A/N: I've seemed to have lost my mind. I'm not the pessimistic person I used to be. I'm afraid it might hinder my writing skills ::scoff:: I guess I'm not completely rid of the pessimism. By popular demand (not really) chapter eight. I think I've used this one.
"Ms. Granger, what exactly is going on," asked Professor McGonagall angrily, her robes in shambles. Professor Flitwick was putting out the fire, which a few minutes ago was a lively twenty foot troll. Dozens of other professors were putting out fires all along the library. Madam Pince was being resuscitated by Professor Snape and Trelawney leaned over Ron, looking at his wounds. Professor Trelawney whispered something that caused Snape to roll his eyes and leave the library.
"Ms. Granger!"
"Oh, I'm sorry Professor," Hermione said sheepishly. "Ron and I were in here er… studying when the – the troll came barging in through the doors. Ron – he – he led me toward the back, hoping that we could hide. The troll was coming closer, so – so Ron told me to stay. He would go and get the troll's attention while I get help, but the troll put Ron in a trance or something. He – he stood there when – when – when…" Hermione trailed off, staring at Ron and holding his hand.
"Ms. Granger, please continue."
Hermione could feel the eyes of the faculty focused on her, and what she was about to say.
"The troll smacked Ron aside. Ron flew and hit the book shelf. The troll then came after me, though I don't know how it knew I was here," Hermione continued, no longer stuttering but whispering quietly. "I left my wand in my trunk. Ron pulled out his, while he sat at the bottom of the bookshelf, and hit the troll with books. It then made its eyes glow green and kind of floated toward Ron. He doused its dress with petroleum and ignited the dress. I knelt beside him as he lost consciousness. Then you guys came, and here we are."
"Thank you Ms. Granger," McGonagall said, patting Hermione on the shoulder. At that moment Snape entered followed closely by Madam Pomfrey. She knelt down close to Ron, checking his limbs and chest for broken bones or bruises. Her face grew grim when she examined his head wound, shaking her head.
"The wound isn't that deep," she started, shaking her head. "But he's lost a lot of blood. We'll have to keep him in the hospital wing for a couple of days."
"But – but he'll miss the dance," cried Hermione dropping Ron's hand. "Can't you do anything that will speed up his recovery? I mean, he – he has a date and everything."
Madam Pomfrey quickly exited the doors of the library, completely and utterly ignoring Hermione. She returned with a levitating stretcher, which Hermione supposed was for Ron, but was surprised when Madam Pomfrey asked her to lay down upon it.
"Go ahead dear. We'll have to check for some dormant curses the troll may have been carrying," Madam Pomfrey said, with McGonagall nodding her head solemnly behind her. "It's not likely, but you never know."
Hermione apprehensively sat on the levitating stretcher, wanting to get the check up over as quickly as possible.
"Lay back dear, I promise that the check up is painless. You won't feel a thing."
Laying back Hermione took a glance at Ron's stretcher that was already heading down the hall and away to the hospital wing. Suddenly feeling tired Hermione closed her eyes.
Assuming that Hermione was asleep, the professors began a discussion of what might be happening.
"It's happening again Severus," McGonagall whispered as she walked with Hermione's stretcher along with Snape and Flitwick. "It's nearly the same situation as last time. Should we disturb Dumbledore's meeting with Cornelius?"
"That is your decision, but I would say that the 'Polyjuice' Headmaster will be enough to calm the students," Snape said grimly, seemingly gliding along Hermione's side. "I don't know what you're talking about Minerva. What happened 'last time'?"
Hermione tried to keep consciousness, but eventually gave in to blissful sleep. All the while the conversation between the professors grew more intense.
"Back in our fifth year, on the same night as this, James and Lily were studying in the library," McGonagall said, voice somehow lower than before. "And exactly like tonight, a troll bursts in attacks the two. James leads Lily toward the back of the library, so that he could confront the troll alone. She didn't argue because she forgot her wand in her trunk. He is wounded in the back of his head, and the troll is on fire. It's uncanny, and utterly preposterous that it be coincidental that it happens again years afterward."
"I say, quit babbling and let me examine her," Madam Pomfrey hissed. "The faster I finish the examination, the faster she'll be able to leave the hospital wing and let me concentrate on my priority patient."
"Yes, of course," McGonagall said backing away. "I'll contact the Headmaster right away."
"I'll be in my office if you need any assistance," said Snape. He took one last look at Hermione and turned on his heel. He walked in a hastened pace toward his office, to do what people could only imagine.
"I'll be in my office as well," squeaked Flitwick. "Incase you need help with a counter curse, if it comes up."
"Alright," said Pomfrey steering Hermione through the hospital wing doors, closing the door loud enough to awaken the sleeping Hermione Granger.
"Huh? Where am I," Hermione asked sitting up and rubbing her eyes, blinded by the hospital lights. "Madam Pomfrey, what –"
She caught a glimpse of Ron's bandaged head, and remembered what happened prior to being in the hospital wing. Her thoughts went to the conversation between the professors, trying to decipher what they were saying.
"Yes, now if you'll please lay back down, the examination will be quick as a flash. But only if you lay still."
Hermione lay back down, eyes wide open awaiting the pain she was sure was to come. Madam Pomfrey took out her wand, which seemed dusty to Hermione, and quickly did some simple spells to check if it was in good condition.
"Now lift your shirt so that I can see your stomach," Madame Pomfrey said calmly, which soothed Hermione's apprehensions, if only a tad bit.
Hermione complied, lifting her shirt. She saw Madame Pomfrey mutter a few words, and then gently press the tip of her wand to Hermione's stomach. Hermione felt her navel being pulled forward like it had when she used a port key to get to the Quidditch World Cup. As quick as it started, it ended, but Madame Pomfrey wasn't finished yet.
"You can put your shirt up now dear. But I still have one more thing to do," she said. With that she quickly muttered words, and waved her wand over Hermione over and over again. After a few minutes, the wand turned blue.
"Oh, that's good, there's nothing wrong with you," she said, wiping imaginary sweat off her brow. "Now you'll have to leave."
"What was the thing with the stomach about then?"
"I said you'll have to leave," Pomfrey said pushing Hermione out of the hospital wing to trek the long journey to her dormitory, where she'll be confronted by Harry, the rest of Gryffindor, and Christina. But, being in the mood she's in she could use some friends, even if one of them happens to be Christina.
Hermione looked over to the stairs that she'd have to climb, but then turned around and headed for the main door. Hermione didn't want to talk to Harry about how she might feel about Ron, being best friends with Ron would put considerable pressure on Harry. And confiding in Christina, a newcomer, was just out of the question for Hermione. Hermione continued to walk, past the main doors, heading straight for Hagrid's hut.
Hermione finally reached the front step of Hagrid's hut. She limply lifted her hand and softly tapped on the door. Her energy sapped out of her from the events of that night, and what happened to Ron. Hagrid opened the door in his usual fur jacket, and Fang alongside him, a pink umbrella in one extremely large hand, and his crossbow in the other.
"Hermione? What are you doin' ah here ah this time o' the nigh," Hagrid asked, his eyes scanning the grounds in front of his hut. "Are ya alrigh there Hermione?"
"Ye – no Hagrid, I'm not," she said stepping into the hut.
Inside the hut, things were familiar, nothing new, and nothing odd – except a pot in the fireplace bubbling.
"Hagrid, is that another dragon? We don't have time to lug that thing around, because you know that dragons are illegal as private pets. And Ron's in the hospital wing as we speak."
"Calm down, calm down, Hermione," Hagrid said walking over to the pot, lifting its lid. "It's jus me supper. I know what happened to Ron, news like this travels very fas."
"So, is there nothing you're going to say? Isn't there some sort of lesson, or moral I could learn from this," she said snapping at Hagrid. "It's all my fault, Hagrid. It's all my fault. If I only had my wand things –"
"You like him, don't you? Ron," Hagrid said interrupting her berating herself about something that she couldn't control.
"Of course I like him, he's my best friend. And I like Harry, he's my best friend too."
"You know wha I mean. You like him… more than jus a bes friend," Hagrid said, a smile on his face. Hermione just looked into the fire. She hated that Hagrid found this amusing, and thought that Fang thought it was too.
"So, maybe I do," she said angrily. "What of it? Make jokes, see if I care." With that she turned around, arms across her chest and her back to Hagrid, who surprisingly laughed.
"Calm down Hermione, you're going through mood swings already and you're only 15," he said. "I wouldn't make fun of ya anyway, whoever ya was datin'."
"We're not dating! But you're right Hagrid, I should calm down," Hermione said turning around and facing Hagrid. "I'm sorry that I snapped at you Hagrid, I just don't know what to do with Ron." She immediately buried her face in Hagrid's fur jacket and had her arms as far around him as his body would allow.
"There, there Hermione," Hagrid said, patting her head. "We'll figure out wha ya can do abou Ron."
"Thanks Hagrid. For putting up with me and everything," she said wiping a tear and looking up at Hagrid.
"Now I think ya should go up to the castle, and we'll continue talkin' tomorrow," Hagrid said prying her arms from around him.
"…Hagrid, er could I just stay here the night. I'm kind of tired," Hermione said stifling a yawn.
"Alrigh. I'll get you the cot."
A/N: That's the end of chapter eight. I suck no need for flames, but flames are better than no review, so flame all you want.