A/N::: It has been brought to my attention (unnecessarily rudely) that I
have been spelling Hermione's name wrong. I am HIGHLY embarrassed. The
error will be fixed in all chapters ASAP.
Chapter 17
Yes, she decided things *could* be worse. Her parents could be dead. Hermione was worried for Draco. Sure, she'd never actually *met* his mother, but she was afraid for him all the same. She couldn't imagine the emotions that his mother could be feeling . . . after all the events happening all at once. Her mind whirred with thoughts and feelings, and gently the tears continued to stream down her face, even as she drifted into sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She rose from bed the next morning first realizing she had not changed from her robes. Bleary eyed, she changed into clean robes, and brushed out her hair. She felt like she had an empty hole inside her, like something was missing. It was more like some*one* was missing. Heaving a sigh, she headed downstairs with her book bag slung over one shoulder. She met Harry and Ron in the common room; both boys stopping their conversation the moment they saw her.
"Morning 'Mionie." Chirped Harry. He certainly looked please about something.
"Don't call me that." She answered. "You guys eaten breakfast yet?"
"Nope, we were waiting for you." Ron said. And they all set off toward the Great Hall.
"Hermione, I really wish you'd cheer up. I don't like seeing you like this." Harry said as then descended another staircase.
"It's not that easy Harry. You wouldn't understand."
"Excuse me? *I* wouldn't understand?" She couldn't tell if he was messing around or being serious. So she just watched him as they walked. "I think I'd know what it was like to lose someone Hermione."
"Yes, you're right Harry. I'm sorry." "Same here. Hermione, you're not alone you know. Harry and I are here for you, we understand, and we care. As much as I'd like to punch Malfoy, the stupid git," he said, throwing his fist into his empty hand, "for making you feel this way, I can't. Because for *some* strange reason, you care about him." A smile twitched the corners of her mouth. Yes, she knew she was cared about.
"Thanks." She said to them both as the entered the entrance hall.
"Hey, isn't that the little bloke now?" Ron said. Hermione turned her head to see what Ron was looking at and her stomach churned unpleasantly. Draco and his group of Slytherins were walking up from the dungeons. Without realizing it at first, their eyes met. His eyes were pained, and cold. Hermione tore her gaze from him and moved to the other side of Ron, out of sight. Ron just frowned a little, and they all continued their walk to breakfast. As she sat down between Ron and Harry, she eyed the food. She was not hungry, but she forced herself to eat toast and jam.
The morning mail arrived and Hermione was surprised by the barn owl that landed in front of her.
"Oh, hello Hermes." She said, and took the letter from his beak. He took a drink of her pumpkin juice and lifted into flight again. Her mother's writing was on the envelope. She tore it open and began to read.
Hermione,
Hi Honey. I'm sure your headmaster has informed you of what happened last night. I don't understand why these people came and destroyed our house. Do you have any idea? Molly is taking very good care of us, and she sends her regards. Your father and I miss you very much. Hope you're doing well. Talk to you later.
Love,
Mom and Dad
"Hmm." She said, setting the letter down.
"Who's it from?"
"My mum and dad. Telling me they are at the Burrow." She sighed, "Mum wants to know why they were attacked. I haven't the heart to tell her it's my fault."
"But its not Hermione!" declared Harry.
"Yes it is!"
"No it is not! You did not tell Malfoy to attack your parents or your home!"
"But it *is* my fault for getting involved with Draco!"
"You gotta give her that one Harry." Said Ron from her other side. Harry just glared at him.
"Look Hermione, Lucious Malfoy makes his own decisions, and so do you. You made the decision to be involved with Malfoy, and his father decided to do something about it. You're not honestly going to take the blame are you? That idiot is in Azkaban, Hermione."
"Yes, but for how long! He could easily break out with Voldemort's help, and go after them again!"
"Whatever happens, it - is - not - your - fault. Don't let me hear you saying it again, alright?"
"Fine." She said, and bit angrily into her toast. Before she could help herself, she looked over at the Slytherin table. His cold, blue eyes stared back at her, and she had a hard time swallowing her bite of toast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/n::: Tell me what you think
Chapter 17
Yes, she decided things *could* be worse. Her parents could be dead. Hermione was worried for Draco. Sure, she'd never actually *met* his mother, but she was afraid for him all the same. She couldn't imagine the emotions that his mother could be feeling . . . after all the events happening all at once. Her mind whirred with thoughts and feelings, and gently the tears continued to stream down her face, even as she drifted into sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She rose from bed the next morning first realizing she had not changed from her robes. Bleary eyed, she changed into clean robes, and brushed out her hair. She felt like she had an empty hole inside her, like something was missing. It was more like some*one* was missing. Heaving a sigh, she headed downstairs with her book bag slung over one shoulder. She met Harry and Ron in the common room; both boys stopping their conversation the moment they saw her.
"Morning 'Mionie." Chirped Harry. He certainly looked please about something.
"Don't call me that." She answered. "You guys eaten breakfast yet?"
"Nope, we were waiting for you." Ron said. And they all set off toward the Great Hall.
"Hermione, I really wish you'd cheer up. I don't like seeing you like this." Harry said as then descended another staircase.
"It's not that easy Harry. You wouldn't understand."
"Excuse me? *I* wouldn't understand?" She couldn't tell if he was messing around or being serious. So she just watched him as they walked. "I think I'd know what it was like to lose someone Hermione."
"Yes, you're right Harry. I'm sorry." "Same here. Hermione, you're not alone you know. Harry and I are here for you, we understand, and we care. As much as I'd like to punch Malfoy, the stupid git," he said, throwing his fist into his empty hand, "for making you feel this way, I can't. Because for *some* strange reason, you care about him." A smile twitched the corners of her mouth. Yes, she knew she was cared about.
"Thanks." She said to them both as the entered the entrance hall.
"Hey, isn't that the little bloke now?" Ron said. Hermione turned her head to see what Ron was looking at and her stomach churned unpleasantly. Draco and his group of Slytherins were walking up from the dungeons. Without realizing it at first, their eyes met. His eyes were pained, and cold. Hermione tore her gaze from him and moved to the other side of Ron, out of sight. Ron just frowned a little, and they all continued their walk to breakfast. As she sat down between Ron and Harry, she eyed the food. She was not hungry, but she forced herself to eat toast and jam.
The morning mail arrived and Hermione was surprised by the barn owl that landed in front of her.
"Oh, hello Hermes." She said, and took the letter from his beak. He took a drink of her pumpkin juice and lifted into flight again. Her mother's writing was on the envelope. She tore it open and began to read.
Hermione,
Hi Honey. I'm sure your headmaster has informed you of what happened last night. I don't understand why these people came and destroyed our house. Do you have any idea? Molly is taking very good care of us, and she sends her regards. Your father and I miss you very much. Hope you're doing well. Talk to you later.
Love,
Mom and Dad
"Hmm." She said, setting the letter down.
"Who's it from?"
"My mum and dad. Telling me they are at the Burrow." She sighed, "Mum wants to know why they were attacked. I haven't the heart to tell her it's my fault."
"But its not Hermione!" declared Harry.
"Yes it is!"
"No it is not! You did not tell Malfoy to attack your parents or your home!"
"But it *is* my fault for getting involved with Draco!"
"You gotta give her that one Harry." Said Ron from her other side. Harry just glared at him.
"Look Hermione, Lucious Malfoy makes his own decisions, and so do you. You made the decision to be involved with Malfoy, and his father decided to do something about it. You're not honestly going to take the blame are you? That idiot is in Azkaban, Hermione."
"Yes, but for how long! He could easily break out with Voldemort's help, and go after them again!"
"Whatever happens, it - is - not - your - fault. Don't let me hear you saying it again, alright?"
"Fine." She said, and bit angrily into her toast. Before she could help herself, she looked over at the Slytherin table. His cold, blue eyes stared back at her, and she had a hard time swallowing her bite of toast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/n::: Tell me what you think