Chapter Three: A Clue
Two days later, Hermione was packing for Hogwarts. Her trunk was nearly full and she was already running late. She glared at the clock. 9:02 , it read. She threw the rest of her things haphazardly into the luggage, not folding them as she had been. She could hear her mother's footsteps as she came to urge Hermione downstairs for some breakfast. This must have been the tenth time she had been up here, and for the tenth time Hermione would say, "Mother, I'll be down soon!"
"Hermion-." Her mother started as she came through the bedroom door.
"Mother, I'll be down soon!" she shouted.
"You have been saying that for the past hour! So I brought you some food instead." She said revealing a plate of pancakes and bacon.
A smile cracked across Hermione's face and she reached for the plate.
"Thanks," she said shyly, slowly bringing it back to herself and looking at it as if it was a cute animal.
"Your welcome," her mother said giving her a strange look. As she closed the door after her mother, she set the food down on a nearby table and took a seat. She didn't begin eating it for quite some time, she just sat blankly, seemingly admiring the food.
Pancakes and bacon. she thought. This was her favorite food to eat. Not because she liked it's taste but because she always ate it after a night of dreams. Dreams of the boy. And it had been a long time since she had dreamt of him, but last night she had, and it was slightly bizarre that her mother had brought her the exact food she had been thinking of. A half an hour later Hermione and her parents were backing out of the driveway prepared to send their daughter off for her sixth year of school.
An hour later they were pulling into King's Cross. As her mum and dad kissed and hugged her good-bye she went off looking for Ron and Harry. Harry was staying with Ron the last few days of summer, so she knew they would be together. And sure enough, a few minutes later she found the two sprawled on the floor probably reenacting the moment when the barrier refused to let them pass.
"What are you two fools doing?" she blurted out.
"Nice to see you too Hermione." Said Ron, lifting himself from the floor.
Ron's mother and sister were laughing close by at his antics and were now dashing over to say hello to Hermione.
"Hello, dear! How are you?" screamed Mrs. Weasley grabbing Hermione into a tight hug. Moments later Hermione had enough air to answer.
"I'm great, really great. And you?" she asked.
"In fine dear, are you ready to start yet another school year?" she asked.
"Yea I'm ready." She told her.
"Alright well have fun dear, I have to get going or I'm going to miss my appointment." So Mrs. Weasley left the four to cross the barrier alone. As soon as they crossed Hermione asked,
"Ron, what appointment is your mum going to?" she said.
And Ron going from happy to serious extremely fast said, 'Mum's sick." In a low whisper.
"Like a cold sick?" she asked.
"No, like really sick." He said, looking more depressed by the second.
"Oh my God what's wrong?" she said curiously.
"Ginny can tell you on the train," Ron said, "I got to go." And he sulked off to follow Harry towards a crowd of boys. Hermione followed Ginny onto the train and into a smaller compartment where no one had boarded yet. Ginny had a heartbreaking look on her face and Hermione knew that by the end of this Ginny would be crying, and probably, so would Hermione.
"Ginny, tell me." Urged Hermione.
"Mum has." Ginny started but choked. After a moment or two she took in a deep breath and added, "cancer." A deafening silence filled the room. Hermione felt her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach and she almost couldn't breathe.
"What?" she said, tears filling her eyes. She could see Ginny was already crying.
"We found out yesterday, but mum and dad have known about it for a while." She said through her tears.
"What is she doing about it?' logical Hermione asked, more and more tears welling up her eyes. She blinked and sent a few sliding down her face.
"That's the worst part, she can't do anything."
"Well, why not?" Hermione almost shouted.
"Because!" Ginny said now fully on edge, "were not like you, or Harry, or most of the kids in the school Hermione! We don't have money coming out of our ears! Mum can't pay for the treatment because the money is so outrageous! She said she would so in debt for the rest of their lives that she wouldn't be able to even by us breakfast in the morning! She CAN'T do anything! She just going to sit there and die!" and now Ginny was in a full out panic attack. "Ginny, it's going to be okay. Your mum will be fine." Hermione told her, but she knew she was trying to convince herself rather than Ginny. While Ginny cried to herself next to Hermione, she thought, It didn't seem fair. How could Mrs. Weasley be sick? How could someone so sweet deserve this? wondered Hermione, and she cried too.
Days later they found themselves in Herbology, Hermione knew Ron hadn't slept for days. He looked like he hadn't either, his eyes were red and puffy, and he dozed off in most of his classes. Why can he sleep during class and not at night? she started thinking.
"His thoughts consume him." said a voice from nowhere. She could have sworn someone had whispered in her ear. She looked around but there was no one. She looked at Ron, a book stood open in front of him blocking his head from view. She knew he was sleeping behind it. What was he thinking? Ron hadn't talked in the last few days. He spent his time alone, somewhere amidst the school corridors, just walking and thinking she suspected. She didn't think that all this dwelling on his problems was good for him but she didn't feel right giving him advice. She had no idea what he was going through. To loose a parent, someone you love so much and have always been there for you. Who will be there for him now.Hermione had her own problems to worry about. The boy.she wanted to find him, find out who he was and find out if that day was as special to him as it was to her. But she had no idea where to go or what to do to find him. Some days she was dreadfully gloomy with the thought that she would never find him. And some days it felt as if he was right in front of her and all she had to do was look up and he would be there. Some times she found herself walking through the hallways trying to catch each boys attention and take a long look into their eyes, but nothing happened.
"Harry, have you talked to Ron lately?" Hermione asked as her and Harry stood outside their History classroom. They hadn't seen Ron all morning, and it was nearly lunch.
"No, he left his bed before I woke up. I haven't seen him anywhere." He said sounding dreadful.
"This alone time that he is having, it's not good for him. Do you think we should talk to him?"
And a moment later Harry said, "If we ever find him again." With a sorrowful look on his face. Finally, when lunch was almost through, Ron decided to grace everyone with his presence. As soon as his hungry hand reached for food Hermione was on him like flies on a wet hound dog.
"Where have you been?" she asked him in a monotone voice
"Sorry I co-." but before he could finish,
"We had no idea what had happened to you! We didn't know what you were doing or if you were alive! Do you understand the constant worry that you put us through?" she said.
"I know and I'm sor-." He started but yet again,
"Sorry? Your SORRY?" she stated loudly, "Sorry doesn't cover your a s s Ron! Now where were you!?" she finished and gave him a bizarre look. Everyone at the table had now stopped eating and had their eyes directly on Ron awaiting his answer.
Ron sighed, slightly angry that Hermione had made it such a big deal and now the whole table knew that he had gone missing for quite sometime.
"We'll talk about it later." He told her.
"No Ron, now!" she said loudly.
"Later Hermione." Ron said threw gritted teeth.
Hermione saw his anger start to rise and she didn't feel like getting him so mad as to provoke another Ron-is-lost episode.
"Fine, fine." She said as professor McGonnagle dismissed then for classes. Minutes later they were sprinting down the hallways to their next class. At least Ron was sprinting trying to get away from talking to Hermione. She was just walking extremely fast behind waiting for his answer, while Harry watched from a distance behind them, not in any rush to hear where Ron had been, he knew he would know eventually, maybe before Hermione at this rate.
"Ron! STOP!" she shouted finally as they approached the door to their classroom.
"What, Hermione? WHAT!" he screamed back at her. His face had an intense annoyance written across it. You could only look at him for a mere second to know that he was furious. He rounded on her, towering over her like a building. She took a step back but not from fright.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? TELL ME!" she roared.
"No, you're too obsessed with it, it's not that big of frickin' deal! Leave it alone!" and he walked, with Harry by his side, into the classroom filled with Slytherins.
This class, Speaking of Magic, was a brand new class for those who wished to trade a harder course for something a little easier. They had all three signed up and so had the whole of Gryffindor house. Their house was the first site for he posting of this announced class and then it was Slytherin. By the time it had reached the other two houses, all the positions had been filled. So this class consisted mainly of Gryffindor's and Slytherins. They would all have to learn to speak in front of the entire classroom. They would write a paragraph essay and read it aloud. Most would think that this was an extremely heinous thing to get put together but as for these three, they had no problem speaking before a crowd. Later that night, Hermione sat in her room addicted to writing her paper that was assigned. She held down the parchment as her hand scribbled across it in rapid motion. The idea kept coming to her and she had to get them down before they left.
.cold.lights..big tree. she smiled. She still felt special when she thought of the tree.
.brown hair.baby blue eyes.snake on -." Her eyes widened as she thought.
...a snake on his coat...
"Oh my God."
Two days later, Hermione was packing for Hogwarts. Her trunk was nearly full and she was already running late. She glared at the clock. 9:02 , it read. She threw the rest of her things haphazardly into the luggage, not folding them as she had been. She could hear her mother's footsteps as she came to urge Hermione downstairs for some breakfast. This must have been the tenth time she had been up here, and for the tenth time Hermione would say, "Mother, I'll be down soon!"
"Hermion-." Her mother started as she came through the bedroom door.
"Mother, I'll be down soon!" she shouted.
"You have been saying that for the past hour! So I brought you some food instead." She said revealing a plate of pancakes and bacon.
A smile cracked across Hermione's face and she reached for the plate.
"Thanks," she said shyly, slowly bringing it back to herself and looking at it as if it was a cute animal.
"Your welcome," her mother said giving her a strange look. As she closed the door after her mother, she set the food down on a nearby table and took a seat. She didn't begin eating it for quite some time, she just sat blankly, seemingly admiring the food.
Pancakes and bacon. she thought. This was her favorite food to eat. Not because she liked it's taste but because she always ate it after a night of dreams. Dreams of the boy. And it had been a long time since she had dreamt of him, but last night she had, and it was slightly bizarre that her mother had brought her the exact food she had been thinking of. A half an hour later Hermione and her parents were backing out of the driveway prepared to send their daughter off for her sixth year of school.
An hour later they were pulling into King's Cross. As her mum and dad kissed and hugged her good-bye she went off looking for Ron and Harry. Harry was staying with Ron the last few days of summer, so she knew they would be together. And sure enough, a few minutes later she found the two sprawled on the floor probably reenacting the moment when the barrier refused to let them pass.
"What are you two fools doing?" she blurted out.
"Nice to see you too Hermione." Said Ron, lifting himself from the floor.
Ron's mother and sister were laughing close by at his antics and were now dashing over to say hello to Hermione.
"Hello, dear! How are you?" screamed Mrs. Weasley grabbing Hermione into a tight hug. Moments later Hermione had enough air to answer.
"I'm great, really great. And you?" she asked.
"In fine dear, are you ready to start yet another school year?" she asked.
"Yea I'm ready." She told her.
"Alright well have fun dear, I have to get going or I'm going to miss my appointment." So Mrs. Weasley left the four to cross the barrier alone. As soon as they crossed Hermione asked,
"Ron, what appointment is your mum going to?" she said.
And Ron going from happy to serious extremely fast said, 'Mum's sick." In a low whisper.
"Like a cold sick?" she asked.
"No, like really sick." He said, looking more depressed by the second.
"Oh my God what's wrong?" she said curiously.
"Ginny can tell you on the train," Ron said, "I got to go." And he sulked off to follow Harry towards a crowd of boys. Hermione followed Ginny onto the train and into a smaller compartment where no one had boarded yet. Ginny had a heartbreaking look on her face and Hermione knew that by the end of this Ginny would be crying, and probably, so would Hermione.
"Ginny, tell me." Urged Hermione.
"Mum has." Ginny started but choked. After a moment or two she took in a deep breath and added, "cancer." A deafening silence filled the room. Hermione felt her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach and she almost couldn't breathe.
"What?" she said, tears filling her eyes. She could see Ginny was already crying.
"We found out yesterday, but mum and dad have known about it for a while." She said through her tears.
"What is she doing about it?' logical Hermione asked, more and more tears welling up her eyes. She blinked and sent a few sliding down her face.
"That's the worst part, she can't do anything."
"Well, why not?" Hermione almost shouted.
"Because!" Ginny said now fully on edge, "were not like you, or Harry, or most of the kids in the school Hermione! We don't have money coming out of our ears! Mum can't pay for the treatment because the money is so outrageous! She said she would so in debt for the rest of their lives that she wouldn't be able to even by us breakfast in the morning! She CAN'T do anything! She just going to sit there and die!" and now Ginny was in a full out panic attack. "Ginny, it's going to be okay. Your mum will be fine." Hermione told her, but she knew she was trying to convince herself rather than Ginny. While Ginny cried to herself next to Hermione, she thought, It didn't seem fair. How could Mrs. Weasley be sick? How could someone so sweet deserve this? wondered Hermione, and she cried too.
Days later they found themselves in Herbology, Hermione knew Ron hadn't slept for days. He looked like he hadn't either, his eyes were red and puffy, and he dozed off in most of his classes. Why can he sleep during class and not at night? she started thinking.
"His thoughts consume him." said a voice from nowhere. She could have sworn someone had whispered in her ear. She looked around but there was no one. She looked at Ron, a book stood open in front of him blocking his head from view. She knew he was sleeping behind it. What was he thinking? Ron hadn't talked in the last few days. He spent his time alone, somewhere amidst the school corridors, just walking and thinking she suspected. She didn't think that all this dwelling on his problems was good for him but she didn't feel right giving him advice. She had no idea what he was going through. To loose a parent, someone you love so much and have always been there for you. Who will be there for him now.Hermione had her own problems to worry about. The boy.she wanted to find him, find out who he was and find out if that day was as special to him as it was to her. But she had no idea where to go or what to do to find him. Some days she was dreadfully gloomy with the thought that she would never find him. And some days it felt as if he was right in front of her and all she had to do was look up and he would be there. Some times she found herself walking through the hallways trying to catch each boys attention and take a long look into their eyes, but nothing happened.
"Harry, have you talked to Ron lately?" Hermione asked as her and Harry stood outside their History classroom. They hadn't seen Ron all morning, and it was nearly lunch.
"No, he left his bed before I woke up. I haven't seen him anywhere." He said sounding dreadful.
"This alone time that he is having, it's not good for him. Do you think we should talk to him?"
And a moment later Harry said, "If we ever find him again." With a sorrowful look on his face. Finally, when lunch was almost through, Ron decided to grace everyone with his presence. As soon as his hungry hand reached for food Hermione was on him like flies on a wet hound dog.
"Where have you been?" she asked him in a monotone voice
"Sorry I co-." but before he could finish,
"We had no idea what had happened to you! We didn't know what you were doing or if you were alive! Do you understand the constant worry that you put us through?" she said.
"I know and I'm sor-." He started but yet again,
"Sorry? Your SORRY?" she stated loudly, "Sorry doesn't cover your a s s Ron! Now where were you!?" she finished and gave him a bizarre look. Everyone at the table had now stopped eating and had their eyes directly on Ron awaiting his answer.
Ron sighed, slightly angry that Hermione had made it such a big deal and now the whole table knew that he had gone missing for quite sometime.
"We'll talk about it later." He told her.
"No Ron, now!" she said loudly.
"Later Hermione." Ron said threw gritted teeth.
Hermione saw his anger start to rise and she didn't feel like getting him so mad as to provoke another Ron-is-lost episode.
"Fine, fine." She said as professor McGonnagle dismissed then for classes. Minutes later they were sprinting down the hallways to their next class. At least Ron was sprinting trying to get away from talking to Hermione. She was just walking extremely fast behind waiting for his answer, while Harry watched from a distance behind them, not in any rush to hear where Ron had been, he knew he would know eventually, maybe before Hermione at this rate.
"Ron! STOP!" she shouted finally as they approached the door to their classroom.
"What, Hermione? WHAT!" he screamed back at her. His face had an intense annoyance written across it. You could only look at him for a mere second to know that he was furious. He rounded on her, towering over her like a building. She took a step back but not from fright.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? TELL ME!" she roared.
"No, you're too obsessed with it, it's not that big of frickin' deal! Leave it alone!" and he walked, with Harry by his side, into the classroom filled with Slytherins.
This class, Speaking of Magic, was a brand new class for those who wished to trade a harder course for something a little easier. They had all three signed up and so had the whole of Gryffindor house. Their house was the first site for he posting of this announced class and then it was Slytherin. By the time it had reached the other two houses, all the positions had been filled. So this class consisted mainly of Gryffindor's and Slytherins. They would all have to learn to speak in front of the entire classroom. They would write a paragraph essay and read it aloud. Most would think that this was an extremely heinous thing to get put together but as for these three, they had no problem speaking before a crowd. Later that night, Hermione sat in her room addicted to writing her paper that was assigned. She held down the parchment as her hand scribbled across it in rapid motion. The idea kept coming to her and she had to get them down before they left.
.cold.lights..big tree. she smiled. She still felt special when she thought of the tree.
.brown hair.baby blue eyes.snake on -." Her eyes widened as she thought.
...a snake on his coat...
"Oh my God."