CHAPTER 2 - THE SECRET REVEALED
"There's nothing wrong, Professor. I've just got a lot on my mind, that's all. You know how it is, with the N.E.W.T.S. coming up and all." She dropped her eyes and stared at her hands, which were fidgeting nervously.
McGonagol looked at her suspiciously, but didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Hermione knew she didn't believe her. She stole a glance at McGonagol's face, and what she saw made her freeze. She'd expected to see anger for not telling her what she wanted to know. But she didn't see anger. Instead she saw compassion. McGonagol didn't know exactly what was wrong, but she did know that something was wrong. Something serious. After a long moment, she finally nodded.
"All right. You may leave Hermione. Just remember, I'm always here if you need to talk."
Grateful for the escape, Hermione dashed from the room.
*----------*----------*----------*
After taking a moment to compose herself, Hermione walked into Charms class and headed to a chair between Ron and Harry. They glanced curiously at her for a second, then turned to listen to Professor Flitwick talk about Hovering Charms. Hermione knew they were worried about her, but how could she tell them there was nothing to worry about without telling them her secret? And they could never find out her secret! She could see the looks on their faces now: full of anger and disgust. They would hate her. No. They could definitely never find out!
The trio headed towards the Great Hall for lunch, but not before bumping into none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Well, hello Hermione. Fancy seeing you here." Draco's voice dripped with sarcasm, and Hermione could feel Ron and Harry going tense. They obviously sensed the dread the Hermione now felt.
Ron and Harry glared at Draco, while he sneered wickedly at Hermione, who just wished she could sink into the floor. After what seemed like hours, Harry finally grabbed Hermione by the arm and dragged her past Malfoy and into the Great Hall. Ron followed closely behind.
They hurried to their seats, and Hermione quickly grabbed a ham sandwich and some Pumpkin Juice, still wanting to sink into the floor. Thankfully, the meal passed in silence, though Harry and Ron looked at her with looks of worry plastered on their faces. The inevitable finally came, though, when they reached the Common Room for their hour-long break before Potions. After checking to make sure the room was empty, Ron and Harry turned on Hermione, determined looks on their faces. Hermione gulped and glanced down.
"All right Hermione, what is it?" Ron spoke first. "And don't you dare tell us 'nothing' or 'I'm just tired' or any of that crap. Something is wrong and I want to know what!" He glared at her, not noticing the silent tears streaming down Hermione's face.
Harry, on the other hand, did notice the tears, and stepped forward, bringing Hermione into a hug. "We just want to help, Hermione. What is it? What's wrong?"
'Why can't they just leave me alone? Why can't everyone just leave me alone!' Hermione's thoughts were running wild. She had to get away from here! They couldn't find out! She turned to run, but Harry held fast. She struggled for a minute, then finally collapsed against Harry and sobbed. Harry, unable to hold her up any longer, lowered her gently to the floor, and just let her cry.
Ron looked on nervously, then sat down near Harry and began to rub Hermione's back gently. "It's OK, Hermione. We're here for you. We're not going anywhere." Ron muttered quietly, trying to comfort her. Harry nodded in agreement.
After a while, Hermione's sobs began to quiet. She wiped her nose and dried her eyes with her sleeve, then Harry helped her to an easy chair, then sat on the arm and stroked her hand. Ron knelt on the other side of the chair, and nodded encouragingly at Hermione.
Hermione looked up at the boys, then asked tentatively, "Are you sure you want to know?" They both nodded immediately, waiting for her to go on. Hermione took a deep, shuddering breath, then began.
Sorry about the cliffhanger.again! But I had to do some explaining before Hermione confessed, and I didn't want to make the chapter too long! Well, I am going to upload this chapter tonight, and then we are going to a Christmas Party, so you won't get chapter 3 until tomorrow night sometime. (After all.tomorrow is Christmas, don't ya know?) Sorry if you don't celebrate Christmas, but you still understand the busy-ness, don't you? Well, enough chatter! I g2g, see you tomorrow sometime!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
"There's nothing wrong, Professor. I've just got a lot on my mind, that's all. You know how it is, with the N.E.W.T.S. coming up and all." She dropped her eyes and stared at her hands, which were fidgeting nervously.
McGonagol looked at her suspiciously, but didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Hermione knew she didn't believe her. She stole a glance at McGonagol's face, and what she saw made her freeze. She'd expected to see anger for not telling her what she wanted to know. But she didn't see anger. Instead she saw compassion. McGonagol didn't know exactly what was wrong, but she did know that something was wrong. Something serious. After a long moment, she finally nodded.
"All right. You may leave Hermione. Just remember, I'm always here if you need to talk."
Grateful for the escape, Hermione dashed from the room.
*----------*----------*----------*
After taking a moment to compose herself, Hermione walked into Charms class and headed to a chair between Ron and Harry. They glanced curiously at her for a second, then turned to listen to Professor Flitwick talk about Hovering Charms. Hermione knew they were worried about her, but how could she tell them there was nothing to worry about without telling them her secret? And they could never find out her secret! She could see the looks on their faces now: full of anger and disgust. They would hate her. No. They could definitely never find out!
The trio headed towards the Great Hall for lunch, but not before bumping into none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Well, hello Hermione. Fancy seeing you here." Draco's voice dripped with sarcasm, and Hermione could feel Ron and Harry going tense. They obviously sensed the dread the Hermione now felt.
Ron and Harry glared at Draco, while he sneered wickedly at Hermione, who just wished she could sink into the floor. After what seemed like hours, Harry finally grabbed Hermione by the arm and dragged her past Malfoy and into the Great Hall. Ron followed closely behind.
They hurried to their seats, and Hermione quickly grabbed a ham sandwich and some Pumpkin Juice, still wanting to sink into the floor. Thankfully, the meal passed in silence, though Harry and Ron looked at her with looks of worry plastered on their faces. The inevitable finally came, though, when they reached the Common Room for their hour-long break before Potions. After checking to make sure the room was empty, Ron and Harry turned on Hermione, determined looks on their faces. Hermione gulped and glanced down.
"All right Hermione, what is it?" Ron spoke first. "And don't you dare tell us 'nothing' or 'I'm just tired' or any of that crap. Something is wrong and I want to know what!" He glared at her, not noticing the silent tears streaming down Hermione's face.
Harry, on the other hand, did notice the tears, and stepped forward, bringing Hermione into a hug. "We just want to help, Hermione. What is it? What's wrong?"
'Why can't they just leave me alone? Why can't everyone just leave me alone!' Hermione's thoughts were running wild. She had to get away from here! They couldn't find out! She turned to run, but Harry held fast. She struggled for a minute, then finally collapsed against Harry and sobbed. Harry, unable to hold her up any longer, lowered her gently to the floor, and just let her cry.
Ron looked on nervously, then sat down near Harry and began to rub Hermione's back gently. "It's OK, Hermione. We're here for you. We're not going anywhere." Ron muttered quietly, trying to comfort her. Harry nodded in agreement.
After a while, Hermione's sobs began to quiet. She wiped her nose and dried her eyes with her sleeve, then Harry helped her to an easy chair, then sat on the arm and stroked her hand. Ron knelt on the other side of the chair, and nodded encouragingly at Hermione.
Hermione looked up at the boys, then asked tentatively, "Are you sure you want to know?" They both nodded immediately, waiting for her to go on. Hermione took a deep, shuddering breath, then began.
Sorry about the cliffhanger.again! But I had to do some explaining before Hermione confessed, and I didn't want to make the chapter too long! Well, I am going to upload this chapter tonight, and then we are going to a Christmas Party, so you won't get chapter 3 until tomorrow night sometime. (After all.tomorrow is Christmas, don't ya know?) Sorry if you don't celebrate Christmas, but you still understand the busy-ness, don't you? Well, enough chatter! I g2g, see you tomorrow sometime!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!