One of the first things Hermione and Ron did after the novelty of watching
Harry sleep wore off was to go and explore the castle, to find out exactly
who they were sharing it with this summer.
The portrait to the common room wasn't password-restricted, seeing as the only people around were Ron and Hermione, who were perfectly entitled to be in there, and various staff members who were permitted to venture anywhere. The Fat Lady wasn't even in the portrait, Ron and Hermione noticed as they slipped out, Hermione striding ahead as usual.
"Perhaps she's on holiday," Ron commented.
"Perhaps they've all gone together," Hermione suggested, gazing up at the other empty portraits that lined the corridor. "Do you think they've all gone together?"
"I don't know. Where would they go?"
"Another portrait, I suppose."
"I'd want to go to that one," Ron decided, pointing up at a painting of a moonlit, flowery-filled meadow. He paused to look at it and then ran to catch up.
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "A bit romantic for you, isn't it?"
"Well, the stars look really nice. You know I like stars." Ron blushed a little.
Hermione merely smirked.
"Anyway," Ron retorted. "I bet you'd just want to go there." He gestured to a painting of a study lined with books and papers, its resident scholar currently absent.
"Actually, I'm on my ideal holiday right now," Hermione said, smirking smugly.
"Oh?"
"Alone in Hogwarts, well, pretty much, isn't that exciting?" Hermione turned around and walked backwards, her face lit up. "Ever since I first saw this place in a picture in the textbooks, I knew I wanted to explore it properly from top to bottom." She grinned. "Just never thought you'd be the person to share my ideal holiday." She turned, and began walking normally again.
"What's wrong with sharing a holiday with me?" Ron asked playfully.
"Oh, nothing," Hermione said airily.
Ron looked suspicious as they sauntered around the corner. Quite suddenly, they found themselves almost walking into, or rather through, Nearly Headless Nick.
"Oh, there you are!" He cried triumphantly. "I was just looking for you."
"You were?" Ron composed himself, hoping he hadn't looked too startled.
"Yes. Dumbledore asked me to run through a few things with you. He's a busy man you know, always off somewhere or another."
"Of course." Hermione smiled, nodding.
"So, what does he want us to know?" Ron asked with a sideways glance at Hermione. He was determined to act as confident as she always did, now that Harry wasn't around to outshine him.
"Oh many things, I expect, but he wouldn't have told me all of them. He likes people to find out things for themselves," Nick chuckled knowingly. "Shall we walk together for a while?"
And so they walked together, well, Nick floated, down the stairs and out a side door Ron nor Hermione knew existed. In the hot, summery weather, the grounds of Hogwarts looked beautiful, teaming with butterflies and brightly coloured flowers that they had never seen before, having never been at Hogwarts in the main summer months.
Every place seemed strangely deserted and peaceful. Ron tagged along behind while Hermione and Nick discussed all the aspects of the castle, from architecture to history, for it seemed Nick was quite an expert and Hermione was always eager to learn.
Ron managed to accumulate various pieces of information of interest to him, however, even as he sulked unnoticed behind them. Apart from the three of them, the only other people to be staying all summer were the House Elves, who were hard at work to keep the castle warm and clean throughout the summer for any of the staff who might drop by. Most of the ghosts had gone on holiday, except for Nick, who had decided to stay at home for once, barely being able to remember what the castle felt like when it was quiet.
"I'd watch out for Peeves, though," he warned. "I wouldn't put it past him to have just pretended to leave the castle."
"Of course," Hermione agreed firmly.
"As for the staff, most of them have gone back to their spouses for the summer," Nick continued.
"They're married?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"Some of them, yes. Although I couldn't tell you anything about their families. I don't care much for gossip anymore, far too complicated. There are families of many of the teachers, though, living in Hogsmeade."
"Oh, great." Ron sighed. "The teachers aren't far away, then."
"Ron!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Like it matters. Do tell me more about the castle, Nick. Do you remember before Dumbledore was headmaster? Were things much different before him?"
Neither Hermione nor Nick noticed when Ron quietly slipped away.
***
"It was so boring," Ron confided in Harry, who was still sleeping as peacefully as he smiled. "They were just talking on and on about the castle. She never stops wanting to learn things. I think it's her idea of fun." He paused, then sighed. "You smiling like that isn't very helpful. Can't you look sympathetic?"
Harry's expression didn't change, and Ron reached out and tried to gently poke Harry's face into some kind of frown.
"Ronald Weasley, what are you doing to poor Harry?" Hermione demanded, appearing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
Ron pulled his hand back guiltily. "I was just trying to see if I could make him stop smiling."
"Why on earth would you want to do that?" Hermione crossed the room and sat down on the other side of Harry.
"I don't know." Ron shrugged.
"He still looks happy and calm, that's a good thing."
"I still think he's dreaming about Honeydukes."
"He's probably dreaming about beating you at chess." Hermione smirked, rummaging through her trunk, which she'd dragged in earlier.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked curiously, ignoring her chess remark.
"Looking for a quill and paper. I'm going to write to Ginny. Do you have anything you want me to say to her, or would you like to write one yourself?" Hermione held up a quill and paper triumphantly and began to write, leaning on a book.
"I only saw her this morning, there's hardly anything to say!" Ron said doubtfully.
"She'll be lonely, Ron." Hermione looked up, a serious expression on her face. "We should give her as much comfort as we can."
"I suppose so. Can I borrow a quill?"
Hermione sighed and pulled another one from her trunk.
"Thanks. Er.. can I borrow some paper too?"
"Really! Just because it's summer, that's no excuse to be so unorganised." She produced some paper anyway, handing it to him with a stern look.
"Yes, Miss Granger. Sorry, Miss Granger," Ron said sarcastically and stuck his tongue out.
"Don't joke, Ron. One day, I might really be a teacher here and what will you be doing with your life then? Without any decent grades because of the fact you lose your pens and spill ink on your text books."
"Ah, something will happen," Ron said dismissively, trying to look as though he was focusing on his letter. Deep down, he was quite worried himself about his future, still having no idea about his career aspirations other than the usual wanting to be Keeper for the England Quidditch team; wanting to be a millionaire. He couldn't think of any realistic occupations, and so, he generally avoided thinking about the future.
Hermione watched him frown at his letter and frowned herself. Poor Ron, always so hopeless. Perhaps this summer she could teach him a thing or two.
***
Dear Ginny, Hi, it's me, your brother. Ron. So, how are you? Did you get back safely? Are Fred and George driving Mum crazy yet? Do you all miss me? It's strange to be here without everyone. Are you going to come and visit? Harry is fine. I think he's dreaming about sweet shops, or catching the golden snitch, because he's got a huge grin on his face. Hermione says he's probably dreaming about beating me at chess. Yeah, right. He knows he has no hope of ever doing that. Hermione says we have to go to dinner now, so bye bye.
Love
Ron xx
Dear Ginny, I hope you got back safely. I miss you already. Harry is fine. He keeps smiling, I don't know what he's dreaming of but it must be something good. It's strange to be here without anybody else. Although, Sir Nicholas is here, and he's wonderful company. He has been telling me all kinds of interesting things about the castle. Your brother is good company too, but he can be a little too much to handle sometimes. Have you spoken to your mother about when you can come and visit? I look forward to it. I must go now, the house elves have our dinner ready for seven (that's in ten minutes).
Lots of love,
Hermione X
The portrait to the common room wasn't password-restricted, seeing as the only people around were Ron and Hermione, who were perfectly entitled to be in there, and various staff members who were permitted to venture anywhere. The Fat Lady wasn't even in the portrait, Ron and Hermione noticed as they slipped out, Hermione striding ahead as usual.
"Perhaps she's on holiday," Ron commented.
"Perhaps they've all gone together," Hermione suggested, gazing up at the other empty portraits that lined the corridor. "Do you think they've all gone together?"
"I don't know. Where would they go?"
"Another portrait, I suppose."
"I'd want to go to that one," Ron decided, pointing up at a painting of a moonlit, flowery-filled meadow. He paused to look at it and then ran to catch up.
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "A bit romantic for you, isn't it?"
"Well, the stars look really nice. You know I like stars." Ron blushed a little.
Hermione merely smirked.
"Anyway," Ron retorted. "I bet you'd just want to go there." He gestured to a painting of a study lined with books and papers, its resident scholar currently absent.
"Actually, I'm on my ideal holiday right now," Hermione said, smirking smugly.
"Oh?"
"Alone in Hogwarts, well, pretty much, isn't that exciting?" Hermione turned around and walked backwards, her face lit up. "Ever since I first saw this place in a picture in the textbooks, I knew I wanted to explore it properly from top to bottom." She grinned. "Just never thought you'd be the person to share my ideal holiday." She turned, and began walking normally again.
"What's wrong with sharing a holiday with me?" Ron asked playfully.
"Oh, nothing," Hermione said airily.
Ron looked suspicious as they sauntered around the corner. Quite suddenly, they found themselves almost walking into, or rather through, Nearly Headless Nick.
"Oh, there you are!" He cried triumphantly. "I was just looking for you."
"You were?" Ron composed himself, hoping he hadn't looked too startled.
"Yes. Dumbledore asked me to run through a few things with you. He's a busy man you know, always off somewhere or another."
"Of course." Hermione smiled, nodding.
"So, what does he want us to know?" Ron asked with a sideways glance at Hermione. He was determined to act as confident as she always did, now that Harry wasn't around to outshine him.
"Oh many things, I expect, but he wouldn't have told me all of them. He likes people to find out things for themselves," Nick chuckled knowingly. "Shall we walk together for a while?"
And so they walked together, well, Nick floated, down the stairs and out a side door Ron nor Hermione knew existed. In the hot, summery weather, the grounds of Hogwarts looked beautiful, teaming with butterflies and brightly coloured flowers that they had never seen before, having never been at Hogwarts in the main summer months.
Every place seemed strangely deserted and peaceful. Ron tagged along behind while Hermione and Nick discussed all the aspects of the castle, from architecture to history, for it seemed Nick was quite an expert and Hermione was always eager to learn.
Ron managed to accumulate various pieces of information of interest to him, however, even as he sulked unnoticed behind them. Apart from the three of them, the only other people to be staying all summer were the House Elves, who were hard at work to keep the castle warm and clean throughout the summer for any of the staff who might drop by. Most of the ghosts had gone on holiday, except for Nick, who had decided to stay at home for once, barely being able to remember what the castle felt like when it was quiet.
"I'd watch out for Peeves, though," he warned. "I wouldn't put it past him to have just pretended to leave the castle."
"Of course," Hermione agreed firmly.
"As for the staff, most of them have gone back to their spouses for the summer," Nick continued.
"They're married?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"Some of them, yes. Although I couldn't tell you anything about their families. I don't care much for gossip anymore, far too complicated. There are families of many of the teachers, though, living in Hogsmeade."
"Oh, great." Ron sighed. "The teachers aren't far away, then."
"Ron!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Like it matters. Do tell me more about the castle, Nick. Do you remember before Dumbledore was headmaster? Were things much different before him?"
Neither Hermione nor Nick noticed when Ron quietly slipped away.
***
"It was so boring," Ron confided in Harry, who was still sleeping as peacefully as he smiled. "They were just talking on and on about the castle. She never stops wanting to learn things. I think it's her idea of fun." He paused, then sighed. "You smiling like that isn't very helpful. Can't you look sympathetic?"
Harry's expression didn't change, and Ron reached out and tried to gently poke Harry's face into some kind of frown.
"Ronald Weasley, what are you doing to poor Harry?" Hermione demanded, appearing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
Ron pulled his hand back guiltily. "I was just trying to see if I could make him stop smiling."
"Why on earth would you want to do that?" Hermione crossed the room and sat down on the other side of Harry.
"I don't know." Ron shrugged.
"He still looks happy and calm, that's a good thing."
"I still think he's dreaming about Honeydukes."
"He's probably dreaming about beating you at chess." Hermione smirked, rummaging through her trunk, which she'd dragged in earlier.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked curiously, ignoring her chess remark.
"Looking for a quill and paper. I'm going to write to Ginny. Do you have anything you want me to say to her, or would you like to write one yourself?" Hermione held up a quill and paper triumphantly and began to write, leaning on a book.
"I only saw her this morning, there's hardly anything to say!" Ron said doubtfully.
"She'll be lonely, Ron." Hermione looked up, a serious expression on her face. "We should give her as much comfort as we can."
"I suppose so. Can I borrow a quill?"
Hermione sighed and pulled another one from her trunk.
"Thanks. Er.. can I borrow some paper too?"
"Really! Just because it's summer, that's no excuse to be so unorganised." She produced some paper anyway, handing it to him with a stern look.
"Yes, Miss Granger. Sorry, Miss Granger," Ron said sarcastically and stuck his tongue out.
"Don't joke, Ron. One day, I might really be a teacher here and what will you be doing with your life then? Without any decent grades because of the fact you lose your pens and spill ink on your text books."
"Ah, something will happen," Ron said dismissively, trying to look as though he was focusing on his letter. Deep down, he was quite worried himself about his future, still having no idea about his career aspirations other than the usual wanting to be Keeper for the England Quidditch team; wanting to be a millionaire. He couldn't think of any realistic occupations, and so, he generally avoided thinking about the future.
Hermione watched him frown at his letter and frowned herself. Poor Ron, always so hopeless. Perhaps this summer she could teach him a thing or two.
***
Dear Ginny, Hi, it's me, your brother. Ron. So, how are you? Did you get back safely? Are Fred and George driving Mum crazy yet? Do you all miss me? It's strange to be here without everyone. Are you going to come and visit? Harry is fine. I think he's dreaming about sweet shops, or catching the golden snitch, because he's got a huge grin on his face. Hermione says he's probably dreaming about beating me at chess. Yeah, right. He knows he has no hope of ever doing that. Hermione says we have to go to dinner now, so bye bye.
Love
Ron xx
Dear Ginny, I hope you got back safely. I miss you already. Harry is fine. He keeps smiling, I don't know what he's dreaming of but it must be something good. It's strange to be here without anybody else. Although, Sir Nicholas is here, and he's wonderful company. He has been telling me all kinds of interesting things about the castle. Your brother is good company too, but he can be a little too much to handle sometimes. Have you spoken to your mother about when you can come and visit? I look forward to it. I must go now, the house elves have our dinner ready for seven (that's in ten minutes).
Lots of love,
Hermione X
