Disclaimer: No, I still don't own Harry Potter, depressing, isn't it?

*** Thank you so much to Aquamarineangel (cool name too, by the way) and Katie (thank you for your praise) it means so much to me that you both like this story!

Chapter 12:  An Announcement or Two

Much to Ron and Seamus's annoyance, it was announced the day after Quidditch tryouts that Angelina would not be posting the new Roster for the House Team until the late the scheduled evening, as opposed to early in the morning.  "I'm sure she's only posting at night to annoy us," Seamus told Ron over dinner.

Ron grinned.  He wasn't feeling sick anymore, so he could smile and his appetite was as healthy as ever.  It helped that Hermione and Ginny, Hermione especially, thought he was the new Gryffindor Keeper.  Harry didn't say anything, he couldn't, and Ron didn't expect him to.

Hermione was talking quietly to Ginny and Parvati, who had been clinging to them ever since Lavender had been taken two days ago, although Hogwarts' smartest witch and the youngest Weasley didn't seem to mind.  In fact, they seemed to rather enjoy the raven haired girl.

"Oh, Hermione, I forgot to tell you, yesterday I was talking to Natalie Pickett, you remember Carmen's best friend?  Well, she was talking about the Autumn Ball and mentioned that Carmen's crush, I don't know who he is, some seventh-year Hufflepuff from what I gather, is going with seventh-year Slytherin Dena Crossly," Parvati explained briefly.

Hermione's mind turned off though at the mention of the Autumn Ball, she didn't hear anything other than those two words, which continued to reverberate in her head.  "The what?" she uttered quietly.

Parvati drew her dark eyebrows together and looked to Hermione and then Ginny curiously.  "What?"

Ginny however, seemed to understand Hermione's dilemma.  "You didn't hear about the Autumn Ball Hermione?  Dumbledore mentioned it two days ago…oh…that was the day you were in the library studying," Ginny informed her.

Hermione looked down at her plate and moved her food around with her fork.  She didn't want there to be another ball, not after last year's disaster.  What was the actual disaster anyway?  Well, obviously the fight between her and Ron didn't bring any good memories to mind and she didn't really have any special memories of going to the ball with Viktor Krum, who was, quite like Ron said, just a big-nosed Bulgarian, however nice a big-nosed Bulgarian he might have been.

She hated remembering that fight, probably because it was the night she seriously thought she had lost Ron, lost everything from his smiles to his friendship.  She couldn't stand the thought of losing Ron.  She didn't want to think about it even now.

"Hermione, are you OK?" the aforementioned boy asked sincerely.  His blue eyes were looking down at her filled with concern.

She pushed an unruly strand of brown hair out of her face and smiled as best as she could despite the sinking feeling in the bottom of her stomach.  He could never like her…care for her like that…no matter what she thought her heart was telling her now.

What she thought he had been telling her all last year, too.  But then again, maybe it had just been her overactive imagination and wishful thinking that he had been jealous.  She really shouldn't have assumed anything.

"Hermione, are you sure you're alright?  You haven't heard anything anyone's been telling you," Ron asked, still concerned for his girl friend.

"What?" she asked; clearly distracted.

Ron sighed.  "Parvati was trying to tell you Pansy liked Malfoy, for whatever reason," he told her.

Hermione looked at Parvati weirdly, as if to say, "So?" 

Parvati understood the look and shrugged.  "I don't know, I was just thinking that it might help," she offered.

"Well it's not!" she snapped.

Parvati's eyes widened in surprise. 

Immediately feeling guilty, she looked Parvati right in the eye.  "I'm sorry Parvati.  I didn't mean to snap," she said apologetically.

Parvati waved her hand in the air.  "Don't worry about it Hermione, I understand your tired and have a lot on your mind."

"I'm just tired of Dark Lords and ancient curses that can't be explained."  Her gaze flitted over to Harry.  "I'm sorry Harry; it's not your fault—I want you to know that, OK?"  Harry nodded and smiled grimly.  "I just feel so helpless when I don't know what's wrong."

"Hermione, you know you don't have to feel bad, don't you?" Ron asked kindly.

She smiled and unnoticeable tears swam in her eyes.  "I know Ron, I just feel so…so stupid."

Ginny immediately reached over to her friend and hugged her.  "Hermione, it's OK.  Like Ron said, it's not your fault that they're sick.  And no matter what happens in the future, that won't be your fault either…except of course, if they come out of the Infirmary then it's all your fault."

Harry nudged Ron in the ribs.  "Look at Braddock," he whispered to his friend.  "He looks tired, doesn't he?"

"Wouldn't you be if you had four sick people on hand?" Ron returned.

"OK, so what did they all have in com—

A loud clanking interrupted any speech and all voices stopped all eyes turned to the Head Table.  Dumbledore was standing up slowly and the young Gryffindors looked to each other worriedly. 

"Thank you for giving me your attention."  He smiled bitterly.  "After many failed attempts, Dr. Braddock has sadly announced that Carmen Lowery, Katie Bell, Lavender Brown and Pansy Parkinson must be transferred to St. Mungo's.  There is nothing that can be done for them here," he said quietly.

"Oh God!" Angelina's muffled voice cried out before she buried her head in Fred's shoulder.  Alicia's pale complexion darkened and tears streamed down her face.  Parvati's façade stayed unchanging, like a stony rock.  Harry was surprised at her quiet demeanor; he would have expected her to cry.  A few sobs even came from the Slytherin table.  Perhaps they're more human than I originally though, Harry thought uncomfortably.

"They've been examined for numerous illnesses and curses and nothing has been found.  They will be in better hands there," Headmaster Dumbledore said surely while sitting back down at the table.

"This is bad," Parvati murmured, speaking what was on all their minds.

Seamus looked down the table at Parvati.  "I wish I had told her what she meant to me," he said out loud, finally not caring what people heard. 

Hermione heard this and anger and frustration built up inside of her.  "I'm going to the library," she announced as she stood up.  "And I'm not coming out until I know what's wrong with them," she said finally.

She literally stomped out of the Great Hall.  Ginny and Parvati looked proud of their friend while Ron and Harry sighed.  "We better go too or else she'll be there all night," Ron said.

Harry nodded resignedly.  "Yeah, you're right."

They both knew they'd be there all night anyway.  Or forever, if that's how long it took to find out the truth.

Now, I feel really uncomfortable with that chapter.  I don't know if I like it at all, so I would like you guys to tell me what you think: should I leave this chapter as is, should I revise and edit, or should I delete it completely?  I don't know if it fits well with the storyline which is why I think I have so much trouble with it, so be honest with me, please.  Review!  Once again, thank you so much for everything!