wow, i finally got my lazy ass to post an update. i'd just likt to pause for a moment and send a shout out to all my wonderful reviewers. Lain (for being number 1), klover (for the encouragement), Twilight Fantasy, Amy Lee, christina, Wednesday Addams, Sara, Wolfstone, Al, Mystic Eyes (for the motivation), Cai, Suslin, lluna21, Eild, Jade (for the enthusiasm), delila-malfoy, kitty, and HouAreYouTOday (for reading both categories). phew! i think that's everybody. and now, on with the show.
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Chapter Eight
The Leaky Cauldron
Hermione stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. It was amazing how quiet the room could be without another person in it. Lisa the Roommate was at a party with her boyfriend.
She finally gave up any hope of sleep and went out to the kitchen for a cup of tea. She sat curled up by the window. It would have been nice if it had been raining, so she would have something to look at. Oh well.
The tea, instead of lulling her to sleep, cleared the fog from her brain. Hermione really didn't want to go to sleep. The Dream was waiting. She could feel it lurking on the edges of her mind, waiting for her to drop her guard. The Dream had been waiting ever since Harry had spoken to her in the train station.
Finally, she couldn't stand the inactivity anymore. She got dressed and shrugged on her black trench coat and went for a walk. It was well past midnight, the buzz of activity had subsided to a murmur.
She walked a long time, without any goal or purpose, turning at random intersections and going down streets she had never seen before. Finally she found herself standing across the street from a small and rather dingy pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione wasn't much of a pub person, but the weather had turned cooler and a fog was rising from the pavement.
The pub was much larger than it looked from the outside, though just as dingy. Most of the people in here were looked as disreputable as the pub. Hermione made her way over to the bar and ordered a pint.
She took a seat next to the roaring fire and watched the people passing through. Where were they all coming from? Dozens of people kept passing through the pub, but only a few stayed. Hermione considered following someone into the back to see what was back there when a nearby conversation caught her attention.
"… and Harry Potter of course. I was a prefect at Hogwarts that year. There's an awful lot that the Daily Prophet never heard about." Hermione risked a glance at the speaker. He was a young man, slightly drunk, and surrounded by three other young men.
"Like what Johnny?" One of them asked.
"Like the fact that Hermione Granger was kidnapped inside Hogwarts itself." Hermione's grip on the mug tightened. Johnny's friends whispered in amazement.
"It's true." Johnny confirmed, pleased at his success. "Last time anyone saw her was at dinner, then poof! (the word was accompanied by a gesture which splashed beer everywhere) she's gone! Harry Potter and Ron Weasley didn't look so great either, once they finally found them. 'Course defeating the Dark Lord and all, that's no easy task."
"How'd they do it?" Another friend asked.
"No one really knows, 'cept Dumbledore I'm sure. Ron and Harry weren't really interesting in talking. But this is what I heard…" Johnny lowered his voice. Hermione leaned forward to hear better.
"The Dark Lord tried to do a spell. Human sacrifice." The men gasped. "It gets worse. He tried to make Granger do the killing. Guess he thought it would be funny. But she got him in the end. Killed herself first, rather than kill someone else. She saved the world by killing herself." The men muttered and shook their heads at such bravery.
Hermione did her best to keep from running out the door. She didn't remember going to the door, she was just there. The door swung open before she could touch it. Hermione stared in disbelief at the two standing in front of her, a red-headed man and black woman, both of whom were vaguely familiar.
"Hermione?" The woman managed to stammer. Hermione pushed past and ran down the street. She had heard enough of that name for one night.
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Questions, comments, critisicms, complaints? Review, my friend, review.
.•´¨`•»¦«•Kerowyn•»¦«•´¨`•.
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Chapter Eight
The Leaky Cauldron
Hermione stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. It was amazing how quiet the room could be without another person in it. Lisa the Roommate was at a party with her boyfriend.
She finally gave up any hope of sleep and went out to the kitchen for a cup of tea. She sat curled up by the window. It would have been nice if it had been raining, so she would have something to look at. Oh well.
The tea, instead of lulling her to sleep, cleared the fog from her brain. Hermione really didn't want to go to sleep. The Dream was waiting. She could feel it lurking on the edges of her mind, waiting for her to drop her guard. The Dream had been waiting ever since Harry had spoken to her in the train station.
Finally, she couldn't stand the inactivity anymore. She got dressed and shrugged on her black trench coat and went for a walk. It was well past midnight, the buzz of activity had subsided to a murmur.
She walked a long time, without any goal or purpose, turning at random intersections and going down streets she had never seen before. Finally she found herself standing across the street from a small and rather dingy pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione wasn't much of a pub person, but the weather had turned cooler and a fog was rising from the pavement.
The pub was much larger than it looked from the outside, though just as dingy. Most of the people in here were looked as disreputable as the pub. Hermione made her way over to the bar and ordered a pint.
She took a seat next to the roaring fire and watched the people passing through. Where were they all coming from? Dozens of people kept passing through the pub, but only a few stayed. Hermione considered following someone into the back to see what was back there when a nearby conversation caught her attention.
"… and Harry Potter of course. I was a prefect at Hogwarts that year. There's an awful lot that the Daily Prophet never heard about." Hermione risked a glance at the speaker. He was a young man, slightly drunk, and surrounded by three other young men.
"Like what Johnny?" One of them asked.
"Like the fact that Hermione Granger was kidnapped inside Hogwarts itself." Hermione's grip on the mug tightened. Johnny's friends whispered in amazement.
"It's true." Johnny confirmed, pleased at his success. "Last time anyone saw her was at dinner, then poof! (the word was accompanied by a gesture which splashed beer everywhere) she's gone! Harry Potter and Ron Weasley didn't look so great either, once they finally found them. 'Course defeating the Dark Lord and all, that's no easy task."
"How'd they do it?" Another friend asked.
"No one really knows, 'cept Dumbledore I'm sure. Ron and Harry weren't really interesting in talking. But this is what I heard…" Johnny lowered his voice. Hermione leaned forward to hear better.
"The Dark Lord tried to do a spell. Human sacrifice." The men gasped. "It gets worse. He tried to make Granger do the killing. Guess he thought it would be funny. But she got him in the end. Killed herself first, rather than kill someone else. She saved the world by killing herself." The men muttered and shook their heads at such bravery.
Hermione did her best to keep from running out the door. She didn't remember going to the door, she was just there. The door swung open before she could touch it. Hermione stared in disbelief at the two standing in front of her, a red-headed man and black woman, both of whom were vaguely familiar.
"Hermione?" The woman managed to stammer. Hermione pushed past and ran down the street. She had heard enough of that name for one night.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Questions, comments, critisicms, complaints? Review, my friend, review.
.•´¨`•»¦«•Kerowyn•»¦«•´¨`•.
