Chapter Nineteen
Another day passed. A week. I was almost a month since Ron had left, and still they had heard nothing from him. No word from the hospital, except that he wasn't allowed visitors. She had asked Professor McGonagall if his parents had been notified, and the teacher had promptly changed the subject. She, Parvati and Lavender had been harrying the Ministry about looking for Harry and Ginny, but had received no productive responses.
Is this what a black hole feels like? Hermione wondered one night as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. You just keep going down and you can't come back out or even stop? Is there nothing you can do? She turned over and looked at the clock. One thirty in the morning. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. Can't you fight it at all? Does it make a difference, or does it just make things worse?
Classes during the past few weeks had been torture. She couldn't concentrate at all, and it seemed like all her teachers were overly tense. Hermione thought that if she passed her mid-term exam, it would be a miracle.
It was after dinner one night in December, and Hermione was wandering around outside on the grounds, looking at the lights that adorned the trees and the decorations that had been put up. She was almost cheerful- unusual for her, these days- when she heard a voice behind her hiss, "Mudblood!"
She spun around and saw Pansy Parkinson standing behind her, flanked by Millicent Bluesdoe and Blaise Zabini. Hermione raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Mudblood," Pansy repeated. Paused. Then spoke again. "Did you hear the latest news about your boyfriend?"
Hermione blinked. "News?"
Blaise stepped forward, rolling her eyes. "News, Muggle. More rumors." Her eyes glittered evilly, and Hermione narrowed her own and took a step back.
"What news?" she asked harshly. "What are you saying?"
Pansy looked interested. "You don't know?" She raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "Well, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."
Hermione snorted. "I'm not sure I want to know," she retorted. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to my dorm." And she pushed past them and walked the long walk back to the Gryffindor tower.
She sat on her bed, not doing anything, just staring at the wall, legs crossed and hands on her knees. She tried not to think about what Pansy had said. The last thing she needed was more news that Ron was a criminal or something. She closed her eys ad tried to shove thoughts of Pansy out of her head.
Oh, Angel
I feel it's not you.
Angel
I wish it were not true.
And as I walk to the beat of my heart inside, I feel like letting go.
Oh darling now, in my dreams you'll be tonight…
What on Earth more could possibly happen to her. Hadn't fate struck at Hermione and her friends enough? Pansy must be trying to work me up, she thought desperately. She doesn't mean it. She's just trying to make me believe things that aren't true.
Oh, Mr. Postman
Give me a sign.
Tell me you've a letter
To make me feel fine.
Oh, don't you know, I am waiting here for you.
Tell me it will be here tonight.
I should get dressed for bed, Hermione thought. It was well past nine o'clock, and she had school in the morning. Anything to keep her from thinking about this.
Baby
It's the way that I feel.
Baby
My heart it won't conceal.
And as I walk to the beat of my heart inside, I feel like letting go.
Oh darling now, in my dreams you'll be tonight.
She reached for her tee shirt, to pull it off and put on her jammies, but stopped as Parvati came around the corner, looking grim.
"Hermione?" Parvati called, not seeing her.
"I'm right here," Hermione said quietly. "What is it?"
Parvati walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. "Professor McGonagall wants to see you," she informed her. "She's waiting in the common room."
Hermione sighed and stood up. Now what?
Oh, Mr. Postman
Give me a sign.
Tell me you've a letter
To make me feel fine.
Oh, don't you know, I am waiting here for you.
Tell me it will be here tonight.
The professor was standing at the foot of the stairs, tapping her foot impatiently. She smiled gently when she saw her student, though. "Ah, Hermione," she said. "Please follow me, there is something I need to discuss with you."
Hermione frowned, but followed the professor to a secluded corner of the room where no one would overhear them and sat down. "Yes?" she asked.
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, then shut it quickly. She watched Hermione for a moment, without saying anything. She seemed to be arguing with herself. She finally stood up and offered a hand to Hermione. "Come with me, my dear," she said quietly. "There is someone here to see you."
She took the offered hand, and McGonagall pulled her out of her seat. She followed the teacher through the many hallways, taking in the newly added Christmas decorations. They were so cheerful, and it almost made her sick. How could people possibly be happy in a situation like this? She and Professor McGonagall turned corners, climbed countless stairways, until Hermione was sure they would walk right out the top of the school at any moment, when the professor stopped walking.
They were in a small hallway, containing about ten doors. A plaque above the door read "Guest Wing". Hermione frowned. Who on Earth would be meeting with her in a guestroom?
Professor McGonagall opened the first door and ushered Hermione inside. She looked around. It was much like a Muggle hotel room in many ways. A double bed in the center, a chest of drawers, a writing desk- no television, of course- and an adjoining bathroom. She glanced around the room for the visitor, but found no one. She turned to McGonagall. "Professor, who-"
But McGonagall held up a hand and back out of the room, closing the door behind her. Hermione was alone.
"Hello?" she called. "Who's there?"
He stepped out from behind the bed, where he had been sitting, drawing in his sketchbook, making her jump.
"I told you I'd come back," he said, amused.
Dear God.
It was Ron.
'