Worthy : Chapter 2
18-May-2022
Harry's POV
(Grimmauld palace)
It felt like...like warmth, like safety, like belonging..like home...it felt
like my Hermione. Of course it felt like her, it was her magic after all.
Magic. I almost bounded someone's magic. Magic which felt so alive. I almost
killed it. Not anyone's. I did it to her. To my Hermione. Not my any more. She
must hate me. I am supposed to be her best friend. What have I done? How could
I be so stupid? To bind something so alive and especially her's. Argghh! I feel
like tearing all my hairs and bang my head at the wall. Hermione. I have to
find her and apologize. I hurt her. I look around. She is not here. Twins and
Remus are absent too. Rest of the occupants of the room are looking at me some
sadly like the Weaselys, some angry like Tonks, and some mixed of both like
Sirius, professor Dumbledore and McGonagall and even Professor Snape gave me
you-are-top-class-dunderhead look before looking unintrested, though he always
looks at me like that so I won't be so sure about him. I should find Hermione
before she leaves.. Is that footsteps? May be they brought her back. I perk up
and look at the door when it opens revealing the three pranksters. She is not
with them. Perhaps she went to washroom I saw her eyes when she left. I made
her cry.
"She's gone." Remus answered the unasked question.
What..
"We followed her but..." Fred answered. Or is that George?
"she was already in the parking lot..." The other twin added
"Starting her motorbike..."
"Drove away before we could reach..."
"Ignoring our calls." They finished together. They seems to read each others mind. Like she could always read mine.
She left. No she never left me before. But I never forced her to leave me
before either.
I never felt so empty.
I must find her.
"Pup " I looked up to see Sirius staring at me. He seem concerned. Well it a
concerning matter. I hurt her. I must find her.
" Mione, I have to find her" I answered.
He looked pained "she went home, pup" He says cautiously. No. No. I must find
her. I must apologise.
I stood up to leave but Sirius held my hand. "Where are you going Harry?"
"Mione" I replied with a look that said to stop asking silly questions. And
turned around to leave ..
"No" what! I turned back so fast its a wonder I didn't broke my neck. "You
are not going anywhere." Don't they understand I have to find her. It's
important. She is important.
"Sirius, please let me go." I struggle within his hold.
"Harry sit down. It's not safe for you to leave the house."
"You all let her leave alone. We have to find her before something happens."
Oh no! Mione I won't let you get hurt again. Never again.
"Harry look at me." The command in his voice forced me to to look at him. "Do
you know where she lives?" No I don't. How do I don't know this? "We will
contact her parents to know if she reached home." I nod. Yeah that's good. But
I still have to talk to her. Sirius is still talking though. " Good. Tonks if
you could check on her." Tonks know where she lives but how? Sirius must have
seen my confusion as he answered "She went along with Mooney to bring her here
last summer." He means she tad along to flirt with Remus while he brought Mione
here. We shared a smile. It fell away from my face too soon.
"Albus, why don't we all settle down for the order meeting till Tonks return.
And the kids can go upstairs." That earned Remus a dirty look from the twins,
Ginny and Ron. He raised his hand in placating gesture." If you have issues,
talk to your mum." That had all of them readying themselves to leave for their
room.
"She is at her home. I talked with the Granger's househelp." Tonks anounnced
as soon as she entered. She is safe. Some tension leaves me. If I could just
talk to her now.
"Not now Harry. Let her cool down." Sirius whispered. Yeah she must be angry
but I deserve it. How many time had she taken the burnt of her anger even
though it was not her fault? Last year when I arrived is one such example.
Everyone must have left while we were talking, Ron is waiting for me at door to
join him. He must have known that I still want to talk to Mione cause Sirius
stopped me from leaving the now almost empty living room by a hand on my
shoulder and telling Ron "He will join you shortly." Ron leaves after I gave
him a nod.
Seeing my questioning look he stated "Promise me you won't do anything rash.
Like going at her home while the rest of us are in the meeting." Dam! Why
didn't I think of that. I could have used the telephone book for her parents
phone number. He mistook my surprised gaze as confirmation and said "I never
knew I would say this but be serious Harry and think before charging into
situations. I know I haven't and have paid for my mistakes. Hell you have paid
for my mistakes." I know he is talking about when he went after Peter insted of
going to Dumbledore with me. I have already forgiven him but he doesn't seems
to let go of his guilt. He is right I know but this is important. If only I
could make him understand. I try.
"I was wrong."
"I know." He did tried to warn me.
"I have to apologize." His eyes softens.
"I know." He replies softly.
"She is angry. I hurt her."
" I know." He replies again. Oh Merlin. I hurt her. I tried to take away her
magic. She must hate me.
" She hates me." My eyes are burning. I am already so ashamed of what I nearly
did that I do not feel any shame in crying in front of him. He hugged me close.
He let me cry.
" No. She doesn't." I pulled away slightly and gave him a sceptical look.
"Alright Just a little bit." I just raise my eyebrow. "Or a lot." Definitely a
lot. " But she is smart and understands you and most of all love you. You are
her best friend. She will forgive you. Eventually." I don't know whom he is
trying to convince, me or his ownself. But i appreciate it all the same.
"You must think I am such a crybaby." I say while wiping my eyes.
" Naah. I cried for hours after the full moon incident with Snape and Mooney
when it finally hit what I almost did. Your dad held me eventhough he was not
talking to me then."
"Then why did you did that?"
"I honestly thought that Snape knew. He was always giving hints and as much as
it pains me to say he is intelligent. It wasn't difficult to connect the
pattern of Mooney's I'll health and fullmoon. I thought he figured it out but
had no proof or power to go against Dumbledore. I was angry after he and his
housemates made fun of me being thrown out of my house. When his friends left
he started taking a go on Mooney. And I just challenged him to see Remus on a
full moon. After allWho goes to visit a werewolf on full moon." At my look he
adds " except animagi. Beside Slytherin are all about self preservation . But
only he was bluffing about him knowing and the rest you know." We sat in
silence for a few minutes. After few minutes he slapped my shoulder and got up
to join the meeting. " Everything will be fine Harry. Give it time. We can even
decide how you can beg for her forgiveness after diner and perhaps woo her in
the process." He added the last part along with a wink. I glare at him to fight
my blush. He stopped at the door and said over his shoulder " And stop raising
your eyebrows like that. You look like Snape." He added a dramatic shudder at
the end. I threw him a dirty look while scowling at him. He smirked and left.
I heaved a sigh and went upstair to my room.
I met Ron on the way who offered to play a round of chess all the while
ignoring my puffy red eyes and tear streaked face. I declined.
I felt asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.