Ginny screamed, Harry jumped up, Bill gasped, and Mrs. Wealsey plain out fainted. Only Dumbledore
remained calm, standing next to Hermione, who now looked as if she were about to cry.

Everybody started talking at once, causeing a large amount of noise that not even Dumbledpre could put
an end to. Everyone wanted to know where she had been, why she hadn't told them, if she had any idea
how worried and sad they had been. Questions followed her everywhere she went, and for a moment it
seemed as if she were considering running from the room in tears. Finally Dumbledore stepped up.

"Excuse me, but I wish to make a few things known. First of all, it was I who convinced Hermione to
become a Animagus, for reason I am afraid I cannot disclose. Yes, I'm sure she does have a bit of am
idea of how worried you have all been, but I see no need to rub it into her face. And lastly, she has
been, while not in your presence, in the Forbidden Forest. I do not belive you need to question her
further. Let's all settle down."

Quite siddenly, everyone seemed to realize how harsh they mush have sounded, and imediatly gathered
around Hermione and started apoligizing, offering their sympathy, and anything else they thought would
comfort her. But none of this had any effect except to pressure her further. Finally, Harry, who had
not been part of the questioning mob, grabbed her arm and led her out of the room. Hermione followed
willingly, and the whole thing happened so fast that nobody really had time to comprehended what had
just happened until the door shut in their faces.

~~~

As soon as Harry had taken Hermione out of the room, he set of down the hallway until he came to an
empty room. He led her in and shut and bolted the door after her. Hermione sat down on the bed an
wiped her streaming eyes, for as soon as she had left the room she had broken out crying. As of now,
she was refused to talk to or look at Harry.

He sat down on the bed next to her and handed her a tissue. She took it, sniffed, and sat silently
for a few minutes, not really looking at anything. Finally she spoke, in a voice that seemed as if it
had not been used in many years. (Harry reminded himself that this was probably true.)

"I'm sorry."

He looked at her, shocked.

"But you don't have anything to be sorry for!" he told her. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I left."

"You had to. Dumbledore said you had to, not you."

"But I could have said no."

Harry sat and stared at her for a few minutes. God, Ron would have been able to handle this so much
better then him. In fact, maybe he should take her to see Rom right now.

"Do you want to go see Ron?" he suggested quietly.

Hermione's head snapped up, revealing her tearstreaked face and red eyes.

"No! I can't!"

"Oh? Why not?"

She looked down at her knees, and said in a small voice, "Because I saw him do it. I can't go in and
look at him, I saw him do it! I saw him....I saw...I can't."

Harry sighed, then put his hand furmly on Hermione's shoulder. She looked up at him.

"Yes you can. You need to see him. You can and you will. Come on."

He stood up and grabbed her hand again, unlocking the door and leading her backout into the hallway.

"No way," she told him in a panicky vioce. "No way. Let me go, Harry!"

Harry shook his head and continued on his way to Rons room.

~~~

Damn he missed her. That was why he did that, wasn't it? So he could see her again? But it didn't work.
Somehow Calli had gotten back in, saw him, and ran to Ginny and Harry's house. And there had been
another wolf, standing over him, howling. Perhaps Calli had sent him? He could think of no other
explanation. Or maybe wolves were telepathic.

There was a knock at the door. Harry's face peered inside, looking around the room and stopping on Ron.

"Ron, there's someone to see you."

"No there's not!" said another voice from behind the door. "Harry, no, stop, I don't want..."

Quite suddenly, a girl he knew very well was shoved inside, and the door closed. Unaware that Ron was
awake, she was still facing the door and grumbling to Harry.

"Harry, this isn't funny! Let me out, hurry, Harry, please!"

"Nope. Go say hi."

"I can't! What would I say? Harry let me ou-"

She paused in midsentence as she looked over at Ron and found that he was pinching himself furiously.
After a minute, he looked up at her, amazed.

"Hi," she said quietly, not meeting his gaze.