Chapter 11 Of Shadows of Death and Lights of Hope - Part 01
Today was September 1st and all the students of Hogwarts were at the Station 9 ¾ of Kings Cross getting ready to go back to the School. Parents were there to say goodbye to their children, students were talkinh with friends, others were looking for compartments to sit. That was happenning at the station at 10.30 a.m. of that day.
Molly Weasley was there to say goodbye to her children. Ginny went to talk with one her frinds after a few moments. The twins were with Lee and the Chasers of the team. A look at Hermione and Ron told her that it would be a hard year for both of them. The last member of the trio was dead and nothing would be the same for them without him.
"Come home for Christmas. You know that you'll be welcome." Said Molly to Hermione before the girl had to go to the Prefect's compartment.
"Thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley. And I'll be there." Said Hermione with a little smile before she went to the front part of the train.
"Take care of her, Ron." Said Mrs. Weasley to her son with a worried tone of voice.
"I'll do. Goodbye, mom." Said Ron before he went to look for a place for him.
"Merlin, help them please." Said Molly with a plead tone before she returned to the Burrow.
****
When Hermione entered in the Prefect's compartment, Katie Bell, the Head Girl and one of the Chasers, went to her inmediately.
"Hey, Hermione." Greeted Katie sitting next to her.
"Hey, Katie. How is everything?" Asked Hermione putting her trunk near her seat.
"As well as we can expect." Said Katie with a sad smile.
"Who will be the Captain this year?" Asked Hermione trying to speak about something that wasn't Harry.
"We'll decide it later. When the attack happened, me, Alicia and Angelina were discussing it with the twins at the Burrow. The problem is that all of us had chosen Harry to be it." Said the Head Girl.
"I miss him terribly, Katie." Said Hermione closing her eyes.
"All of us do it." Said Katie laying a hand on the girl's shoulder to support her.
"I can't think in a year without him here. Playing Quidditch, breaking rules, just..." Started Hermione but she couldn't find the words.
"Just being Harry." Finished Katie for her.
Bafore any of them could say anything, an owl entered in the compartment and landed next to Hermione. The Prefect looked confused and took the letter tied to her leg. She looked the front of the envelope and she became worried when she recognized the seal of the Ministry of the Magic. With her hands shaking, she opened the letter and began to read it:
"Dear Miss Hermione Granger,
It's our regret to inform you that your parents had died in a car crash..."
Hermione dropped the letter there and burst out in tears and left the compartment running. Katie was confused and took the letter and read it. When she finished it, she left the place and went to look for her friends and Hermione.
After a while she found the twins and the girls who were talking with Lee.
"Have you seen Hermione, guys?" Asked Katie with a worried tone of voice.
"No, why?" Asked Fred confused while the others shook ther heads.
"Her parents died. We have to find her." Said Katie before she left the compartment and went on with her mission.
The other seventh years looked among themselves shocked with the news and followed their friend to help her in the mission.
They found Hermione at a compartment with Ron. She was sleeping and they could see tracks of tears in her eyes. Ron stood and laid Hermione on the seat as quietly as he could and left the place and went to talk with his brother and their friends.
"What the hell has happened? The last time she cried like that was after Harry's death!" Asked Ron to the others in a whisper.
"This." Said Katie giving him the letter that Hermione had received a while ago.
"Oh shit. This is the last thing she needs right now!" Said Ron when he finished the letter.
"What can we do now?" Asked Alicia worried looking Hermione sleep.
"Leave Hermione to me. I just need a thing from all of you." Said Ron with a very seriously tone of voice.
"Tell it." Said Fred while the others nodded.
"Keep the Slytherins out of our way. If they say something out of place, I don't know how she will react. None of us has recovered from Harry's death yet. This just makes the things much worse." Said Ron with a tone of voice that mixed plea and seriousness.
"We'll do it." Said Fred before he, George and Lee disappeared of the corridor where they were talking and began with their mission.
"I must go back to the Prefect's Compartment. I'll pay a visit as soon as I can." Said Katie watching the clock and seeing that it was already 11.20.
"We'll stay here." Said Alicia while Angelina nodded.
"Take seat." Said Ron to the girls entering in the compartment again and taking again his previous postion and laid his best friend's head over his lap.
****
For when the trolley with food had appeared, the news of Hermione's parent had spread around the train. The other thing that had been spread too was the threat that the twins and Lee had done to the whole school, althouth Slytherin had received the most serious warning.
"If any of you say something to her or our brother about Harry's death or Hermione's parents, you'll face the wrath of the whole Gryffindor House." Said Fred with a tone that showed that it wan't a joke at all.
The students of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin knew that it wasn't a joke and they had to take care with that threat. One thing was facing the anger or wrath of one or 2 members of a house. Other completely different was face the wrath of a whole House. Especcially if the Weasley twins were there.
When the 3 returned to the compartment where Ron, Hermione and the girls were, they saw that the Prefect was still sleeping with her head on Ron's lap. They sat with them quietly and talked in a normal tone of voice being careful to not wake her.
When it was almost 2.00 p.m. Katie entered in the compartment followed by Ginny and, to everyone's surprise, Albus Dumbledore himself.
"How is she?" Asked the Headmaster to the students. His tone of voice indicated that he was worried for Hermione
"She cried a while before she fell asleep. She has been sleeping since we left. We don't dare to wake her yet." Said Ron passing a hand through her hair.
"When you arrive to the School, go to my Office. Miss Bell I'm sure you know the way." Said Albus turning to Katie.
"Which is the password, Headmaster?" Asked the Head Girl who had been at the Office a few times before and knew the way to there.
"Sugar Quills." Said Dumbledore before he left the place to leave the students alone.
"I only hope that Malfoy doesn't decide to pay us a visit today. I'm not in mood for him this year." Said Ron with a sigh.
****
Hermione woke up when it was almost 4.30. She saw the others and knew inmediatrely that the news had been spread. She gave them a little and tired smile before she sat down in a normal position.
"Guys, why don't you let us change in private?" Suggested Katie to Ron, the Twins and Lee.
"I'll be back in a while." Whispered Ron to his friend, who nodded in thanks while the 4 boys left the compartment.
Hermione, Ginny and the Chasers changed in silence. The 4 girls looked at Hermione worriedly. She seemed ready to burst out in tears again at any moment. She changed her robes like a robot, just doing everything by instint.
Suddenly the door opened and the 5 turned to see to no one else but Draco Malfoy standing at the door. This time he was alone and not with Crabbe and Goyle as he always was.
"What do you need, Malfoy?" Asked Katie with her wand in her hand. Alicia, Angelina and Ginny had their own ones too, all of them pointing to the blonde.
"I want to speak with Granger alone." Said Malfoy simply.
"About what?" Asked Alicia suspitiously.
"It's none of your business." Answered Malfoy with a flat tone of voice.
"Go." Said Hermione to her friends watching Malfoy intently.
"Do something and you'll regret it." Said Ginny to Malfoy before they left.
"Take it. I won't do something without it." Said Malfoy giving his wand to Katie.
"Remember the threat that the twins said." Said the Head Girl putting the wand at his pocket and closing the door behind her.
"What do you want this time, Malfoy?" Asked Hermione with a cold tone of voice.
"Say sorry to you." Said Draco sitting.
"Excuse me?" Asked Hermione who never thought that she would listen those words from the Slytherin's mouth never ever.
"I came to say that I'm sorry for everything I did and say to you, Potter and Weasley the last 5 years." Said Malfoy without looking to her.
"Why? I mean why do you say this now after everything that happened?" Asked Hermione confused.
Malfoy seemed to think a few minutes before he answered: "I hated Potter by the fame. When the trial happened and I saw what really had happened at the Third Task, I realized my mistake. When he died, I understood that everything that I had thought about him, was false.
"I followed my father's believing and never thought for myself in many things. Believe me when I say that his imprisoning was the best thing that could happen to my and my mother. Since that day we can live without fear of him." Said Draco with a little smile.
"So everything you said was false?" Asked Hermione thinking for a few minutes.
"Yes. Now, I can't show my change to Potter. That's why I'm trying to make the peace with you and Weasley." Said Malfoy extending his hand.
"A long time ago, someone told me that everyone deserves a second chance. I don't know if I'm ready to forgive you or forget everything that you said and did to me, Ron and Harry. But I can give a second chance. Don't lose it." Said Hermione shaking it.
"Thanks." Said Malfoy standing from his seat and turning to leave.
Unnoticed to both of them, Ron had been standing there the whole time and had heard everything that Malfoy had said. He wasn't sure if he could forgive Malfoy. Too many things had been said between them and too many things had happened too, but if Hermione could give him a second chance, why not him?
"Don't lose it either with me." Said Ron with a flat tone of voice sitting next to Hermione.
"Granger?" Said Draco before he left.
"Yes, Malfoy?" Asked the girl turning to see him.
"I'm sorry for your parents." Said this, the blond left them alone and went to look for Katie to get back his wand.
"Incredible. I never thought that I would listen to Malfoy saying what he said." Said Ron when both teens were alone again.
"Neither did I, Ron, Neither did I." Said Hermione before she turned her atention to the window and started to watch the field.
****
When the others heard what Malfoy had said were as shocked as Ron and Hermione. What shocked more to the twins was that both of them had decided to give him another chance with them.
"He came and asked it. I won't deny a second chance to anyone." Said Hermione in a hard tone of voice when Fred said that Malfoy didn't deserve it. That was the last thing said about the matter for the rest of the trip.
"I must return to the Prefect's Compartment, guys. I'll see you at the School." Said Katie when it was almost 45 minutes before they reached to the School.
"Katie, do I have to be there?" Asked Hermione not liking the idea of leaving the place.
"We'll talk about the Prefects' things another day. If you want I have a book about it. Ask me it later." Said the Head Girl before she left the compartment and went to the front part.
When they reached to Hogsmeae's station, they saw Hagrid callineg the first years as always. Ron and Hermione went and gave him a hug that the half- giant returned.
"Why don't you 2 come one of these days to the hut and we talk a little?" Suggested Hagrid to the teens when they sepparated.
"Sure, see you, Hagrid." Said both of them before they went in a carriage with the twns.
When they arrived to the School, Katie went to them and leaded the pair of friends to Dumbledore's Office. After she said the password, the 3 of them waited till the stairs reached till the top of it and they knocked the door.
"Come in." Said Dumbledore from inside.
"I'll go back to the Feast. I'll see to both of you at the Common Room later." Said Katie before she left the Office and went to the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione nodded before they sat in front of Dumbledore.
Before any of them or Albus could say something, a note was heard and Fawkes who was at his perch flew to Hermione and landed on her shoulder.
"Hey, Fawkes, so long." Said Ron petting the bird. He remembered the Phoenix from the night that he and Harry rescued Ginny of the Secret Chamber.
"Miss Granger, please meet my pet Fawkes." Said Dumbledore with a smile.
"He's beautyful." Said Hermione petting the bird.
"Miss Granger, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss. Your parents' bodies have been taken back to the country and I've been in contact with your grandmother to settle the details for their funeral." Started to explain Albus.
"When will it be?" Asked Hermione trying to not cry.
"They'll be tomorrow. Your grandmother will wait for you at Kings Cross tomorrow's morning. You'll be excused from classes till next Monday. Considering that today is Friday, you won't lose any classes." Said Dumbledore.
"Very well, Professor." Said Hermione with a nod.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Asked Ron.
"Sorry, Ron. But my family, especcially my Mother's sister and her husband, are a headache. I need to concentrate on this and I couldn't find proper time for you." Said Hermione apologizing.
"No problem." Said Ron a little dissapointed because he couldn't be with her on this hard moment.
"Why don't you go to your Common Room? I'll tell Dobby to send you some food there." Suggested the Headmaster.
"Yes, Professor." Said Ron before Hermione could say something against it. But she merely nodded in agreement to this.
"Could you tell us the password, Professor?" Asked Hermione remembering that neither her or Ron knew it.
"Bravery." Said Albus before both students left the Office and he went to the Hall for the welcoming feast of that year.
****
Tonight the Hall wasn't as noisy as usual for the welcoming feast. The Gryffindor Table was by far the most quiet of the 4. They had lost a member and another was grieving for her recent loss.
When Dumbledore entered in the Hall he went towards the Weasley Twins, Ginny Weasley and the other players of the Gryffindor Team.
"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are at the Common Room. If any of you wish to go with them, you can do it." Said Dubledore before he took his usual seat at high table.
The group looked at each other before all of them stood and left the Hall in silence. The rest of the House watched them leave in silence knowing that it wasn't their place to be with Ron and Hermione. The group was the indicated to be with them in that moment.
"This year will be a very long one." Whispered Snape to Albus while the sorting began. Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
When the sorting finished, Gryffindor had 12 new students, Ravenclaw had 9, Hufflepuff had 8 and Slytherin had 6. When the last student was sorted and was sat at his table, Dumbledore stood and silence fell at the Hall.
"I'll leave the anouncements till the end of the feast. Now let's eat!" Said Dumbledore before the food appeared at the Tables and eveyone started to eat.
The students ate in the same silence that had reigend the time before the sorting. The new students met the old ones and their questions were answered quietly.
"Why are there black standarts at the Hall?" Asked a student of first year Collin Creevey suddenly.
In that moment every student of the Gryffindor Table noticed it. There were black standarts all around the Hall like after Cedric Diggory's death the last year. All of them realized that it was in signal of respect for Harry Potter.
"It's to show respect to Harry Potter." Said Collin before he explained to the first years what had happened at the Feast of the end of year last June.
For another while, the only noise was the sound of the plates and knifes and forks while the students ate. After the desserts, Dumbleroe stood again and the silence feel over Hall once more.
"This year we have to start it with black standarts as we did at the end of the last year. This time we show respect for another great student that this School has lost: Harry Potter." Started Dumbledore his usual speech.
"None of us will forget him. As friend, fellow student, Housemate, Quidditch player, everyone will remember him in many ways. I would like to have a toaste for him." Said Albus raising his goblet.
"For Harry Potter!" Chorused the whole School, including some Slytherins, following Dumbledore's example.
"Let's hope that this world can keep the peace that he gave us with his death and his final defeat of Lord Voldemort." Said Dumbledore. Many students and some of the teachers flinched with the Dark Lord's name, but Albus ignored before he continued.
"I'm sure that all of you have heard the threat that some students have done on the train. I will add that besides facing their wrath, that student will have to face mine." Said the Headmaster with a serious tone of voice.
"What threat?" Asked Severus to Minerva confused.
"If someone says something wrong or out of place to Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley about Harry's or Hermione's parents' death, they'll face the wrath of my whole House." Answered McGonagall to his colleague.
"Only a stupid would dare to do it." Said Snape before Dumbledore continued with his speech. Next to him, the Head of Gryffindor nodded in agreement to his words.
"Now in other order of things, the Forest is FORBIDDEN to everyone. I hope that you will remember this.
"Mr. Filch asked me to inform everyone that he had added another 30 items to the list of things that the students mustn't use. Also he asked me to say that magic is not allowed in the corridors.
"As it's usual at the School, this year we have a new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts. This year the position will be taken by the former Auror Arabella Figg. I hope she lasts in the position more than a year." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
Many students laughed with his comment while Harry's old babysitter stood and bowed to the students who gave her a little welcome with claps.
"Now it's time to sleep. Prefects take your Houses to your Towers!" Said Dumbledore clapping his hands.
Inmediately everyone stood and started to leave the Hall. The Prefects of Sixth year took the new ones to the Tower. McGonagall hadn't chosen a replacement for Harry in that position yet and Hermione wasn't there to do the work.
When the whole House arrived to their Common Room they saw that no one was there and there were dishes of dinner and realized that the group had eaten there and they went to the bed. Silently all of them went to their own dorms to sleep.
When Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil entered in their dorm, Hermione was sleeping soundly. Both girls changed their clothes in silence not wanting to wake her. They knew that it was one of the few moments of peace that she would get in days.
****
That weekend was the worse for Ron. Hermione had left the School on Saturday's morning. Like she left very early he couldn't say goodbye to her. He tried to eat something but nothing seemed to pass to his stomach those 2 days.
"At least she will return today." Thought the redhead whike he tried to eat some breakfast on Monday's morning.
"Oh Merlin. Who makes the schedules?" Asked Dean a while later when McGonagall gave them to the students.
"Please tell me that we don't start today with Snape." Pleaded Ron to his friend.
"We don't have Snape today at all, Ron. It's worse than that." Said Seamus checking his own one.
"What can be worse than Snape?" Asked Katie curious joining their chat while Neville listened their chat too.
"Divination with Trelawney at the first period." Said both boys showing them their schedules.
"Oh shit!" Groaned Ron checking his own one while Neville checked his own one and groaned too.
"You said the right words, Ron. Oh shit." Groaned Dean while Seamus and Neville nodded in agreement.
"I'm not in mood for one of her classes!" Groaned Ron.
"And you know what she will do today, right?" Asked Neville with sarcasm.
"One thing out of place about Harry, and she'll regret it all her life!" Said Ron taking his things and leaving the Hall to go to the North Tower for his first class of the term: Divinaton.
****
Not more than 40 minutes later, Ron found himself in Dumbledore's office. The reason? He made Trelawney to regret her words.
The Divination's teacher had not only said something about Harry's death, she also talked about tyhe death of Hermione's parents.
When she spoke about Harry's death, saying that he died as a hero and martir, and that she had also knew how it would finish, thanks to her "Inner Eye", it took a lot of effort from Dean, Neville an Seamus to control Ron's anger. He looked ready to curse her for days.
"It doesn't worth it, Ron!" Said Dean while he and his friends tried to make Ron to sit once more.
"Ok, let me go. I won't do nothing!" Said Ron calming himself again and putting his wand on his robes again.
The class went on normally till Sybil said something like what she had said about Harry's death, about the decease of Mr. and Mrs. Granger and how she had seen it before anyone.
This time neither Neville, Dean or Seamus made efforts to stop the redhead. They knew that Trelawney had gone too far with that and that no one could stop Ron of cursing her.
Ron felt his body boiling with anger after her words and shot every curse and hex he knew to his Professor. It took a stunning spell and a petificus totalus from Dumbledore to stop him.
"Mr. Thomas and Mr. Finnigan, please take him downstair and remove the spells. Tell him that he must go to my Office. I'll see him there later. The rest of you, return to your own towers." Instructed the Headmaster to the students while he started to say the counter curses to Sybil.
Not wanting to dissobey Dumbledore's order, all of the students left the classroom as fast as thay could. When they were out of there, Dean said the counter curses to Ron and gave him the message of Dumbledore.
"Now I understand what your twin brothers meant when they said that anyone who would say something out of place would face the wrath of the House, Mr. Weasley." Said Dumbledore entering at his Office followed by McGonagall.
"If you expect that I'll say sorry for what I did, sit and wait, Professors, because I won't." Said Ron simply to the two teachers.
"I wouldn't expect it. If I were you, I would have had the same reaction to her words." Said Dumbledore with a smile.
"I couldn't stand it. I knew that she would say something about Harry, but she went too far talking about Hermione's parents. She didn't have any right to do it." Said Ron still angry with Trelawney.
"Those were her last words at this School. She has been fired." Said Minerva seriously.
"What will happen with me?" Asked Ron.
"Suspended for a week, 2 months of detention and 150 points will be reduced from your House. I will talk with your parents and you'll leave tomorrow's morning." Explained Dumbledore seriously.
"I'll go to pack." Said Ron standing from his seat. Before he left he turned ro the Professrs and said: "Take care of Hermione while I'm not here. I couldn't stand losing another friend." Said this he left and closed the door behind him.
"He was right. Sybil went too far this time." Said Minerva when she and Albus were alone.
"I know, Minerva. That's one of the reasons because I didn't expell him." Said Albus petting Fawkes.
"Which is the other one?" Asked McGonagall.
"Miss Granger couldn't stand losing him too after her parents' and Harry's death. We would lose her too with him." Said Dumbledore dismissing the Deputy Headmistress and starting to use his pensieve.
****
When Ron went to the Hall for lunch, he was rounded by his siblings and his yearmates. All of them wanting to know what would happen with him after his attack to Trelawney.
"I have good and bad news. The good ones are that I won't be expelled and Trelawney was fired from the School." Said Ron when the group sat at the table to eat.
"The bad ones?" Asked Fred relieved that his brother wasn't expelled.
"I was suspended for a week. Mom and Dad will come for me tomorrow. I'll serve detention for 2 months and Gryffindor lost 150 points. Nothing too bad." Said Ron wth a shrug of his shoulders.
"I agree, not too bad compaired with the chance of being expelled." Said George while the other nodded.
The rest of the lunch continued quietly. No one said something else about the incident and their chats were about unimportant things as subjects, achoolwork and things like that.
"I have to finish my packing. Could you do me a favour while I'm gone?" Asked Ron to the others.
"Sure." Said all of them with a nod.
"Take care of Hermione. I couldn't stand losing my other best friend." Begged Ron before he left the Hall to finish his packing.
Everyone nodded to this. They would lose him if something happened to Hermione. Harry's death was enough for the House. No one wanted to lose another 2 students, especcially when they were so much apreciated as Ron and Hermione.
****
That night at the Burrow, Molly Weasley had started to cook a good dinner. Unexpected to the family, Charlie had informed them that he would visit the House with his girlfriend, Alicia Kingston. Molly remembered her as one of the old schoolmates of her son. For the dinner she cooked some good meal to make a good impression to her daughter in law.
At 8.30 Percy and Arthur returned form work. Bill had been staying in the House too. He needed some hollidays. Alicia and Charlie arrived at 9.00 and the whole family sat to eat.
At 9.30 they heard a "plop" that told them that someone had just apparated at the house. They turned and saw there to Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts. They could see that he was worried.
"Did something happen, Albus?" Asked Arthur confused with the visit, when the old wizard took seat next to the family.
"I need that you and Molly come to the School to pick one of your child." Said Dumbledore without preambles.
"Fred or George?" Asked Molly thinking that one of the twins had done something wrong and dangerous.
"Ron." Said Albus before he retold them what had happened that morning at Trelawney's class.
To say that the whole Weasley clan was angry with Sybil was an understatement. Molly looked as if she didn't have any problem to continue with her son's work. Arthur and Percy were bewildered and it was obvious that none of them could blame Ron for his actions. Charlie was like them and Bill said a lot of words that no one could understand.
"You speak very well the Egypcian, Bill." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle. He had understood him. His words were curses and rude words very hard.
"Do I want to know what he said?" Asked Molly suspecting the meaning of his words.
"You don't." Said Bill to his relatives when he calmed himself a little.
"Now that we settled this matter, I have another one. Although considering that Miss Kingston is here, I can settle 2." Said Albus looking to Alicia.
"What is it, Professor?" Asked Alicia confused.
"If my memory doesn't fail me, you were excellent in Divination, right?" Asked Dumbledore.
"It was my best subject. Why?" Asked Alicia more confused.
"After what happened this morning, I'm in need of a replacement for Sybil. Would you like to take it?" Asked Albus with a smile.
"Of course, I would love it!" Said Alicia after thinking it for a few moments.
"I'm sure that Charlie will be seen there usually, right?" Said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
"If I'm welcome, you will see me very oftern." Said the Weasley boy with a smile kissing his girlfriend.
"Now the second matter is different. I've been in contact with Hermione's Grandmother deciding what will happen with her after the end of the School year. She's very old and it isn't sure that she would live till June. Her other relatives, her Aunt and Uncle, don't get on very well with her." Explained Dumbledore.
"You want her to live with us?" Asked Arthur suspecting what the Headmaster would ask them.
"Yes." Said Dumbledore.
"Of course she will be welcome here, Albus. She is like another member of this family." Said Molly while the other Weasleys nodded to this.
"Very well. That settles all the problems. I will expect to both of you tomorrow's morning to pick Ron." Said Albus to Molly and Arthur before he dissaparated.
"Now we know who got Mom's temper." Said Charlie to his brothers when everyone went to sleep a while later.
"Ron." Said Percy and Bill with agreement to their brother's words.
****
When Hermione returned to the School on Thursday, everyone saw that she was distraught. Her eyes were dull and she didn't have the usual cheeriness and mood that was with her.
"Welcome back." Said Ginny giving her a big hug.
"Thanks." Said Hermione sitting in the Common Room. Looking around he saw the team, the twins but not Ron.
"He was suspended for a week. He'll be back on Monday." Answered Katie when Hermione asked for him, sitting with the girls.
"What did he do??" Asked Hermione shocked with the news.
"I can explain it in few words. Trelawney. Divination. Ron. Harry. Your parents. 20 curses and hexes. Can you guess what happened with those clues?" Said Ginny with sarcasm in her voice.
"What did that old bat say about my parents?" Asked Hermione completely bewildered and ready to continue with her friend's work.
"You don't want to know it, Mione." Said Lavender sitting next to her friends while Parvati joined the group too.
"I hope she was fired." Said Hermione trying to calm herself again.
"Yes, we have a new teacher. It's Charlie's girlfriend." Said Ginny before she told Hermione everything she knew about the new Professor.
"At least she seems better than Trelawney." Said Hermione when Ginny finished her explanation.
"How was it with your family?" Asked Katie not sure if it was a good moment to do it.
"I'm alone. My grandmother will not live much longer. Her doctors says that she won't live after September. With my Aunt and Uncle... well, for me they are dead." Said Hermione with a sad look.
"You are not exactly alone." Said Fred joining their chat.
"What do you mean?" Asked Hermione confused.
"Since next summer, you'll live with us. Welcome to the Weasley clan." Said Ginny with a wide smile hugging her.
"Thanks." Said Hermione hugging her and the twins.
"You are welcome. After all, mom and dad considered you and Harry always as another members of the family." Said Fred with a laugh.
"Now it's official." Laughed Hermione before she started to speak with Parvati about what they had learnt during the days that she had been out.
****
Ron had been at his dorm the whole week. He left only for meals and to go to the bathroom. He needed some peace and wanted to be alone. His world seemed to turn upside down in only a month.
First, he had lost his first and best friend. No one could replace him no matter how hard they tried. With Harry, had happened too many things to forget him easily.
Now his other best friend had lost her family. He knew that he had to be strong for both of them. He couldn't let Hermione to be depressed. If he lost her, he didn't know what he would do.
On Sunday's morning he decided to make a trip to Diagon Alley. He hadn't been there since the attack and it would be very hard and difficult for him that trip.
He took the key to his vault and went downstairs. After he was chosen as Minister, Mr. Weasley had open a vault for each of his children. It would help them in the future after the School in the cases of the twins, Ron and Ginny. And would help Bill, Charlie and Percy if they had some money problems.
"Hi, honey." Said Molly when Ron was downstairs.
"Do you need something form the Alley? I need some fresh air and I'll make a trip there." Said Ron going to the fireplace.
"Buy some parchments and ink for Percy." Said Molly thinking a few moments.
"I'll be here for dinner." Said Ron before he threw some floo powder and shouted: "Diagon Alley!"
A few seconds later, he landed on the Leaky Cauldron. While he was cleaning his clothes, Ron looked around. The place was almost empty. There were a few customers getting a late breakfast, some wizards reading the Daily Prophet and other persons talking.
"Look, it's the Minister's son!" Shouted a man recognizing Ron. Before he could do something else, he was rounded by some reporters who began to shoot questions.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why aren't you at Hogwarts? Were you expelled?"
Ron ignored them and began to walk towards the back of the place. Before he could open the entrance to the Alley, he heard someone asking:
"How do you feel returning to the place where your best friend died?"
With his body boiling in anger by the question, the redhead turned around to face the reporter who had asked the question. To his disgust it was no one else than Rita Skeeter who looked interested to listen his anser.
"How does it feel being an illegal Animagus and not telling that secret to anyone, Rita?" Asked Ron before he went to the Alley leaving everyone shocked and Rita shooting murderous glares to the teen who ignored them.
When he was inside the Alley, Ron had to fight the urge to cry. The memories of the attack, the duel between Harry and Voldemort and their deaths, had given nightmares all that month and he was still having them every night.
Shaking his head he walked towards Gringotts where he took some money from his own vault. He, alike Harry, hated the trip to the vaults. He always felt nauseous after it.
"What are you doing here, Ron?" Asked Bill surprised to see his brother in the Bank. He had started to work in England after what happened at third task by request of his mother who wanted to have all his children near her.
"I needed some fresh air. Couldn't stand being at the Burrow today. Why don't we lunch together at the Cauldron later?" Suggested Ron before he left Gringotts.
"Do you want me to make you some company? There isn't too much to do here today. I can ask the free day." Said Bill sensing that his brother didn't want to be alone in that moment.
"Sure. Why not?" Said Ron after thinking a few moments.
"How do you feel returning here?" Asked Bill when both brothers left the Bank 10 minutes later.
"It's harder than I thought. I mean, the last time that I was here was when the attack happened. Returning here, brings me back too many bad memories. Don't tell mom, but I still have nightmares of that day." Confessed Ron while they went to buy the ink and parchments for Percy.
"It will be always hard, Ron. Harry meant too much for you. From this year, you'll see the Alley as the place where you lost your best friend. It will be like a demon for you and Hermione always. It will take a lot of time for both of you before you recover completely from his death." Said Bill walking along the streets and watching some shops.
"I wonder what kind of egg was it." Mumbled Ron to himself when the 2 Weasleys were at the pet's shop.
"Uh?" Asked Bill confused with his words.
"When we were here, Harry decided to buy a new pet besides an owl. Hedwig was killed by the Dursleys. He bought a Phoenix's egg. We never knew what kind of Phoenix was." Explained Ron.
"He bought a Phoenix's egg?" Asked Bill shocked with his words.
"Yeah, he wanted a special pet and the saler of the shop offered it to him. He liked the idea and bought it." Said Ron remembering when Harry bought it.
"Wow." Was the only thing that Bill could say.
"Have anyone told you what happened that day at the Alley?" Asked Ron suddenly while they continued walking.
"I heard some versions. I don't know what I must believe or not." Said Bill going to the Florean Montesque to eat an icecream.
"We had left the Hospital Wing where Harry was after the trial. We came here with Dumbledore and McGonagall. We bought everything: books, the owl, the egg, a broom, everything. When we finished buying the broom we came here and found Dean, Seamus, Neville, Padma, Parvati and Lavender who came to do the same." Began to tell Ron.
"Suddenly we heard an explosion and the Death Eaters started to apparate. Then Harry said 3 words 'He's here.' None of us needed to ask who was it, so we took the wands and went down to fight.
"When we were down, You-Know-Who appeared and Harry told us to leave. All of us knew that it was his private fight and we weren't part of it, so we left them and continued fighting against Death Eaters.
"It was like seeing a rain of fireworks, Bill. Both of them shooting more and more curses. Each of them more powerful than the previous. At some moment they shouted 2 curses at the same time. You-Know-Who fell under a lot of rubbish and Harry..." Ron couldn't finish his sentence. He had started to cry once more.
Bill hugged him tightly. He didn't need to listen the end of his tale, he knew what had happened because one of the Aurors who had been fighting had told him and also many of the shop keepers had done it. He heard it becuase he felt that Ron needed to tell it to someone.
"Do you feel better?" Asked Bill giving a tissue to his brother when they separated.
"I'll never be ok again, Bill. Never." Said Ron whipping off the tears.
Both boys spent the rest of the day speaking about some unimportant matters. They didn't talk about the attack or Harry for the rest of the day. Bill felt that Ron didn't want to do it in that moment and respected his wish not touching the subject.
When they returned to the Cauldorn to go back to the Burrow, both of them were rounded by a lot of reporters. Ron sent his brother a look that said 'Do whatever you want, but get me out of here now."
Bill took his brother's arm and apparated them back at the Burrow surprising to Molly and Penelope who were talking at the kitchen. Ron excused himself and went to his dorm to be there alone for a while once more.
"How was it, Bill?" Asked Mrs. Weasley to his son giving him a cup of tea.
"A nightmare for him. At least he started to talk about it. He told me the story from his side. He couldn't finish it. He was crying before the end. And facing a lot of reporters when we were leaving, didn't help at all. I had to apparate with him here." Explained Bill drinking his tea.
"I'm worried about him." Said Molly worried.
"He's having nightmares of that day. He confessed it to me. He asked me not to tell you." Said Bill to his mother.
"Poor Ron. Now he has be strong for himself and also for Hermione." Said Penelope.
"The problem is that Harry was the strongest of the trio. Hermione has the brain and Ron has the instincts, but Harry always kept his mind focused and didn't let himself to depress. But last year, everything changed. At the Hospital Wing, he wasn't the same. He looked weak and as if a part of him had died that night." Said Bill remembering the moments when he was with the teen at Hogwarts' Infirmary after the third Task of the TriWizard Tournament.
"Bill he was 14 and had seen You-Know-Who's rebird and Cedric dying. It can hit you hard and Harry took it very bad. Worse than you can imagine." Said Molly with a sad tone of voice.
"What do you mean, Molly?" Asked Penelope confused while Bill shared the same expression of his sister-in-law.
"Don't tell this to anyone, especcially Ron or Hermione. Few people knows this but Harry tried to kill himself this summer." Said Molly checking that her youngest son wasn't listening her words.
"Are you serious, Mom?" Asked Bill completely shcoked while Penelope looked as if he would faint.
"Professor Dumbledore told me." Said the woman with a nod before she retold them what Dumbledore had told him about the incident at the teen's House.
"We are scared that Ron or Hermione, especcially after her parent's death, could fall in depression and would try the same." Finished Molly his explanation.
"I undersand the fear." Said Bill still shocked with his mother's news.
"As I said before, this musn't be told to anyone. We don't know how the kids could react to this and no one wants to find it out." Said Molly very seriously to her son and daughter-in-law who nodded to the request of silence.
****
On Monday's dinner, Ron rejoined the School once more. When he entered at the Hall he went straigh towards Hermione and sat at a chair that the others had kept free for him.
After a little while both friends went to the Tower along the rest of the House. They stayed at the Common Room far from everyone. Many of the students sensing that they needed and wanted to be alone, left the place to go to sleep earlier than usual. At 11.30 p.m. the only ones at the Common Room of the House were Ron and Hermione.
"Yesterday I went back to the Alley." Said Ron starting the chat.
"How did you feel? I don't know how I will react the next time I go. Probably I'll burst in tears as soon as I enter." Said Hermione sadly.
"I wasn't very far from doing it. Luckily I found Bill and he gave me some support to stand the trip. Although I cried when I told him the story of what had happened. I couldn't avoid it." Admitted Ron.
"I have nightmares everynight remembering the duel. I woke up soaked in sweat and sometimes I screamed too." Said Hermione with a shrug.
"You are not the only one who has them. Every night I see the trip, the bang and the duel. I can't take it off from my mind." Said the redhead looking to the floor.
"I never thought I would miss him so much. I mean, we knew that he could die always, but this..." Said Hermione but she couldn't find the words to finish the sentence. Ron didn't need her to do it. He knew and understood what she had meant with her words.
"How was it with your family? Dad told me that you'll live with us after the end of the School." Said Ron after a few moments of akward silence.
"It was a painass. My Grandmother will not live much more. And my Aunt and Uncle... well, let's say that for me they are dead." Said Hermione with a hard and cold tone of voice that Ron had never heard in her before.
"That good eh?" Asked the redhead with sarcasm.
"Yeah." Said the girl without avoiding a yawn.
"Let's go to sleep, Hermione." Said Ron yawning too.
"See you, Ron." Said Hermione going to her dorm while Ron did the same.
****
For the next 2 weeks, Hermione seemed to avoid everyone, including Ron. No one knew or understood this and tried to get near her a lot but it failed more and more.
Ron was exasperated with this. He felt as if his last goof friend was leabing him. He tried to speak with her, be with her at the library but everything failed.
"What's wrong with you, Hermione? Why do you avoid me?" Asked Ron one night tired of her actions.
"You wouldn't understand it, Ron. No one does." Said Hermione before she went to her dorm.
"She needs time, Ron." Said Katie who had watched the whole incident between the 2 teens.
"I'm losing her, Katie. I'm doing everything I can to get back the Hermione I knew, but it's as if she doesn't want." Said Ron placing his head on his hands.
"Ron, she lost her parents, her best friend and her Grandmother will die soon. She feels as if her world has shattered to pieces. She'll be the same Hermione once she recovers form the losses." Said Katie before she went to her dorm.
The redhead sighed deeply. He knew that Katie was right, but he couldn't avoid trying to help her as much as he could.
A look at the watch told him that if he didn't hurry, he would be late for his detention with McGonagall. He left the Common Room having the feeling that very soon the things would change, and n ot for the better.
****
Hermione finished writtning her letter and left the dorm in silence. She went to Ron's dorm and saw that his curtains were closed.
"It's the best for all of us. Goodbye, Ron. Thanks for your friendship." Said Hermione leaving the letter in the bedtable.
She had fallen in a big and deep depression after Harry's death that got worse when her parents died. The news that her grandmother wouldn't live very long, was like adding more fuel to the fire.
Her Aunt and Uncle hated her and did something that Hermione would never forgive: they emptied a bank account that her parents had opened for her if they died. When the teen confromted them about the matter, they excused themselves saying that it was an account of the family and it had been added to the whole family's one that was named to her aunt.
All of this made her take a decision: end her life. She couldn't take it anymore. Her life would never be the same and she was tired of it.
She went to an empty classroom and sat at the floor. She transfigured a parchment in a sharp knife and pulled up her slees and cut them deep enough to cut the veins.
"Goodbye." Said Hermione before she lost consciousness and the blood began to fall from her wrists.
****
It was almost 2.00 a.m. when Ron returned to his dorm after the detention with his Head of House. While he changed his robes he saw Hermione's letter. Confused and wondering why she would write it, he opened it and read it:
"Dear Ron,
For when you have finished reading this letter, I'll be gone. I can't deal it anymore.
First, I lost Harry. Although I never told anyone, I loved him more than just a friend. I had fallen in love with him last year and I never had the chance to tell him. Now it's too late to do it.
Then my parents and soon my Granmother will be gone too. They were my family and everything to me. My Aunt did something that cannot be forgiven and I'll save you the favour to know it. It's a family matter.
Thanks for these 4 wonderful years of friendship,
Goodbye,
Your best friend,
Hermione Granger."
When Ron finished the letter, knew that something was going to happen. He stormed out of the room and went to her dorm. Her bed was empty.
"Where are you Hermione?" Asked Ron while he tried to find her.
Then he had an idea: The Marauder's Map. If he wanted to find her, it would be the best way. Remembering that Moody had it last year, Ron decided to see if Dumbledore got it after the truth about him had been found out.
"Professor Dumbledore! Open the door! It's a emergency!" Shouted Ron knocking the door of the Headmaster's Offuice 5 minutes later.
"Mr. Weasley, what's wrong?" Asked Dumbledore opening the door surprised for his visit. In his office, besides Albus were also Snape and McGonagall who were as surprised as Dumbledore for the redhead's visit.
"Where is the Marauder's Map?" Asked Ron without preambles.
"I have it. Why do you need it?" Asked Dumbledore taking it from a drawer of his desk and giving it to the teen.
"I solemny swear I'm up no good!" Almost shouted Ron tapping the parchment with his wand.
"Mr. Weasley could you explain us what's going on?" Asked Minerva while Ron saw the map trying to find someone.
"Where the hell are you, Hermione?" Mumbled to himself Ron scanning the Map, ignoring the question.
"Mr. Weasley?" Asked Dumbledore confused.
"This is going on! I found this letter 10 minutes ago in my dorm!" Said Ron giving them the letter and going on with the scanning of the map.
Then he found her: she was at the Trophy's room. He stormed out of the Office without saying anything else to the 3 teachers who were reading the letter.
"Oh God!" Exclaimed Minerva when the 3 finished the letter.
"Where is she?" Asked Dumbledore scanning quickly the Map.
"The Trophy's Room!" Said Snape finidng the doot that read "Hermione Granger." Near the entrance they saw one that read "Ronald Weasley."
When they reached there Hermione was unconscious at the floor and Ron was trying to wake her.
"Don't leave me!" Screamed Ron trying to wake to his best friend while her blood continued falling from her wrists.
Today was September 1st and all the students of Hogwarts were at the Station 9 ¾ of Kings Cross getting ready to go back to the School. Parents were there to say goodbye to their children, students were talkinh with friends, others were looking for compartments to sit. That was happenning at the station at 10.30 a.m. of that day.
Molly Weasley was there to say goodbye to her children. Ginny went to talk with one her frinds after a few moments. The twins were with Lee and the Chasers of the team. A look at Hermione and Ron told her that it would be a hard year for both of them. The last member of the trio was dead and nothing would be the same for them without him.
"Come home for Christmas. You know that you'll be welcome." Said Molly to Hermione before the girl had to go to the Prefect's compartment.
"Thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley. And I'll be there." Said Hermione with a little smile before she went to the front part of the train.
"Take care of her, Ron." Said Mrs. Weasley to her son with a worried tone of voice.
"I'll do. Goodbye, mom." Said Ron before he went to look for a place for him.
"Merlin, help them please." Said Molly with a plead tone before she returned to the Burrow.
****
When Hermione entered in the Prefect's compartment, Katie Bell, the Head Girl and one of the Chasers, went to her inmediately.
"Hey, Hermione." Greeted Katie sitting next to her.
"Hey, Katie. How is everything?" Asked Hermione putting her trunk near her seat.
"As well as we can expect." Said Katie with a sad smile.
"Who will be the Captain this year?" Asked Hermione trying to speak about something that wasn't Harry.
"We'll decide it later. When the attack happened, me, Alicia and Angelina were discussing it with the twins at the Burrow. The problem is that all of us had chosen Harry to be it." Said the Head Girl.
"I miss him terribly, Katie." Said Hermione closing her eyes.
"All of us do it." Said Katie laying a hand on the girl's shoulder to support her.
"I can't think in a year without him here. Playing Quidditch, breaking rules, just..." Started Hermione but she couldn't find the words.
"Just being Harry." Finished Katie for her.
Bafore any of them could say anything, an owl entered in the compartment and landed next to Hermione. The Prefect looked confused and took the letter tied to her leg. She looked the front of the envelope and she became worried when she recognized the seal of the Ministry of the Magic. With her hands shaking, she opened the letter and began to read it:
"Dear Miss Hermione Granger,
It's our regret to inform you that your parents had died in a car crash..."
Hermione dropped the letter there and burst out in tears and left the compartment running. Katie was confused and took the letter and read it. When she finished it, she left the place and went to look for her friends and Hermione.
After a while she found the twins and the girls who were talking with Lee.
"Have you seen Hermione, guys?" Asked Katie with a worried tone of voice.
"No, why?" Asked Fred confused while the others shook ther heads.
"Her parents died. We have to find her." Said Katie before she left the compartment and went on with her mission.
The other seventh years looked among themselves shocked with the news and followed their friend to help her in the mission.
They found Hermione at a compartment with Ron. She was sleeping and they could see tracks of tears in her eyes. Ron stood and laid Hermione on the seat as quietly as he could and left the place and went to talk with his brother and their friends.
"What the hell has happened? The last time she cried like that was after Harry's death!" Asked Ron to the others in a whisper.
"This." Said Katie giving him the letter that Hermione had received a while ago.
"Oh shit. This is the last thing she needs right now!" Said Ron when he finished the letter.
"What can we do now?" Asked Alicia worried looking Hermione sleep.
"Leave Hermione to me. I just need a thing from all of you." Said Ron with a very seriously tone of voice.
"Tell it." Said Fred while the others nodded.
"Keep the Slytherins out of our way. If they say something out of place, I don't know how she will react. None of us has recovered from Harry's death yet. This just makes the things much worse." Said Ron with a tone of voice that mixed plea and seriousness.
"We'll do it." Said Fred before he, George and Lee disappeared of the corridor where they were talking and began with their mission.
"I must go back to the Prefect's Compartment. I'll pay a visit as soon as I can." Said Katie watching the clock and seeing that it was already 11.20.
"We'll stay here." Said Alicia while Angelina nodded.
"Take seat." Said Ron to the girls entering in the compartment again and taking again his previous postion and laid his best friend's head over his lap.
****
For when the trolley with food had appeared, the news of Hermione's parent had spread around the train. The other thing that had been spread too was the threat that the twins and Lee had done to the whole school, althouth Slytherin had received the most serious warning.
"If any of you say something to her or our brother about Harry's death or Hermione's parents, you'll face the wrath of the whole Gryffindor House." Said Fred with a tone that showed that it wan't a joke at all.
The students of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin knew that it wasn't a joke and they had to take care with that threat. One thing was facing the anger or wrath of one or 2 members of a house. Other completely different was face the wrath of a whole House. Especcially if the Weasley twins were there.
When the 3 returned to the compartment where Ron, Hermione and the girls were, they saw that the Prefect was still sleeping with her head on Ron's lap. They sat with them quietly and talked in a normal tone of voice being careful to not wake her.
When it was almost 2.00 p.m. Katie entered in the compartment followed by Ginny and, to everyone's surprise, Albus Dumbledore himself.
"How is she?" Asked the Headmaster to the students. His tone of voice indicated that he was worried for Hermione
"She cried a while before she fell asleep. She has been sleeping since we left. We don't dare to wake her yet." Said Ron passing a hand through her hair.
"When you arrive to the School, go to my Office. Miss Bell I'm sure you know the way." Said Albus turning to Katie.
"Which is the password, Headmaster?" Asked the Head Girl who had been at the Office a few times before and knew the way to there.
"Sugar Quills." Said Dumbledore before he left the place to leave the students alone.
"I only hope that Malfoy doesn't decide to pay us a visit today. I'm not in mood for him this year." Said Ron with a sigh.
****
Hermione woke up when it was almost 4.30. She saw the others and knew inmediatrely that the news had been spread. She gave them a little and tired smile before she sat down in a normal position.
"Guys, why don't you let us change in private?" Suggested Katie to Ron, the Twins and Lee.
"I'll be back in a while." Whispered Ron to his friend, who nodded in thanks while the 4 boys left the compartment.
Hermione, Ginny and the Chasers changed in silence. The 4 girls looked at Hermione worriedly. She seemed ready to burst out in tears again at any moment. She changed her robes like a robot, just doing everything by instint.
Suddenly the door opened and the 5 turned to see to no one else but Draco Malfoy standing at the door. This time he was alone and not with Crabbe and Goyle as he always was.
"What do you need, Malfoy?" Asked Katie with her wand in her hand. Alicia, Angelina and Ginny had their own ones too, all of them pointing to the blonde.
"I want to speak with Granger alone." Said Malfoy simply.
"About what?" Asked Alicia suspitiously.
"It's none of your business." Answered Malfoy with a flat tone of voice.
"Go." Said Hermione to her friends watching Malfoy intently.
"Do something and you'll regret it." Said Ginny to Malfoy before they left.
"Take it. I won't do something without it." Said Malfoy giving his wand to Katie.
"Remember the threat that the twins said." Said the Head Girl putting the wand at his pocket and closing the door behind her.
"What do you want this time, Malfoy?" Asked Hermione with a cold tone of voice.
"Say sorry to you." Said Draco sitting.
"Excuse me?" Asked Hermione who never thought that she would listen those words from the Slytherin's mouth never ever.
"I came to say that I'm sorry for everything I did and say to you, Potter and Weasley the last 5 years." Said Malfoy without looking to her.
"Why? I mean why do you say this now after everything that happened?" Asked Hermione confused.
Malfoy seemed to think a few minutes before he answered: "I hated Potter by the fame. When the trial happened and I saw what really had happened at the Third Task, I realized my mistake. When he died, I understood that everything that I had thought about him, was false.
"I followed my father's believing and never thought for myself in many things. Believe me when I say that his imprisoning was the best thing that could happen to my and my mother. Since that day we can live without fear of him." Said Draco with a little smile.
"So everything you said was false?" Asked Hermione thinking for a few minutes.
"Yes. Now, I can't show my change to Potter. That's why I'm trying to make the peace with you and Weasley." Said Malfoy extending his hand.
"A long time ago, someone told me that everyone deserves a second chance. I don't know if I'm ready to forgive you or forget everything that you said and did to me, Ron and Harry. But I can give a second chance. Don't lose it." Said Hermione shaking it.
"Thanks." Said Malfoy standing from his seat and turning to leave.
Unnoticed to both of them, Ron had been standing there the whole time and had heard everything that Malfoy had said. He wasn't sure if he could forgive Malfoy. Too many things had been said between them and too many things had happened too, but if Hermione could give him a second chance, why not him?
"Don't lose it either with me." Said Ron with a flat tone of voice sitting next to Hermione.
"Granger?" Said Draco before he left.
"Yes, Malfoy?" Asked the girl turning to see him.
"I'm sorry for your parents." Said this, the blond left them alone and went to look for Katie to get back his wand.
"Incredible. I never thought that I would listen to Malfoy saying what he said." Said Ron when both teens were alone again.
"Neither did I, Ron, Neither did I." Said Hermione before she turned her atention to the window and started to watch the field.
****
When the others heard what Malfoy had said were as shocked as Ron and Hermione. What shocked more to the twins was that both of them had decided to give him another chance with them.
"He came and asked it. I won't deny a second chance to anyone." Said Hermione in a hard tone of voice when Fred said that Malfoy didn't deserve it. That was the last thing said about the matter for the rest of the trip.
"I must return to the Prefect's Compartment, guys. I'll see you at the School." Said Katie when it was almost 45 minutes before they reached to the School.
"Katie, do I have to be there?" Asked Hermione not liking the idea of leaving the place.
"We'll talk about the Prefects' things another day. If you want I have a book about it. Ask me it later." Said the Head Girl before she left the compartment and went to the front part.
When they reached to Hogsmeae's station, they saw Hagrid callineg the first years as always. Ron and Hermione went and gave him a hug that the half- giant returned.
"Why don't you 2 come one of these days to the hut and we talk a little?" Suggested Hagrid to the teens when they sepparated.
"Sure, see you, Hagrid." Said both of them before they went in a carriage with the twns.
When they arrived to the School, Katie went to them and leaded the pair of friends to Dumbledore's Office. After she said the password, the 3 of them waited till the stairs reached till the top of it and they knocked the door.
"Come in." Said Dumbledore from inside.
"I'll go back to the Feast. I'll see to both of you at the Common Room later." Said Katie before she left the Office and went to the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione nodded before they sat in front of Dumbledore.
Before any of them or Albus could say something, a note was heard and Fawkes who was at his perch flew to Hermione and landed on her shoulder.
"Hey, Fawkes, so long." Said Ron petting the bird. He remembered the Phoenix from the night that he and Harry rescued Ginny of the Secret Chamber.
"Miss Granger, please meet my pet Fawkes." Said Dumbledore with a smile.
"He's beautyful." Said Hermione petting the bird.
"Miss Granger, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss. Your parents' bodies have been taken back to the country and I've been in contact with your grandmother to settle the details for their funeral." Started to explain Albus.
"When will it be?" Asked Hermione trying to not cry.
"They'll be tomorrow. Your grandmother will wait for you at Kings Cross tomorrow's morning. You'll be excused from classes till next Monday. Considering that today is Friday, you won't lose any classes." Said Dumbledore.
"Very well, Professor." Said Hermione with a nod.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Asked Ron.
"Sorry, Ron. But my family, especcially my Mother's sister and her husband, are a headache. I need to concentrate on this and I couldn't find proper time for you." Said Hermione apologizing.
"No problem." Said Ron a little dissapointed because he couldn't be with her on this hard moment.
"Why don't you go to your Common Room? I'll tell Dobby to send you some food there." Suggested the Headmaster.
"Yes, Professor." Said Ron before Hermione could say something against it. But she merely nodded in agreement to this.
"Could you tell us the password, Professor?" Asked Hermione remembering that neither her or Ron knew it.
"Bravery." Said Albus before both students left the Office and he went to the Hall for the welcoming feast of that year.
****
Tonight the Hall wasn't as noisy as usual for the welcoming feast. The Gryffindor Table was by far the most quiet of the 4. They had lost a member and another was grieving for her recent loss.
When Dumbledore entered in the Hall he went towards the Weasley Twins, Ginny Weasley and the other players of the Gryffindor Team.
"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are at the Common Room. If any of you wish to go with them, you can do it." Said Dubledore before he took his usual seat at high table.
The group looked at each other before all of them stood and left the Hall in silence. The rest of the House watched them leave in silence knowing that it wasn't their place to be with Ron and Hermione. The group was the indicated to be with them in that moment.
"This year will be a very long one." Whispered Snape to Albus while the sorting began. Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
When the sorting finished, Gryffindor had 12 new students, Ravenclaw had 9, Hufflepuff had 8 and Slytherin had 6. When the last student was sorted and was sat at his table, Dumbledore stood and silence fell at the Hall.
"I'll leave the anouncements till the end of the feast. Now let's eat!" Said Dumbledore before the food appeared at the Tables and eveyone started to eat.
The students ate in the same silence that had reigend the time before the sorting. The new students met the old ones and their questions were answered quietly.
"Why are there black standarts at the Hall?" Asked a student of first year Collin Creevey suddenly.
In that moment every student of the Gryffindor Table noticed it. There were black standarts all around the Hall like after Cedric Diggory's death the last year. All of them realized that it was in signal of respect for Harry Potter.
"It's to show respect to Harry Potter." Said Collin before he explained to the first years what had happened at the Feast of the end of year last June.
For another while, the only noise was the sound of the plates and knifes and forks while the students ate. After the desserts, Dumbleroe stood again and the silence feel over Hall once more.
"This year we have to start it with black standarts as we did at the end of the last year. This time we show respect for another great student that this School has lost: Harry Potter." Started Dumbledore his usual speech.
"None of us will forget him. As friend, fellow student, Housemate, Quidditch player, everyone will remember him in many ways. I would like to have a toaste for him." Said Albus raising his goblet.
"For Harry Potter!" Chorused the whole School, including some Slytherins, following Dumbledore's example.
"Let's hope that this world can keep the peace that he gave us with his death and his final defeat of Lord Voldemort." Said Dumbledore. Many students and some of the teachers flinched with the Dark Lord's name, but Albus ignored before he continued.
"I'm sure that all of you have heard the threat that some students have done on the train. I will add that besides facing their wrath, that student will have to face mine." Said the Headmaster with a serious tone of voice.
"What threat?" Asked Severus to Minerva confused.
"If someone says something wrong or out of place to Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley about Harry's or Hermione's parents' death, they'll face the wrath of my whole House." Answered McGonagall to his colleague.
"Only a stupid would dare to do it." Said Snape before Dumbledore continued with his speech. Next to him, the Head of Gryffindor nodded in agreement to his words.
"Now in other order of things, the Forest is FORBIDDEN to everyone. I hope that you will remember this.
"Mr. Filch asked me to inform everyone that he had added another 30 items to the list of things that the students mustn't use. Also he asked me to say that magic is not allowed in the corridors.
"As it's usual at the School, this year we have a new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts. This year the position will be taken by the former Auror Arabella Figg. I hope she lasts in the position more than a year." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
Many students laughed with his comment while Harry's old babysitter stood and bowed to the students who gave her a little welcome with claps.
"Now it's time to sleep. Prefects take your Houses to your Towers!" Said Dumbledore clapping his hands.
Inmediately everyone stood and started to leave the Hall. The Prefects of Sixth year took the new ones to the Tower. McGonagall hadn't chosen a replacement for Harry in that position yet and Hermione wasn't there to do the work.
When the whole House arrived to their Common Room they saw that no one was there and there were dishes of dinner and realized that the group had eaten there and they went to the bed. Silently all of them went to their own dorms to sleep.
When Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil entered in their dorm, Hermione was sleeping soundly. Both girls changed their clothes in silence not wanting to wake her. They knew that it was one of the few moments of peace that she would get in days.
****
That weekend was the worse for Ron. Hermione had left the School on Saturday's morning. Like she left very early he couldn't say goodbye to her. He tried to eat something but nothing seemed to pass to his stomach those 2 days.
"At least she will return today." Thought the redhead whike he tried to eat some breakfast on Monday's morning.
"Oh Merlin. Who makes the schedules?" Asked Dean a while later when McGonagall gave them to the students.
"Please tell me that we don't start today with Snape." Pleaded Ron to his friend.
"We don't have Snape today at all, Ron. It's worse than that." Said Seamus checking his own one.
"What can be worse than Snape?" Asked Katie curious joining their chat while Neville listened their chat too.
"Divination with Trelawney at the first period." Said both boys showing them their schedules.
"Oh shit!" Groaned Ron checking his own one while Neville checked his own one and groaned too.
"You said the right words, Ron. Oh shit." Groaned Dean while Seamus and Neville nodded in agreement.
"I'm not in mood for one of her classes!" Groaned Ron.
"And you know what she will do today, right?" Asked Neville with sarcasm.
"One thing out of place about Harry, and she'll regret it all her life!" Said Ron taking his things and leaving the Hall to go to the North Tower for his first class of the term: Divinaton.
****
Not more than 40 minutes later, Ron found himself in Dumbledore's office. The reason? He made Trelawney to regret her words.
The Divination's teacher had not only said something about Harry's death, she also talked about tyhe death of Hermione's parents.
When she spoke about Harry's death, saying that he died as a hero and martir, and that she had also knew how it would finish, thanks to her "Inner Eye", it took a lot of effort from Dean, Neville an Seamus to control Ron's anger. He looked ready to curse her for days.
"It doesn't worth it, Ron!" Said Dean while he and his friends tried to make Ron to sit once more.
"Ok, let me go. I won't do nothing!" Said Ron calming himself again and putting his wand on his robes again.
The class went on normally till Sybil said something like what she had said about Harry's death, about the decease of Mr. and Mrs. Granger and how she had seen it before anyone.
This time neither Neville, Dean or Seamus made efforts to stop the redhead. They knew that Trelawney had gone too far with that and that no one could stop Ron of cursing her.
Ron felt his body boiling with anger after her words and shot every curse and hex he knew to his Professor. It took a stunning spell and a petificus totalus from Dumbledore to stop him.
"Mr. Thomas and Mr. Finnigan, please take him downstair and remove the spells. Tell him that he must go to my Office. I'll see him there later. The rest of you, return to your own towers." Instructed the Headmaster to the students while he started to say the counter curses to Sybil.
Not wanting to dissobey Dumbledore's order, all of the students left the classroom as fast as thay could. When they were out of there, Dean said the counter curses to Ron and gave him the message of Dumbledore.
"Now I understand what your twin brothers meant when they said that anyone who would say something out of place would face the wrath of the House, Mr. Weasley." Said Dumbledore entering at his Office followed by McGonagall.
"If you expect that I'll say sorry for what I did, sit and wait, Professors, because I won't." Said Ron simply to the two teachers.
"I wouldn't expect it. If I were you, I would have had the same reaction to her words." Said Dumbledore with a smile.
"I couldn't stand it. I knew that she would say something about Harry, but she went too far talking about Hermione's parents. She didn't have any right to do it." Said Ron still angry with Trelawney.
"Those were her last words at this School. She has been fired." Said Minerva seriously.
"What will happen with me?" Asked Ron.
"Suspended for a week, 2 months of detention and 150 points will be reduced from your House. I will talk with your parents and you'll leave tomorrow's morning." Explained Dumbledore seriously.
"I'll go to pack." Said Ron standing from his seat. Before he left he turned ro the Professrs and said: "Take care of Hermione while I'm not here. I couldn't stand losing another friend." Said this he left and closed the door behind him.
"He was right. Sybil went too far this time." Said Minerva when she and Albus were alone.
"I know, Minerva. That's one of the reasons because I didn't expell him." Said Albus petting Fawkes.
"Which is the other one?" Asked McGonagall.
"Miss Granger couldn't stand losing him too after her parents' and Harry's death. We would lose her too with him." Said Dumbledore dismissing the Deputy Headmistress and starting to use his pensieve.
****
When Ron went to the Hall for lunch, he was rounded by his siblings and his yearmates. All of them wanting to know what would happen with him after his attack to Trelawney.
"I have good and bad news. The good ones are that I won't be expelled and Trelawney was fired from the School." Said Ron when the group sat at the table to eat.
"The bad ones?" Asked Fred relieved that his brother wasn't expelled.
"I was suspended for a week. Mom and Dad will come for me tomorrow. I'll serve detention for 2 months and Gryffindor lost 150 points. Nothing too bad." Said Ron wth a shrug of his shoulders.
"I agree, not too bad compaired with the chance of being expelled." Said George while the other nodded.
The rest of the lunch continued quietly. No one said something else about the incident and their chats were about unimportant things as subjects, achoolwork and things like that.
"I have to finish my packing. Could you do me a favour while I'm gone?" Asked Ron to the others.
"Sure." Said all of them with a nod.
"Take care of Hermione. I couldn't stand losing my other best friend." Begged Ron before he left the Hall to finish his packing.
Everyone nodded to this. They would lose him if something happened to Hermione. Harry's death was enough for the House. No one wanted to lose another 2 students, especcially when they were so much apreciated as Ron and Hermione.
****
That night at the Burrow, Molly Weasley had started to cook a good dinner. Unexpected to the family, Charlie had informed them that he would visit the House with his girlfriend, Alicia Kingston. Molly remembered her as one of the old schoolmates of her son. For the dinner she cooked some good meal to make a good impression to her daughter in law.
At 8.30 Percy and Arthur returned form work. Bill had been staying in the House too. He needed some hollidays. Alicia and Charlie arrived at 9.00 and the whole family sat to eat.
At 9.30 they heard a "plop" that told them that someone had just apparated at the house. They turned and saw there to Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts. They could see that he was worried.
"Did something happen, Albus?" Asked Arthur confused with the visit, when the old wizard took seat next to the family.
"I need that you and Molly come to the School to pick one of your child." Said Dumbledore without preambles.
"Fred or George?" Asked Molly thinking that one of the twins had done something wrong and dangerous.
"Ron." Said Albus before he retold them what had happened that morning at Trelawney's class.
To say that the whole Weasley clan was angry with Sybil was an understatement. Molly looked as if she didn't have any problem to continue with her son's work. Arthur and Percy were bewildered and it was obvious that none of them could blame Ron for his actions. Charlie was like them and Bill said a lot of words that no one could understand.
"You speak very well the Egypcian, Bill." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle. He had understood him. His words were curses and rude words very hard.
"Do I want to know what he said?" Asked Molly suspecting the meaning of his words.
"You don't." Said Bill to his relatives when he calmed himself a little.
"Now that we settled this matter, I have another one. Although considering that Miss Kingston is here, I can settle 2." Said Albus looking to Alicia.
"What is it, Professor?" Asked Alicia confused.
"If my memory doesn't fail me, you were excellent in Divination, right?" Asked Dumbledore.
"It was my best subject. Why?" Asked Alicia more confused.
"After what happened this morning, I'm in need of a replacement for Sybil. Would you like to take it?" Asked Albus with a smile.
"Of course, I would love it!" Said Alicia after thinking it for a few moments.
"I'm sure that Charlie will be seen there usually, right?" Said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
"If I'm welcome, you will see me very oftern." Said the Weasley boy with a smile kissing his girlfriend.
"Now the second matter is different. I've been in contact with Hermione's Grandmother deciding what will happen with her after the end of the School year. She's very old and it isn't sure that she would live till June. Her other relatives, her Aunt and Uncle, don't get on very well with her." Explained Dumbledore.
"You want her to live with us?" Asked Arthur suspecting what the Headmaster would ask them.
"Yes." Said Dumbledore.
"Of course she will be welcome here, Albus. She is like another member of this family." Said Molly while the other Weasleys nodded to this.
"Very well. That settles all the problems. I will expect to both of you tomorrow's morning to pick Ron." Said Albus to Molly and Arthur before he dissaparated.
"Now we know who got Mom's temper." Said Charlie to his brothers when everyone went to sleep a while later.
"Ron." Said Percy and Bill with agreement to their brother's words.
****
When Hermione returned to the School on Thursday, everyone saw that she was distraught. Her eyes were dull and she didn't have the usual cheeriness and mood that was with her.
"Welcome back." Said Ginny giving her a big hug.
"Thanks." Said Hermione sitting in the Common Room. Looking around he saw the team, the twins but not Ron.
"He was suspended for a week. He'll be back on Monday." Answered Katie when Hermione asked for him, sitting with the girls.
"What did he do??" Asked Hermione shocked with the news.
"I can explain it in few words. Trelawney. Divination. Ron. Harry. Your parents. 20 curses and hexes. Can you guess what happened with those clues?" Said Ginny with sarcasm in her voice.
"What did that old bat say about my parents?" Asked Hermione completely bewildered and ready to continue with her friend's work.
"You don't want to know it, Mione." Said Lavender sitting next to her friends while Parvati joined the group too.
"I hope she was fired." Said Hermione trying to calm herself again.
"Yes, we have a new teacher. It's Charlie's girlfriend." Said Ginny before she told Hermione everything she knew about the new Professor.
"At least she seems better than Trelawney." Said Hermione when Ginny finished her explanation.
"How was it with your family?" Asked Katie not sure if it was a good moment to do it.
"I'm alone. My grandmother will not live much longer. Her doctors says that she won't live after September. With my Aunt and Uncle... well, for me they are dead." Said Hermione with a sad look.
"You are not exactly alone." Said Fred joining their chat.
"What do you mean?" Asked Hermione confused.
"Since next summer, you'll live with us. Welcome to the Weasley clan." Said Ginny with a wide smile hugging her.
"Thanks." Said Hermione hugging her and the twins.
"You are welcome. After all, mom and dad considered you and Harry always as another members of the family." Said Fred with a laugh.
"Now it's official." Laughed Hermione before she started to speak with Parvati about what they had learnt during the days that she had been out.
****
Ron had been at his dorm the whole week. He left only for meals and to go to the bathroom. He needed some peace and wanted to be alone. His world seemed to turn upside down in only a month.
First, he had lost his first and best friend. No one could replace him no matter how hard they tried. With Harry, had happened too many things to forget him easily.
Now his other best friend had lost her family. He knew that he had to be strong for both of them. He couldn't let Hermione to be depressed. If he lost her, he didn't know what he would do.
On Sunday's morning he decided to make a trip to Diagon Alley. He hadn't been there since the attack and it would be very hard and difficult for him that trip.
He took the key to his vault and went downstairs. After he was chosen as Minister, Mr. Weasley had open a vault for each of his children. It would help them in the future after the School in the cases of the twins, Ron and Ginny. And would help Bill, Charlie and Percy if they had some money problems.
"Hi, honey." Said Molly when Ron was downstairs.
"Do you need something form the Alley? I need some fresh air and I'll make a trip there." Said Ron going to the fireplace.
"Buy some parchments and ink for Percy." Said Molly thinking a few moments.
"I'll be here for dinner." Said Ron before he threw some floo powder and shouted: "Diagon Alley!"
A few seconds later, he landed on the Leaky Cauldron. While he was cleaning his clothes, Ron looked around. The place was almost empty. There were a few customers getting a late breakfast, some wizards reading the Daily Prophet and other persons talking.
"Look, it's the Minister's son!" Shouted a man recognizing Ron. Before he could do something else, he was rounded by some reporters who began to shoot questions.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why aren't you at Hogwarts? Were you expelled?"
Ron ignored them and began to walk towards the back of the place. Before he could open the entrance to the Alley, he heard someone asking:
"How do you feel returning to the place where your best friend died?"
With his body boiling in anger by the question, the redhead turned around to face the reporter who had asked the question. To his disgust it was no one else than Rita Skeeter who looked interested to listen his anser.
"How does it feel being an illegal Animagus and not telling that secret to anyone, Rita?" Asked Ron before he went to the Alley leaving everyone shocked and Rita shooting murderous glares to the teen who ignored them.
When he was inside the Alley, Ron had to fight the urge to cry. The memories of the attack, the duel between Harry and Voldemort and their deaths, had given nightmares all that month and he was still having them every night.
Shaking his head he walked towards Gringotts where he took some money from his own vault. He, alike Harry, hated the trip to the vaults. He always felt nauseous after it.
"What are you doing here, Ron?" Asked Bill surprised to see his brother in the Bank. He had started to work in England after what happened at third task by request of his mother who wanted to have all his children near her.
"I needed some fresh air. Couldn't stand being at the Burrow today. Why don't we lunch together at the Cauldron later?" Suggested Ron before he left Gringotts.
"Do you want me to make you some company? There isn't too much to do here today. I can ask the free day." Said Bill sensing that his brother didn't want to be alone in that moment.
"Sure. Why not?" Said Ron after thinking a few moments.
"How do you feel returning here?" Asked Bill when both brothers left the Bank 10 minutes later.
"It's harder than I thought. I mean, the last time that I was here was when the attack happened. Returning here, brings me back too many bad memories. Don't tell mom, but I still have nightmares of that day." Confessed Ron while they went to buy the ink and parchments for Percy.
"It will be always hard, Ron. Harry meant too much for you. From this year, you'll see the Alley as the place where you lost your best friend. It will be like a demon for you and Hermione always. It will take a lot of time for both of you before you recover completely from his death." Said Bill walking along the streets and watching some shops.
"I wonder what kind of egg was it." Mumbled Ron to himself when the 2 Weasleys were at the pet's shop.
"Uh?" Asked Bill confused with his words.
"When we were here, Harry decided to buy a new pet besides an owl. Hedwig was killed by the Dursleys. He bought a Phoenix's egg. We never knew what kind of Phoenix was." Explained Ron.
"He bought a Phoenix's egg?" Asked Bill shocked with his words.
"Yeah, he wanted a special pet and the saler of the shop offered it to him. He liked the idea and bought it." Said Ron remembering when Harry bought it.
"Wow." Was the only thing that Bill could say.
"Have anyone told you what happened that day at the Alley?" Asked Ron suddenly while they continued walking.
"I heard some versions. I don't know what I must believe or not." Said Bill going to the Florean Montesque to eat an icecream.
"We had left the Hospital Wing where Harry was after the trial. We came here with Dumbledore and McGonagall. We bought everything: books, the owl, the egg, a broom, everything. When we finished buying the broom we came here and found Dean, Seamus, Neville, Padma, Parvati and Lavender who came to do the same." Began to tell Ron.
"Suddenly we heard an explosion and the Death Eaters started to apparate. Then Harry said 3 words 'He's here.' None of us needed to ask who was it, so we took the wands and went down to fight.
"When we were down, You-Know-Who appeared and Harry told us to leave. All of us knew that it was his private fight and we weren't part of it, so we left them and continued fighting against Death Eaters.
"It was like seeing a rain of fireworks, Bill. Both of them shooting more and more curses. Each of them more powerful than the previous. At some moment they shouted 2 curses at the same time. You-Know-Who fell under a lot of rubbish and Harry..." Ron couldn't finish his sentence. He had started to cry once more.
Bill hugged him tightly. He didn't need to listen the end of his tale, he knew what had happened because one of the Aurors who had been fighting had told him and also many of the shop keepers had done it. He heard it becuase he felt that Ron needed to tell it to someone.
"Do you feel better?" Asked Bill giving a tissue to his brother when they separated.
"I'll never be ok again, Bill. Never." Said Ron whipping off the tears.
Both boys spent the rest of the day speaking about some unimportant matters. They didn't talk about the attack or Harry for the rest of the day. Bill felt that Ron didn't want to do it in that moment and respected his wish not touching the subject.
When they returned to the Cauldorn to go back to the Burrow, both of them were rounded by a lot of reporters. Ron sent his brother a look that said 'Do whatever you want, but get me out of here now."
Bill took his brother's arm and apparated them back at the Burrow surprising to Molly and Penelope who were talking at the kitchen. Ron excused himself and went to his dorm to be there alone for a while once more.
"How was it, Bill?" Asked Mrs. Weasley to his son giving him a cup of tea.
"A nightmare for him. At least he started to talk about it. He told me the story from his side. He couldn't finish it. He was crying before the end. And facing a lot of reporters when we were leaving, didn't help at all. I had to apparate with him here." Explained Bill drinking his tea.
"I'm worried about him." Said Molly worried.
"He's having nightmares of that day. He confessed it to me. He asked me not to tell you." Said Bill to his mother.
"Poor Ron. Now he has be strong for himself and also for Hermione." Said Penelope.
"The problem is that Harry was the strongest of the trio. Hermione has the brain and Ron has the instincts, but Harry always kept his mind focused and didn't let himself to depress. But last year, everything changed. At the Hospital Wing, he wasn't the same. He looked weak and as if a part of him had died that night." Said Bill remembering the moments when he was with the teen at Hogwarts' Infirmary after the third Task of the TriWizard Tournament.
"Bill he was 14 and had seen You-Know-Who's rebird and Cedric dying. It can hit you hard and Harry took it very bad. Worse than you can imagine." Said Molly with a sad tone of voice.
"What do you mean, Molly?" Asked Penelope confused while Bill shared the same expression of his sister-in-law.
"Don't tell this to anyone, especcially Ron or Hermione. Few people knows this but Harry tried to kill himself this summer." Said Molly checking that her youngest son wasn't listening her words.
"Are you serious, Mom?" Asked Bill completely shcoked while Penelope looked as if he would faint.
"Professor Dumbledore told me." Said the woman with a nod before she retold them what Dumbledore had told him about the incident at the teen's House.
"We are scared that Ron or Hermione, especcially after her parent's death, could fall in depression and would try the same." Finished Molly his explanation.
"I undersand the fear." Said Bill still shocked with his mother's news.
"As I said before, this musn't be told to anyone. We don't know how the kids could react to this and no one wants to find it out." Said Molly very seriously to her son and daughter-in-law who nodded to the request of silence.
****
On Monday's dinner, Ron rejoined the School once more. When he entered at the Hall he went straigh towards Hermione and sat at a chair that the others had kept free for him.
After a little while both friends went to the Tower along the rest of the House. They stayed at the Common Room far from everyone. Many of the students sensing that they needed and wanted to be alone, left the place to go to sleep earlier than usual. At 11.30 p.m. the only ones at the Common Room of the House were Ron and Hermione.
"Yesterday I went back to the Alley." Said Ron starting the chat.
"How did you feel? I don't know how I will react the next time I go. Probably I'll burst in tears as soon as I enter." Said Hermione sadly.
"I wasn't very far from doing it. Luckily I found Bill and he gave me some support to stand the trip. Although I cried when I told him the story of what had happened. I couldn't avoid it." Admitted Ron.
"I have nightmares everynight remembering the duel. I woke up soaked in sweat and sometimes I screamed too." Said Hermione with a shrug.
"You are not the only one who has them. Every night I see the trip, the bang and the duel. I can't take it off from my mind." Said the redhead looking to the floor.
"I never thought I would miss him so much. I mean, we knew that he could die always, but this..." Said Hermione but she couldn't find the words to finish the sentence. Ron didn't need her to do it. He knew and understood what she had meant with her words.
"How was it with your family? Dad told me that you'll live with us after the end of the School." Said Ron after a few moments of akward silence.
"It was a painass. My Grandmother will not live much more. And my Aunt and Uncle... well, let's say that for me they are dead." Said Hermione with a hard and cold tone of voice that Ron had never heard in her before.
"That good eh?" Asked the redhead with sarcasm.
"Yeah." Said the girl without avoiding a yawn.
"Let's go to sleep, Hermione." Said Ron yawning too.
"See you, Ron." Said Hermione going to her dorm while Ron did the same.
****
For the next 2 weeks, Hermione seemed to avoid everyone, including Ron. No one knew or understood this and tried to get near her a lot but it failed more and more.
Ron was exasperated with this. He felt as if his last goof friend was leabing him. He tried to speak with her, be with her at the library but everything failed.
"What's wrong with you, Hermione? Why do you avoid me?" Asked Ron one night tired of her actions.
"You wouldn't understand it, Ron. No one does." Said Hermione before she went to her dorm.
"She needs time, Ron." Said Katie who had watched the whole incident between the 2 teens.
"I'm losing her, Katie. I'm doing everything I can to get back the Hermione I knew, but it's as if she doesn't want." Said Ron placing his head on his hands.
"Ron, she lost her parents, her best friend and her Grandmother will die soon. She feels as if her world has shattered to pieces. She'll be the same Hermione once she recovers form the losses." Said Katie before she went to her dorm.
The redhead sighed deeply. He knew that Katie was right, but he couldn't avoid trying to help her as much as he could.
A look at the watch told him that if he didn't hurry, he would be late for his detention with McGonagall. He left the Common Room having the feeling that very soon the things would change, and n ot for the better.
****
Hermione finished writtning her letter and left the dorm in silence. She went to Ron's dorm and saw that his curtains were closed.
"It's the best for all of us. Goodbye, Ron. Thanks for your friendship." Said Hermione leaving the letter in the bedtable.
She had fallen in a big and deep depression after Harry's death that got worse when her parents died. The news that her grandmother wouldn't live very long, was like adding more fuel to the fire.
Her Aunt and Uncle hated her and did something that Hermione would never forgive: they emptied a bank account that her parents had opened for her if they died. When the teen confromted them about the matter, they excused themselves saying that it was an account of the family and it had been added to the whole family's one that was named to her aunt.
All of this made her take a decision: end her life. She couldn't take it anymore. Her life would never be the same and she was tired of it.
She went to an empty classroom and sat at the floor. She transfigured a parchment in a sharp knife and pulled up her slees and cut them deep enough to cut the veins.
"Goodbye." Said Hermione before she lost consciousness and the blood began to fall from her wrists.
****
It was almost 2.00 a.m. when Ron returned to his dorm after the detention with his Head of House. While he changed his robes he saw Hermione's letter. Confused and wondering why she would write it, he opened it and read it:
"Dear Ron,
For when you have finished reading this letter, I'll be gone. I can't deal it anymore.
First, I lost Harry. Although I never told anyone, I loved him more than just a friend. I had fallen in love with him last year and I never had the chance to tell him. Now it's too late to do it.
Then my parents and soon my Granmother will be gone too. They were my family and everything to me. My Aunt did something that cannot be forgiven and I'll save you the favour to know it. It's a family matter.
Thanks for these 4 wonderful years of friendship,
Goodbye,
Your best friend,
Hermione Granger."
When Ron finished the letter, knew that something was going to happen. He stormed out of the room and went to her dorm. Her bed was empty.
"Where are you Hermione?" Asked Ron while he tried to find her.
Then he had an idea: The Marauder's Map. If he wanted to find her, it would be the best way. Remembering that Moody had it last year, Ron decided to see if Dumbledore got it after the truth about him had been found out.
"Professor Dumbledore! Open the door! It's a emergency!" Shouted Ron knocking the door of the Headmaster's Offuice 5 minutes later.
"Mr. Weasley, what's wrong?" Asked Dumbledore opening the door surprised for his visit. In his office, besides Albus were also Snape and McGonagall who were as surprised as Dumbledore for the redhead's visit.
"Where is the Marauder's Map?" Asked Ron without preambles.
"I have it. Why do you need it?" Asked Dumbledore taking it from a drawer of his desk and giving it to the teen.
"I solemny swear I'm up no good!" Almost shouted Ron tapping the parchment with his wand.
"Mr. Weasley could you explain us what's going on?" Asked Minerva while Ron saw the map trying to find someone.
"Where the hell are you, Hermione?" Mumbled to himself Ron scanning the Map, ignoring the question.
"Mr. Weasley?" Asked Dumbledore confused.
"This is going on! I found this letter 10 minutes ago in my dorm!" Said Ron giving them the letter and going on with the scanning of the map.
Then he found her: she was at the Trophy's room. He stormed out of the Office without saying anything else to the 3 teachers who were reading the letter.
"Oh God!" Exclaimed Minerva when the 3 finished the letter.
"Where is she?" Asked Dumbledore scanning quickly the Map.
"The Trophy's Room!" Said Snape finidng the doot that read "Hermione Granger." Near the entrance they saw one that read "Ronald Weasley."
When they reached there Hermione was unconscious at the floor and Ron was trying to wake her.
"Don't leave me!" Screamed Ron trying to wake to his best friend while her blood continued falling from her wrists.