Chapter 6: A Sudden Departure
"Come on Harry, Ron! Let's go quickly . . . we have to give Nina some time . . ." Hermione said in a barely audible whisper. " I know . . ." moaned Ron trying to clear up the table he had been using. " Shhhhhh . . . you wouldn't want Snape to hear . . ." Harry chided Ron in a whisper.
They quickly exited the potions classroom after one last, significant glance at Nina. It had been their last lesson for the day and they were planning to meet Nina in the library so that she could tell them about her past. Nina had suggested that they go ahead of her so that others won't get suspicious as to why she was with them.
They entered the library and waited trying to avoid the vulture-like Mdm Pince who was staring at them in an extremely vulture-like way as they were just standing around doing absolutely nothing. Much to Ron's surprise, even Hermione wasn't looking through any books. The truth was that she was extremely worried about Harry. He had looked disturbingly not all there through the day. She glanced at him. He still had that dreamy, lost look about him although it wasn't as bad as before. Sighing, she shook her head.
" Come on Harry, relax . . ." She did not expect the frustrated tone in Harry's voice.
"Hermione, please . . . she said she's coming, but where is she?" Harry said in an extra-loud whisper.
"All right, all right . . . she's a bit late . . . so what? She'll come Harry, patience!" The words were no sooner out of her mouth when Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas sauntered in. They headed over to Harry, Ron and Hermione and Dean held out a piece of paper to Harry. " You got a love letter from you girlfriend . . . Hermione, don't be jealous, he's very famous you know . . ." he teased. Harry grabbed the note. It was from Nina.
"Dear Harry," it read. "Something very urgent has cropped up. I shall probably have to be away from Hogwarts for a few days. I shall explain in detail when I get back. From: Nina =)." Hermione and Ron, who had been reading over Harry's shoulder, stared at each other and sighed deeply. Now Harry would remain in this foul mood for the next few days. And what was Nina's urgent appointment? Why hadn't she informed them in person?
*** *** ***
Harry heard Hermione Ron sigh deeply. He knew why. They couldn't put up with his behavior. " It's not like I'm not trying!" he wanted to shout but he decided that it was not their fault. " Well that's that then. I have waited for three days . . . what difference is few more days going to make?" he said as casually as he could.
*** *** ***
Hermione and Ron stared at each other again. Why was Harry acting so casual? It was pretty obvious that he was putting it up . . . was it to please them both? But why? They already knew that he was upset about it and were ready to put up with his moods . . . so why pretend? However, they thought it wiser not to say anything.
They forced smiles, as there was no way they were going to be joyous when Harry looked like a dead duck. All three of them headed up to the Gryffindor common room. It was completely empty except for Crookshanks who was sleeping in front of the fire. " Everybody must be outside. It's a fine day. Shall we go out too?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head. " You go if you want, I'm staying." Ron looked like he was about to say something to persuade Harry but Hermione stopped him. "Don't . . . just let him be . . ." she whispered softly.
*** *** ***
Harry stared into the bright orange and yellow dancing flames. A few more days . . . why, he had struggled for five hours since morning but now it seemed he had to wait for at least twenty-four hours. What was her great urgency? What was this that was more important than staying at Hogwarts? And how come Dumbledore let her leave? What if she got . . .well, he didn't want to think about it . . . a soft tap, tap on the window interrupted his thoughts. He looked over to see . . .
"Hedwig! You're back!" Harry launched himself across the room and pulled open the window. Hedwig flew in and landed on the backrest of Ron's armchair with Sirius's (Harry's godfather) note tied to her leg. Harry hurriedly pulled it off and signaled to Ron and Hermione to listen as he read it aloud to the empty common room.
"Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione,
I hope all of you are okay. I am fine. Very horrible things are happening out here. There have been hundreds of muggle killings and lots of wizards, mainly aurors but some unfortunate, innocent families too, have been tortured or killed. It's practically hopeless for us as Voldemort is impossible to track down. However, we are still trying.
The most recent muggle killing left two young girls orphaned. They are witches I believe. I am not sure if they were muggle-born or whether they were living with muggle relations because they lost their parents, but there you have it. You are all quite safe with Dumbledore around. However, one will do good to take care of himself or herself. I'll write again soon. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for yourself and DO NOT go nosing around. Whatever happens outside Hogwarts, there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Sirius."
Harry finished reading and looked up at the other two. They looked shocked and upset. "That is just so sad . . ." Hermione muttered. "Yea . . ." Ron agreed. Harry was silent.
Time passes
Harry, Hermione and Ron were entering the Gryffindor common room after dinner. Harry was lost in thought once more. " HARRY! Will you snap out of your dreams?" Hermione nearly yelled in desperation.
" Guys . . . I don't know why but I feel that something is amiss . . ." Harry said quietly.
"You love to make mysteries out of nothing don't you?" Ron questioned with a raised eyebrow. Harry did not answer. He just shook his head.
Is Harry just creating mysteries or is there really something amiss? If so, what is it?
Find out as you read on . . .
Ppl, plz read and review. Thanx!
"Come on Harry, Ron! Let's go quickly . . . we have to give Nina some time . . ." Hermione said in a barely audible whisper. " I know . . ." moaned Ron trying to clear up the table he had been using. " Shhhhhh . . . you wouldn't want Snape to hear . . ." Harry chided Ron in a whisper.
They quickly exited the potions classroom after one last, significant glance at Nina. It had been their last lesson for the day and they were planning to meet Nina in the library so that she could tell them about her past. Nina had suggested that they go ahead of her so that others won't get suspicious as to why she was with them.
They entered the library and waited trying to avoid the vulture-like Mdm Pince who was staring at them in an extremely vulture-like way as they were just standing around doing absolutely nothing. Much to Ron's surprise, even Hermione wasn't looking through any books. The truth was that she was extremely worried about Harry. He had looked disturbingly not all there through the day. She glanced at him. He still had that dreamy, lost look about him although it wasn't as bad as before. Sighing, she shook her head.
" Come on Harry, relax . . ." She did not expect the frustrated tone in Harry's voice.
"Hermione, please . . . she said she's coming, but where is she?" Harry said in an extra-loud whisper.
"All right, all right . . . she's a bit late . . . so what? She'll come Harry, patience!" The words were no sooner out of her mouth when Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas sauntered in. They headed over to Harry, Ron and Hermione and Dean held out a piece of paper to Harry. " You got a love letter from you girlfriend . . . Hermione, don't be jealous, he's very famous you know . . ." he teased. Harry grabbed the note. It was from Nina.
"Dear Harry," it read. "Something very urgent has cropped up. I shall probably have to be away from Hogwarts for a few days. I shall explain in detail when I get back. From: Nina =)." Hermione and Ron, who had been reading over Harry's shoulder, stared at each other and sighed deeply. Now Harry would remain in this foul mood for the next few days. And what was Nina's urgent appointment? Why hadn't she informed them in person?
*** *** ***
Harry heard Hermione Ron sigh deeply. He knew why. They couldn't put up with his behavior. " It's not like I'm not trying!" he wanted to shout but he decided that it was not their fault. " Well that's that then. I have waited for three days . . . what difference is few more days going to make?" he said as casually as he could.
*** *** ***
Hermione and Ron stared at each other again. Why was Harry acting so casual? It was pretty obvious that he was putting it up . . . was it to please them both? But why? They already knew that he was upset about it and were ready to put up with his moods . . . so why pretend? However, they thought it wiser not to say anything.
They forced smiles, as there was no way they were going to be joyous when Harry looked like a dead duck. All three of them headed up to the Gryffindor common room. It was completely empty except for Crookshanks who was sleeping in front of the fire. " Everybody must be outside. It's a fine day. Shall we go out too?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head. " You go if you want, I'm staying." Ron looked like he was about to say something to persuade Harry but Hermione stopped him. "Don't . . . just let him be . . ." she whispered softly.
*** *** ***
Harry stared into the bright orange and yellow dancing flames. A few more days . . . why, he had struggled for five hours since morning but now it seemed he had to wait for at least twenty-four hours. What was her great urgency? What was this that was more important than staying at Hogwarts? And how come Dumbledore let her leave? What if she got . . .well, he didn't want to think about it . . . a soft tap, tap on the window interrupted his thoughts. He looked over to see . . .
"Hedwig! You're back!" Harry launched himself across the room and pulled open the window. Hedwig flew in and landed on the backrest of Ron's armchair with Sirius's (Harry's godfather) note tied to her leg. Harry hurriedly pulled it off and signaled to Ron and Hermione to listen as he read it aloud to the empty common room.
"Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione,
I hope all of you are okay. I am fine. Very horrible things are happening out here. There have been hundreds of muggle killings and lots of wizards, mainly aurors but some unfortunate, innocent families too, have been tortured or killed. It's practically hopeless for us as Voldemort is impossible to track down. However, we are still trying.
The most recent muggle killing left two young girls orphaned. They are witches I believe. I am not sure if they were muggle-born or whether they were living with muggle relations because they lost their parents, but there you have it. You are all quite safe with Dumbledore around. However, one will do good to take care of himself or herself. I'll write again soon. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for yourself and DO NOT go nosing around. Whatever happens outside Hogwarts, there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Sirius."
Harry finished reading and looked up at the other two. They looked shocked and upset. "That is just so sad . . ." Hermione muttered. "Yea . . ." Ron agreed. Harry was silent.
Time passes
Harry, Hermione and Ron were entering the Gryffindor common room after dinner. Harry was lost in thought once more. " HARRY! Will you snap out of your dreams?" Hermione nearly yelled in desperation.
" Guys . . . I don't know why but I feel that something is amiss . . ." Harry said quietly.
"You love to make mysteries out of nothing don't you?" Ron questioned with a raised eyebrow. Harry did not answer. He just shook his head.
Is Harry just creating mysteries or is there really something amiss? If so, what is it?
Find out as you read on . . .
Ppl, plz read and review. Thanx!