Disclaimer: Me not own. Me = stupid primate. JKR own. JKR = goddess.
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le pressentiment [= presentiment; vague feeling that sth will happen; foreboding]
The next days passed in such a blurry haze that Hermione would not have been able to say anything specific about them, had she been asked afterward. Needless to say, the other students, including Ron and Harry were astonished, not to say thunderstruck, when they got to know about her acceptance at Malignaux. She decided firmly against telling the majority how she had gotten in there in the first place.
Firstly, it was highly unlikely for them to believe a word, if they ever heard the truth. Secondly, the firm suspicion that nobody should know about whatever assignment Snape had in mind for her, kept gnawing in the back of her head.
So it came that only a few of her fellows were informed of her plan to work as the potion master's assistant during her spare time. And even this small group – to be precise, it contained Harry, Ron and his little sister Ginny – did not know anything about Hermione's family problems and Snape's solution to them. She told them that Dumbledore had offered her the place, and due to her interest in science and research, she had agreed to it. That was all they needed to know, and obviously all they wanted to know, too, since no further questions were raised by their side.
With the promise of having something
to look forward to after her graduation, Hermione could finally enjoy the
remaining time at her old school. And for this short period, even the last
bit of anxiety aroused by her somewhat unsettling conversation with Snape
was soon wiped out, when a proud McGonagall went completely out of character
and embraced Hermione in congratulations.
After that incident, Hermione had
a steady bounce in her step and was oblivious to the groans and moans she
got for her increased enthusiasm during classes.
But these days went by quickly, and
sooner than anyone had dreamed, the final morning approached. Contrary
to the others, Hermione was up shortly after dawn, packing the rest of
her belongings quietly into her trunk. As she closed it, she gazed out
of the window. The golden summer sun was creeping up above the darkness
of the Forbidden Forest. Suddenly, she was painfully aware that this was
the last time she was going to watch sunrise this way. By closing the heavy
lid of her trunk, she also closed the door to a well-known and beloved
life.
It was that whenever one door gets
shut, another one opens… but for this moment, she did not want to go forward.
The distant sound of a door opening filled her ears, and she shook herself out of her reverie. Soon, Gryffindor tower would be a bumblebee's nest, buzzing with the excitement of students--some who had forgotten to pack early enough, or others who were captured by the general travelling mood.
Stepping away from the window, Hermione headed down the stairs and through the portrait of the Fat Lady. She was not going to be part of that excitement. There was one final thing she had to do, though.
******
The Great Hall was already filling
with students, when Hermione made her way down to the dungeons at last.
She had been to every other place of the school. Her Transfiguration classroom,
the Astronomy Tower…
All around her, Slytherin boys and
girls were running though the corridors. She could have sworn she saw Malfoy
shooting her an irritated glance, as she slipped the door to the potion's
classroom open, and inside.
Despite the lively atmosphere outside, the room emanated its usual chill and quietness. A few stray rays of sunlight filtered through the small window. Aside from those, it was completely dark in here.
Hermione wandered down the stairs to her place, and sat down, propping her head on her elbows. For a long while she just lounged there, revelling in the calmness the room offered. Her friends had always considered the dungeons creepy and intimidating, but she felt oddly safe and comforted.
A sombre voice tinged with a twinkle
of merriment broke into her thoughts.
"Do you really feel the need to
say goodbye to these places, when you know as well as I that you'll soon
be returning?" Dumbledore asked from behind her.
Without lifting her head she responded, "I may come back after the summer, but I'll never see this room, or any of the others that is, with the same eyes again." She didn't have to ask how the Headmaster had read her mind. For some reason he seemed entirely capable of doing it. And so she wasn't in the least surprised as he continued her train of thoughts aloud.
"You will never be here as a student again, that much is correct." She heard the smile in his voice. "But not everything unknown to our minds will eventually turn out badly."
Now she did turn around, and caught Dumbledore's eye.
"Then why do I feel like it is best to stay frozen in time and not ever leave the shelter of Hogwarts…?"
"Even I cannot answer all of your questions, Miss Granger." His smile had changed and his eyes were twinkling slightly. "But do not trouble your mind overmuch with things which have not happened, yet. Often you find out how to face your future when it arrives."
He stepped closer to Hermione and
laid a calming hand upon her shoulder.
"And now no more of this! Go and
have breakfast with the others. You should enjoy the rest of your time
here."
And so Hermione chased away the shadow
that clouded her thoughts, and, with a thankful smile to the Headmaster,
left the dungeons to join her friends in their hurry.