Chapter 14
"Staff Room"
After the arrival of the letter, Rory and Tabitha grew more nervous as the days went by. They took to counting down the days, and checking for letters whenever it was possible. But everyday passed and there wasn't any news of Hermione, Harry, or Ron.
Classes passed on like eternities, and even though they had regular Quidditch practices, they just weren't playing up to par. Soon this caught the attention of the other players, and the two usually had to struggle to make up a reason for their behavior.
It was on the fourth day after classes, that Tabitha finally started packing up her things. "I can't stand just waiting this out.we're going to inform Headmistress Howe about the letter, and if she says no to leaving, I don't care."
Rory frowned in thought, "You may risk losing your rank. You know that, don't you?"
Tabitha turned to Rory, tears welling in her eyes. "This is more important than that. This is for my family.and our friends." Rory nodded slowly, her friend had a point, and there was no denying it. Tonight they were leaving whether or not anyone else came with them.
Once they had packed, the two set off towards the staff office on the other side of the building. The common room was bustling with activity, so no one took any notice to them sneaking out.
* * *
When they reached the staff office, Tabitha knocked, and Professor Grenich opened the door. She had a coffee mug in her hand and she looked a bit tired. Strands of black hair hung loose around her face, and she had circles under her eyes. "Yes girls?" looking a bit surprised to see them, "What can I do for you?"
"We need to speak with Headmistress Howe - it's urgent," Rory blurted out.
"Why - if you don't mind my asking?" Professor Grenich said, a bit of concern in her eyes.
Tabitha handed over the letter, and the teacher allowed them to come into what looked like the house common rooms, but more spacious. She sat down on a couch in front of a large fireplace, sipping her coffee and gestured for them to be seated as well. Rory and Tabitha sat down on easy-chairs on either side of the couch, watching their instructor anxiously. Professor Grenich took an awfully long time reading the letter. She seemed to be rereading it, as if not believing what she was seeing. "Are you sure this isn't a prank?" she said at last, looking up at them
"Hermione's a very serious girl.I hardly think she would joke about something like this" Rory stated, shifting uncomfortably in her seat
"Well, how can we be sure Hermione herself wrote this?" Professor Grenich asked. She was looking more tired than before, and seemed desperate to find some sort of alternate explanation for the letter.
"It's Hermione's handwriting," Tabitha said matter-of-factly, "I'd know it anywhere. We've been writing to each other since we were little."
The teacher chewed her lower lip in thought for a moment. "Is this why you two have been acting so out of it? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Tabitha and Rory both looked to the ground, knowing they had been in the wrong. "We're sorry," Rory said, "We just weren't sure what to do."
Professor Grenich sat down her mug and said, "Alright, well, I don't want you girls worrying about this anymore. I'll be sure Headmistress Howe is notified, and I want you two to go back to your dorms."
"What?!" Rory and Tabitha said together.
"I understand your concern, girls," Grenich said, "But I assure it will be taken care of." She stood up and began ushering the girls out of the office.
"But.the Headmistress -," Tabitha protested.
"Is busy right now," Grenich said, "She will be informed, I promise."
"Informed of what?" said a voice from behind them.
Rory and Tabitha glanced back quickly. Headmistress Howe was standing in front of a door at the far end of the office.
After the arrival of the letter, Rory and Tabitha grew more nervous as the days went by. They took to counting down the days, and checking for letters whenever it was possible. But everyday passed and there wasn't any news of Hermione, Harry, or Ron.
Classes passed on like eternities, and even though they had regular Quidditch practices, they just weren't playing up to par. Soon this caught the attention of the other players, and the two usually had to struggle to make up a reason for their behavior.
It was on the fourth day after classes, that Tabitha finally started packing up her things. "I can't stand just waiting this out.we're going to inform Headmistress Howe about the letter, and if she says no to leaving, I don't care."
Rory frowned in thought, "You may risk losing your rank. You know that, don't you?"
Tabitha turned to Rory, tears welling in her eyes. "This is more important than that. This is for my family.and our friends." Rory nodded slowly, her friend had a point, and there was no denying it. Tonight they were leaving whether or not anyone else came with them.
Once they had packed, the two set off towards the staff office on the other side of the building. The common room was bustling with activity, so no one took any notice to them sneaking out.
* * *
When they reached the staff office, Tabitha knocked, and Professor Grenich opened the door. She had a coffee mug in her hand and she looked a bit tired. Strands of black hair hung loose around her face, and she had circles under her eyes. "Yes girls?" looking a bit surprised to see them, "What can I do for you?"
"We need to speak with Headmistress Howe - it's urgent," Rory blurted out.
"Why - if you don't mind my asking?" Professor Grenich said, a bit of concern in her eyes.
Tabitha handed over the letter, and the teacher allowed them to come into what looked like the house common rooms, but more spacious. She sat down on a couch in front of a large fireplace, sipping her coffee and gestured for them to be seated as well. Rory and Tabitha sat down on easy-chairs on either side of the couch, watching their instructor anxiously. Professor Grenich took an awfully long time reading the letter. She seemed to be rereading it, as if not believing what she was seeing. "Are you sure this isn't a prank?" she said at last, looking up at them
"Hermione's a very serious girl.I hardly think she would joke about something like this" Rory stated, shifting uncomfortably in her seat
"Well, how can we be sure Hermione herself wrote this?" Professor Grenich asked. She was looking more tired than before, and seemed desperate to find some sort of alternate explanation for the letter.
"It's Hermione's handwriting," Tabitha said matter-of-factly, "I'd know it anywhere. We've been writing to each other since we were little."
The teacher chewed her lower lip in thought for a moment. "Is this why you two have been acting so out of it? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Tabitha and Rory both looked to the ground, knowing they had been in the wrong. "We're sorry," Rory said, "We just weren't sure what to do."
Professor Grenich sat down her mug and said, "Alright, well, I don't want you girls worrying about this anymore. I'll be sure Headmistress Howe is notified, and I want you two to go back to your dorms."
"What?!" Rory and Tabitha said together.
"I understand your concern, girls," Grenich said, "But I assure it will be taken care of." She stood up and began ushering the girls out of the office.
"But.the Headmistress -," Tabitha protested.
"Is busy right now," Grenich said, "She will be informed, I promise."
"Informed of what?" said a voice from behind them.
Rory and Tabitha glanced back quickly. Headmistress Howe was standing in front of a door at the far end of the office.