out of the room and closed the door. He then walked into the bathroom. She wasn't in there either. Ron sighed and walked back into his bedroom, then down the stairs toward the Common Room.
"Has anyone seen Hermione?" Ron asked loud enough so everyone could hear.
"No, sorry, mate," Colin Creevey said, "Do you need help looking for her?
"No," Ron said, "Thanks, though."
Ron walked toward the portrait hole. When he walked out of the Common Room, Harry and Ginny were walking toward him.
"Have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked.
"I thought she was up in her room," Ginny said.
"She isn't up there," Ron said.
"Maybe she went to the Hospital Wing," Harry said.
"Yeah," Ron said, "I will go check."
"We will come with you," Harry said.
Ron, Harry and Ginny walked over to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey was there putting stuff in the large medicine cabinet.
"Is Hermione Granger here?" Ron asked Madam Pomfrey.
"No, dear," Pomfrey said, "I haven't seen her all day."
"What?" Ron asked, "She said she would come up here. She wasn't feeling too well."
"Well, sorry, dear," Pomfrey said, "If I see here, I will tell her you were looking for her."
"Thanks," Ron said.
Ron sighed and walked out of the room with Harry and Ginny.
"Where could she be?" Ron asked.
"Should we go see McGonagall?" Ginny asked.
"No," Harry said, "I think that is overreact--"
"No, Ginny is right," Ron said, "I think we need to see her. Come on."
Ron, Harry and Ginny walked to Professor McGonagall's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," McGonagall said.
Ron opened the door.
"I was expecting you Harry," McGonagall said, before realizing that Ron and Ginny were with him, "Oh? Is something wrong?"
"We can't find Hermione, Professor," Ron said.
"Well, come in then," McGonagall said, "And close the door."
Ron, Harry and Ginny walked in and Ginny shut the door.
"Tonks told me that you said Hermione wasn't feeling well," McGonagall said.
"Yes, mam," Ron said, "I asked her if she was all right, and she was coughing and didn't sound too good. Well, I went to check up on her a few minutes ago, and she wasn't in her bedroom. She said she might go to the Hospital Wing, but Madam Pomfrey said she hadn't seen her all day."
McGonagall was about to talk, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," McGonagall said.
The door opened and a boy walked in. Ron recognized him. It was the Slytherin prefect, Xavier.
"May I help you?" McGonagall asked.
"Actually I was looking for Harry and Ron," Xavier said.
"May I ask why?" McGonagall asked.
"I have a letter for them," Xavier said, "It is from Draco Malfoy."
------------------------------------------- There was no title for this chapter cause
it would give away too much. Hope you liked the chapter. Feedback
is appreciated.
Cliffhanger!!!
Gotta love those!
