Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, do not own these characters or anything
related the Harry Potter... darn.
Hermione Granger sat in misery in her bedroom. The rain pelted the ground and windows heavily, giving Hermione a sense of frustration. Her parents had been away all summer so far. They said they were attending a dentist convention, but Hermione hardly believed it. She wondered what they were up to. Hermione had not heard from Ron or Harry once. She wrote to them but had gotten no responses. If Hermione tried calling Harry's house, either his aunt or his uncle probably would scream at her, and that was the last thing Hermione needed. Ron probably had no knowledge whatsoever of a telephone, so why bother, Hermione thought.
It was cold and rainy outside, as it had been for a couple days now. The wind splashed the rain onto the windows and the blades of grass were drowning in mud. It was very dull and boring both inside the house, and outside the house.
So far, Hermione's summer had been terribly boring. She wanted to get out and do something, she was sick of being all alone in the big house. Why weren't her friends writing back to her? She so desperately wanted to hear from one of them. Maybe she would try writing to Ginny, she might have the decency to reply.
Hermione shuffled across her room to the desk. Her writing supplies were neatly spread out across the surface of the desk, so Hermione began writing.
Dear Ginny,
It's been so long since I've talked to anyone. I really miss everyone. My parents have been gone all summer so far, and I'm not too sure what they're up to. I wish I had someone to talk to. Did Ron get my last letter? I've sent him about three and he hasn't replied to any! Same with Harry. Do you know what they've been doing? I'm starting to get worried. Well, I expect they're alright; if something was up, I would probably know by now. Please write back soon Ginny, you're my last hope. I'll be looking forward to your reply. Please make it a long one, Ginny!
Your Friend,
Hermione
Hermione sealed up the envelope carefully and addressed it to Ginny. She called her owl, Bubu, whom her parents had let her get after the end of term last year. Bubu was a small tawny owl, who was very active. She bopped around the house and would turn up in unexpected places, such as kitchen drawers or the shower.
At Hermione's call, Bubu flew softly into the room and landed on Hermione's shoulder. Bubu spotted the letter in Hermione's hand and got excited, but when she looked out the window, she screeched.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said to Bubu. "Maybe I shouldn't make you go out until the rain settles down." Bubu hooted in agreement and hopped off Hermione's shoulder onto her bed. Hermione sighed. "You're all I have right now, Bubu." The owl cocked her head. Hermione stroked Bubu's neck and she hooted softly.
Finding nothing else to do, Hermione took out a few of her books she had bought at Flourish and Botts recently to do some light reading. She started to become tired and she let herself fall asleep as the rain pounded on the roof.
----
Hermione woke slowly. Sunlight was streaming in through her window and the birds were chirping. There was a sharp pain in her left ear. Hermione snapped her eyes open and saw Bubu biting her ear.
"Alright," Hermione said as she sat up. "You can go now!" She picked up the letter, which had fallen to the floor, and placed it in Bubu's beak. "Take it to Ginny," Hermione said as she opened the window, and Bubu took off.
Hermione sighed and fell back on her bed. She was still tired and she had nothing else to do until Bubu came back, so she fell back asleep.
Her sleeping moments didn't last longer than an hour or so. She awoke when she heard a soft thud come from somewhere. Had she knocked something over? She opened her eyes slowly and looked around. She couldn't see anything, but she heard ragged breaths coming from somewhere... Hermione looked down and saw Bubu lying on her back on the floor. Her feathers were ruffled badly and there was a rather large scratch on her chest.
"Bubu!" Hermione cried. She kneeled on the floor and cradled the poor owl in her arms. "What happened?" Hermione noticed that Bubu's wing was hanging limply at her side. She fingered it gently and the owl winced in pain. "It's broken," Hermione said softly. She stood up and rushed down to the bathroom where the medical supplies were.
Hermione thrust open the medicine cabinet and searched for something that could help her owl. She found what she was looking for and carefully mended the cuts and scratches on Bubu. She also wrapped up the broken wing in bandages. Bubu looked much better after Hermione fixed her up, but she couldn't fly, so she had to walk through the house. She also couldn't hide anymore with that broken wing.
Bubu hopped off the kitchen sink and looked up at Hermione grudgingly because she couldn't fly. "Sorry," Hermione said as Bubu walked away.
What had happened to Bubu? It looked like someone attacked her; as if they were trying to get the letter she was carrying. But why would someone want to read a letter to Ginny? It's not like it was anything important at all. Who would attack an owl to read a silly letter? Was it just random, or did the person intend to take Hermione's letter. Is this what had happened to all of her other letters? If it was, then wouldn't Harry or Ron get worried and try writing to her? Maybe someone was taking their letters too! There could be a culprit out there snatching everyone's letters so no one could communicate. Well, wizards still could communicate other ways...
Hermione was really worried now. She would have to call Harry, she wouldn't care about getting yelled at. Hermione raced to the nearest phone and dialed the number for number four Privet Drive. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up. Finally, Hermione reached the answering machine. In a very nervous and shaky voice, Hermione said,
"Harry, it's Hermione. Call me if you can," and she left her number. Hermione slowly put the receiver down. Why wasn't anyone home? Maybe they were out for the day... but they never took Harry anywhere. Maybe Mrs. Figg was watching him. Yes, that was it. The Dursleys had gone out and Harry was at Mrs. Figg's house being tortured with cat pictures. Relief spread through Hermione, although she could not be sure that her theory was correct.
Hermione decided to use Floo powder to go visit Ron. Someone had to be home there. Hermione had used Floo powder many times, but she was quite afraid to use it this time since they were watching the Floo network. Nevertheless, Hermione stood in the fireplace and threw the Floo powder down, saying "The Burrow!" as she did.
Hermione choked as she went down. She didn't like doing this, but it was easy to get around. She kept her eyes tightly shut so she wouldn't get dust in her eyes. Her hair was flying all over the place and her elbow banged painfully on the wall. Most painfully, Hermione shot out of the Weasley's fireplace. She gathered herself and stood up. It was quite dim in the room, and there were no sounds.
"Hello?" Hermione called tentatively. There was no answer. She walked softly around the room, looking for signs that anyone had been there recently. There was nothing. All of the nick-knacks were placed where they should have been, the couch cushions were smooth and they looked like no one had sat there for days.
"Hello?" she called again, only much louder this time. There was still no answer. Panic swept through Hermione. Where was everyone? Her heart thudded. Was this some kind of sick joke? No... they wouldn't worry her like this.
She had not inspected the whole house, maybe they were somewhere she hadn't checked. Hermione did a thorough search of the house. No one was there, not even the owls. Every door was shut, but only one was locked, and that was Percy's room. Hermione knocked on the door, not expecting someone the open it, but it was worth a try. Of course, no one did. The whole house was empty. Everyone was gone.
Panic rushing through her, Hermione ran back to the fireplace and brought herself home. She was pacing the living room, trying to make sense out of all of this, when she saw something by her window. She looked back, and to her horror, saw someone looking in at her. Before she could get a glimpse of who it was, they were gone.
Hermione Granger sat in misery in her bedroom. The rain pelted the ground and windows heavily, giving Hermione a sense of frustration. Her parents had been away all summer so far. They said they were attending a dentist convention, but Hermione hardly believed it. She wondered what they were up to. Hermione had not heard from Ron or Harry once. She wrote to them but had gotten no responses. If Hermione tried calling Harry's house, either his aunt or his uncle probably would scream at her, and that was the last thing Hermione needed. Ron probably had no knowledge whatsoever of a telephone, so why bother, Hermione thought.
It was cold and rainy outside, as it had been for a couple days now. The wind splashed the rain onto the windows and the blades of grass were drowning in mud. It was very dull and boring both inside the house, and outside the house.
So far, Hermione's summer had been terribly boring. She wanted to get out and do something, she was sick of being all alone in the big house. Why weren't her friends writing back to her? She so desperately wanted to hear from one of them. Maybe she would try writing to Ginny, she might have the decency to reply.
Hermione shuffled across her room to the desk. Her writing supplies were neatly spread out across the surface of the desk, so Hermione began writing.
Dear Ginny,
It's been so long since I've talked to anyone. I really miss everyone. My parents have been gone all summer so far, and I'm not too sure what they're up to. I wish I had someone to talk to. Did Ron get my last letter? I've sent him about three and he hasn't replied to any! Same with Harry. Do you know what they've been doing? I'm starting to get worried. Well, I expect they're alright; if something was up, I would probably know by now. Please write back soon Ginny, you're my last hope. I'll be looking forward to your reply. Please make it a long one, Ginny!
Your Friend,
Hermione
Hermione sealed up the envelope carefully and addressed it to Ginny. She called her owl, Bubu, whom her parents had let her get after the end of term last year. Bubu was a small tawny owl, who was very active. She bopped around the house and would turn up in unexpected places, such as kitchen drawers or the shower.
At Hermione's call, Bubu flew softly into the room and landed on Hermione's shoulder. Bubu spotted the letter in Hermione's hand and got excited, but when she looked out the window, she screeched.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said to Bubu. "Maybe I shouldn't make you go out until the rain settles down." Bubu hooted in agreement and hopped off Hermione's shoulder onto her bed. Hermione sighed. "You're all I have right now, Bubu." The owl cocked her head. Hermione stroked Bubu's neck and she hooted softly.
Finding nothing else to do, Hermione took out a few of her books she had bought at Flourish and Botts recently to do some light reading. She started to become tired and she let herself fall asleep as the rain pounded on the roof.
----
Hermione woke slowly. Sunlight was streaming in through her window and the birds were chirping. There was a sharp pain in her left ear. Hermione snapped her eyes open and saw Bubu biting her ear.
"Alright," Hermione said as she sat up. "You can go now!" She picked up the letter, which had fallen to the floor, and placed it in Bubu's beak. "Take it to Ginny," Hermione said as she opened the window, and Bubu took off.
Hermione sighed and fell back on her bed. She was still tired and she had nothing else to do until Bubu came back, so she fell back asleep.
Her sleeping moments didn't last longer than an hour or so. She awoke when she heard a soft thud come from somewhere. Had she knocked something over? She opened her eyes slowly and looked around. She couldn't see anything, but she heard ragged breaths coming from somewhere... Hermione looked down and saw Bubu lying on her back on the floor. Her feathers were ruffled badly and there was a rather large scratch on her chest.
"Bubu!" Hermione cried. She kneeled on the floor and cradled the poor owl in her arms. "What happened?" Hermione noticed that Bubu's wing was hanging limply at her side. She fingered it gently and the owl winced in pain. "It's broken," Hermione said softly. She stood up and rushed down to the bathroom where the medical supplies were.
Hermione thrust open the medicine cabinet and searched for something that could help her owl. She found what she was looking for and carefully mended the cuts and scratches on Bubu. She also wrapped up the broken wing in bandages. Bubu looked much better after Hermione fixed her up, but she couldn't fly, so she had to walk through the house. She also couldn't hide anymore with that broken wing.
Bubu hopped off the kitchen sink and looked up at Hermione grudgingly because she couldn't fly. "Sorry," Hermione said as Bubu walked away.
What had happened to Bubu? It looked like someone attacked her; as if they were trying to get the letter she was carrying. But why would someone want to read a letter to Ginny? It's not like it was anything important at all. Who would attack an owl to read a silly letter? Was it just random, or did the person intend to take Hermione's letter. Is this what had happened to all of her other letters? If it was, then wouldn't Harry or Ron get worried and try writing to her? Maybe someone was taking their letters too! There could be a culprit out there snatching everyone's letters so no one could communicate. Well, wizards still could communicate other ways...
Hermione was really worried now. She would have to call Harry, she wouldn't care about getting yelled at. Hermione raced to the nearest phone and dialed the number for number four Privet Drive. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up. Finally, Hermione reached the answering machine. In a very nervous and shaky voice, Hermione said,
"Harry, it's Hermione. Call me if you can," and she left her number. Hermione slowly put the receiver down. Why wasn't anyone home? Maybe they were out for the day... but they never took Harry anywhere. Maybe Mrs. Figg was watching him. Yes, that was it. The Dursleys had gone out and Harry was at Mrs. Figg's house being tortured with cat pictures. Relief spread through Hermione, although she could not be sure that her theory was correct.
Hermione decided to use Floo powder to go visit Ron. Someone had to be home there. Hermione had used Floo powder many times, but she was quite afraid to use it this time since they were watching the Floo network. Nevertheless, Hermione stood in the fireplace and threw the Floo powder down, saying "The Burrow!" as she did.
Hermione choked as she went down. She didn't like doing this, but it was easy to get around. She kept her eyes tightly shut so she wouldn't get dust in her eyes. Her hair was flying all over the place and her elbow banged painfully on the wall. Most painfully, Hermione shot out of the Weasley's fireplace. She gathered herself and stood up. It was quite dim in the room, and there were no sounds.
"Hello?" Hermione called tentatively. There was no answer. She walked softly around the room, looking for signs that anyone had been there recently. There was nothing. All of the nick-knacks were placed where they should have been, the couch cushions were smooth and they looked like no one had sat there for days.
"Hello?" she called again, only much louder this time. There was still no answer. Panic swept through Hermione. Where was everyone? Her heart thudded. Was this some kind of sick joke? No... they wouldn't worry her like this.
She had not inspected the whole house, maybe they were somewhere she hadn't checked. Hermione did a thorough search of the house. No one was there, not even the owls. Every door was shut, but only one was locked, and that was Percy's room. Hermione knocked on the door, not expecting someone the open it, but it was worth a try. Of course, no one did. The whole house was empty. Everyone was gone.
Panic rushing through her, Hermione ran back to the fireplace and brought herself home. She was pacing the living room, trying to make sense out of all of this, when she saw something by her window. She looked back, and to her horror, saw someone looking in at her. Before she could get a glimpse of who it was, they were gone.
