Hermione Never Did Die
Chapter Nine
By: A. Madalong
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"My name is Herm-"
Ron's heart skipped a beat, as he lifted his eyes. The woman clearly wasn't Hermione...There was hardly any resemblance appearance wise... "But then...why do I feel as though I know her?"
"My name is Samantha Jones," the woman said, with more composure in her voice. "Who...Who are all of you?...And what am I doing here?"
Harry, hands stuffed in his black pant pockets, glanced over at Ron, hoping he would explain the 'stupefy' incident. But more importantly, hoping Ron had forgotten, or would disregard the 'Hermione' reference.
"Ahem," Harry coughed.
But Ron seemed to be in a trance- staring at Samantha Jones. He had a glassy look over his eyes, and a mixed expression of bewilderment and confusion on his face.
"Alright then," Harry muttered. "Well, Miss Samantha Jones, you seemed to have fallen out of a tree..."
"A tree?" she repeated.
"Yes...At the Abbott murder scene," Harry continued. "What exactly were you doing there, by the way?"
Samantha began to blush, and she became rather fidgety with her hands. "Well, you see...er...I'm a reporter...and-...Am I in trouble?"
Dr. Pomfrey turned towards Harry, lifting her eyebrows. "Well, as a professional, you should follow the rules of conduct. Rule breaking is a no-no."
Harry suddenly became rather fidgety like Samantha, and hunched his shoulders in shame.
"I'm sorry...You know..." Samantha stuttered. "It's just...Well...It's terrible what happened to Hannah Abbott. Yet no is reporting anything, it's all top secret. It's unfair. It's unfair that her murderer is out roaming the streets. Why Hannah was only 26! That's the same age as me!"
"What?" Ron snapped, suddenly breaking out of his transfixed state. "What did you just say?"
"Well...I said I was sorry, and that what happened to Hannah Abbott was tragic," Samantha repeated. "And that-"
"No," Ron interrupted with sudden interest. "Tell me the part about Hannah's age again...How did you know Hannah was twenty-six?"
"Well...I don't know...It's just...I guess I assumed and-"
"Tell me," Ron stated firmly. "Does the name Hermione Granger mean anything to you?"
Before Samantha could answer, Harry quickly snapped, "Ron, don't do this."
"Ssshh," Ron hissed. "Let her answer."
"Hermione Granger..." she mumbled. "The name sounds familiar...I don't know...I vaguely- I don't know why- for some reason I'm associating her name with a big snake. A silver and green snake if that makes any sense...And the snake...It- ...did the snake kill her?"
The room was suddenly struck by silence. Even Dr. Pomfrey's face paled.
"How is it that you are seeing these things? These images?" Ron asked quietly and slowly, as he gulped down a tear.
"I don't know...It's like all here in my head...But cloudy..." she said.
"Ron, can I speak with you for a moment outside?" Harry said, signalling towards the door.
Ron complied, and the two stepped outside into the busy traffic of the hospital. The putrid smell of death and illness was now a relief from the tension in the other room. For a brief moment, Ron just stood silent, concentrating on nothing but inhaling and exhaling.
"She could be a divinationist- see into the past," Harry finally said. "She could know what happened to Hermione."
"I don't know..." Ron said. "It just seems...It seems like I know her...There's a connection."
"She could be connecting you to Hermione through her," Harry suggested.
"But that would mean Hermione is dead...Muggles can only be connect to spirits...Harry, I know you disapprove of this...But I think Hermione is alive."
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A/n: I'm sooo sorry I terribly neglected this story. My excuses: a) life is CRAZY! I honestly temporarily LEFT the world of fanfiction b) this was a hard chapter to write...But alas, the plot is under control- so stayed tuned=^_^= Thanks for the reviews, please leave another =^_~= (You made it this far, why not mark yer territory?)