Thanks to everyone for the feedback! You're all being very supportive and helpful. I should have a few more posts by the end of the week. Enjoy!
Harry stumbled into the Great Hall. After such fitful dreams and the startling revelations from Hermione's journal, he could not fall back asleep. Instead he lay in bed and recalled what he had read.
"We walked right past her," he thought. "We could've helped her, stopped that man from violating her, but Ron and I strolled right past the alley where she was . . . attacked. She struggled with some unknown man while Ron and I drank butterbeer and told jokes."
Now in the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but notice the empty seat by Ron. Hermione wasn't there. A cloud of worry settled on his heart. Walking up to the Gryffindor table, he spotted Ron in heated conversation with Ginny.
"I'm telling you, Ginevra Weasley, that cat was a menace!"
"Ron! Just because you had a pipsqueak rat -"
"Guys! Cut it out!" Harry interrupted his friend's conversation. Lowering his voice, he added, "Where's Hermione?"
"Still in bed. I could hear her snoring." Ginny answered before her brother.
Thinking quickly, Harry asked, "Ginny, do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Can you stay in the common room and make sure Hermione doesn't leave until I come and get you?"
"But it's Saturday!"
"Please, Ginny? It's a matter of life and death!"
Skeptical, Ginny searched Harry's face, as if his eyes would betray what he was thinking. Looking resigned, she nodded her assent. "Okay, okay. I have a one foot history parchment to write anyway." As she walked out of the hall, Harry heard her shout, "You owe me, Potter!"
Ron turned slowly to Harry. "You read it, didn't you?"
Harry nodded. "How'd you know?"
"Hex marks on your face."
"What?!?!" Horrified, Harry grabbed his face. Laughter erupted from his best friend.
"I'm kidding, Harry. Just kidding." Suddenly serious, Ron leaned in close. "What did it say?"
As quickly and quietly as he could, Harry proceeded to tell Ron about Hermione's attack and her sudden depression. Ron leapt in the air when Harry told him about the alley. "RAP -"
"Shhh!" Harry rapidly clamped a hand over Ron's mouth and dragged him down to eyelevel. "D'ye want everyone to hear?"
Ron looked around. His outburst had caused quite a few students to stop their activities and stare at the two Gryffindors. Even Professor Snape, prowling between the tables, had lifted an eyebrow and slowly began walking in their direction.
"Ron, let's go," muttered Harry as he dragged his friend from the hall.
"Go where? Hermione won't talk to us." A pained expression crossed Ron's face.
"Well, since she was . . . hurt in Hogsmeade, we need to tell Dumbledore. Maybe she'll actually talk to him. Dumbledore has a unique way of getting information from students, whether we realize it or not."
"I dunno, Harry. I think we should go after the guy who did this to her." Ron suddenly took on a fierce look. "I would just love to kick his ass."
"We just need to find him first. I bet Dumbledore -"
"Planning a little attack on the Headmaster?" An oily voice drifted down from above the boys.
"Sn . . . Professor Snape!" Harry and Ron turned to face the Potions master, who, in turn, glared at the two students. He was quite sure these two boys were up to something, though he didn't know what exactly.
"Since you choose not to answer me and instead remind me who I am, I will ask again. What do you need with the Headmaster?"
"Sir, it's Hermione." Ron revealed no more. Thinking of Hermione only pained him.
"And what about our dear Ms. Granger?" Snape's eyes took on a dangerous edge. "Has she decided she is no longer good enough for my Potions class? Did she break a nail? Was she -"
"She was attacked!" shouted Ron, then clamped his hand over his mouth.
Snape's nostrils flared. "Do not shout at me, Weasley. Was she hexed in a hallway? Cursed in a lavatory? I daresay she probably deserved it."
Anger flashed throughout Ron's body. "Hogsmeade! In Hogsmeade three weeks ago! Hermione was . . . she was . . ." A sob escaped from Ron. Startled by his display of emotion, he struggled to regain his composure. Harry too found himself choked up, unable to finish Ron's thought.
Snape appeared taken aback. He'd expected an angry retort but not tears. He and the other teachers had noticed a change in Hermione but suspected stress, not . . . Snape noticed the two boys, having regained control of their emotions, now glaring at him, once again the epitomes of self-composure. Snape made up his mind.
"Follow me." And with a swish of his robes, Snape strode down the hall. Ron and Harry had to practically run to keep up with their professor. They finally stopped in front of the statue that Harry recognized as the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Lemon drop," snarled Snape and a few seconds later Harry and Ron found themselves seated before the Headmaster. Snape left quickly, leaving the boys alone with Dumbledore. Harry found himself suddenly interested in his shoelaces, and silence reigned for a moment. Slowly, Harry raised his head. Dumbledore was regarding him with interest.
"Professor Snape did not inform me of your . . . discretions. Perhaps one of you would enlighten me as to why you are in my office on a Saturday."
Harry looked at Ron, who was acting as though his feet were the most interesting things in the room.
"Well?"
"It's, uh, Hermione, sir," Harry explained.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and leaned in. "Ah, yes. Several professors have voiced their concern for Ms. Granger. It appears that she is over-exhausting herself."
"It's not that, Professor. It's just that . . . well, we were in Hogsmeade three weeks ago." Harry's voice faltered.
"Like many others."
"Well, we left Hermione in Honeydukes and told her to meet us for butterbeers while we bought dung- ah, checked out Zonkos."
Dumbledore looked amused. "That is also normal. Continue, please."
"She never showed. We looked everywhere for her, spent hours running around."
"I assume she was found, since she is currently here with us."
"Yes, sir." Harry took a deep breath, steadying himself. "You see, she began acting weird after Hogsmeade. She wouldn't talk to us, let us touch her, and didn't act like . . . herself anymore. Last night Ron and I found her by the lake, but she ran away. She left behind a . . . a journal. So I took it for safekeeping. Um, we couldn't figure out why Hermione wasn't Hermione and she wouldn't tell us anything, so I . . . uh, I read her journal."
"Understandable, Mr. Potter, considering the circumstances," nodded Dumbledore.
"I found out that in Hogsmeade three weeks ago, Hermione was . . . uh, she was . . ."
"Raped, Professor!" shouted Ron. "Raped, and she wouldn't tell us! She wouldn't. Bloody. Tell us!" Ron banged the desk with his fist, emphasizing each word. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks, even as his face erupted with anger.
Startled, Dumbledore sat back. His face shifted from pale shock to heated anger in seconds, finally resting on an unreadable expression, though his eyes flashed like lightning. Though Harry's own face betrayed no emotion, he could sense the furiousness smoldering within his Headmaster. Dumbledore sat silent for a minute, thinking.
"Harry, where is Hermione now?"
"In bed, sir. Ginny's guarding her. I think Hermione might try to do something . . . to herself." He fell silent, glancing quickly at Ron's reaction. His friend sat rigid in his chair, eyes staring defiantly at Dumbledore, as if wishing him to go storming to Hogsmeade, find the rapist, and put a violent end to him.
Dumbledore, however, appeared unfazed by Ron's emotions. "Mr. Weasley, if you will, go to Professor McGonagall and ask her to fetch Ms. Granger and bring her to me. You will find Minerva in her office. Harry, please bring me the journal. I believe Ms. Granger would like it returned."
The boys nodded a silent assent and left Dumbledore's office, each one's thoughts resting on Hermione.
Harry stumbled into the Great Hall. After such fitful dreams and the startling revelations from Hermione's journal, he could not fall back asleep. Instead he lay in bed and recalled what he had read.
"We walked right past her," he thought. "We could've helped her, stopped that man from violating her, but Ron and I strolled right past the alley where she was . . . attacked. She struggled with some unknown man while Ron and I drank butterbeer and told jokes."
Now in the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but notice the empty seat by Ron. Hermione wasn't there. A cloud of worry settled on his heart. Walking up to the Gryffindor table, he spotted Ron in heated conversation with Ginny.
"I'm telling you, Ginevra Weasley, that cat was a menace!"
"Ron! Just because you had a pipsqueak rat -"
"Guys! Cut it out!" Harry interrupted his friend's conversation. Lowering his voice, he added, "Where's Hermione?"
"Still in bed. I could hear her snoring." Ginny answered before her brother.
Thinking quickly, Harry asked, "Ginny, do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Can you stay in the common room and make sure Hermione doesn't leave until I come and get you?"
"But it's Saturday!"
"Please, Ginny? It's a matter of life and death!"
Skeptical, Ginny searched Harry's face, as if his eyes would betray what he was thinking. Looking resigned, she nodded her assent. "Okay, okay. I have a one foot history parchment to write anyway." As she walked out of the hall, Harry heard her shout, "You owe me, Potter!"
Ron turned slowly to Harry. "You read it, didn't you?"
Harry nodded. "How'd you know?"
"Hex marks on your face."
"What?!?!" Horrified, Harry grabbed his face. Laughter erupted from his best friend.
"I'm kidding, Harry. Just kidding." Suddenly serious, Ron leaned in close. "What did it say?"
As quickly and quietly as he could, Harry proceeded to tell Ron about Hermione's attack and her sudden depression. Ron leapt in the air when Harry told him about the alley. "RAP -"
"Shhh!" Harry rapidly clamped a hand over Ron's mouth and dragged him down to eyelevel. "D'ye want everyone to hear?"
Ron looked around. His outburst had caused quite a few students to stop their activities and stare at the two Gryffindors. Even Professor Snape, prowling between the tables, had lifted an eyebrow and slowly began walking in their direction.
"Ron, let's go," muttered Harry as he dragged his friend from the hall.
"Go where? Hermione won't talk to us." A pained expression crossed Ron's face.
"Well, since she was . . . hurt in Hogsmeade, we need to tell Dumbledore. Maybe she'll actually talk to him. Dumbledore has a unique way of getting information from students, whether we realize it or not."
"I dunno, Harry. I think we should go after the guy who did this to her." Ron suddenly took on a fierce look. "I would just love to kick his ass."
"We just need to find him first. I bet Dumbledore -"
"Planning a little attack on the Headmaster?" An oily voice drifted down from above the boys.
"Sn . . . Professor Snape!" Harry and Ron turned to face the Potions master, who, in turn, glared at the two students. He was quite sure these two boys were up to something, though he didn't know what exactly.
"Since you choose not to answer me and instead remind me who I am, I will ask again. What do you need with the Headmaster?"
"Sir, it's Hermione." Ron revealed no more. Thinking of Hermione only pained him.
"And what about our dear Ms. Granger?" Snape's eyes took on a dangerous edge. "Has she decided she is no longer good enough for my Potions class? Did she break a nail? Was she -"
"She was attacked!" shouted Ron, then clamped his hand over his mouth.
Snape's nostrils flared. "Do not shout at me, Weasley. Was she hexed in a hallway? Cursed in a lavatory? I daresay she probably deserved it."
Anger flashed throughout Ron's body. "Hogsmeade! In Hogsmeade three weeks ago! Hermione was . . . she was . . ." A sob escaped from Ron. Startled by his display of emotion, he struggled to regain his composure. Harry too found himself choked up, unable to finish Ron's thought.
Snape appeared taken aback. He'd expected an angry retort but not tears. He and the other teachers had noticed a change in Hermione but suspected stress, not . . . Snape noticed the two boys, having regained control of their emotions, now glaring at him, once again the epitomes of self-composure. Snape made up his mind.
"Follow me." And with a swish of his robes, Snape strode down the hall. Ron and Harry had to practically run to keep up with their professor. They finally stopped in front of the statue that Harry recognized as the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Lemon drop," snarled Snape and a few seconds later Harry and Ron found themselves seated before the Headmaster. Snape left quickly, leaving the boys alone with Dumbledore. Harry found himself suddenly interested in his shoelaces, and silence reigned for a moment. Slowly, Harry raised his head. Dumbledore was regarding him with interest.
"Professor Snape did not inform me of your . . . discretions. Perhaps one of you would enlighten me as to why you are in my office on a Saturday."
Harry looked at Ron, who was acting as though his feet were the most interesting things in the room.
"Well?"
"It's, uh, Hermione, sir," Harry explained.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and leaned in. "Ah, yes. Several professors have voiced their concern for Ms. Granger. It appears that she is over-exhausting herself."
"It's not that, Professor. It's just that . . . well, we were in Hogsmeade three weeks ago." Harry's voice faltered.
"Like many others."
"Well, we left Hermione in Honeydukes and told her to meet us for butterbeers while we bought dung- ah, checked out Zonkos."
Dumbledore looked amused. "That is also normal. Continue, please."
"She never showed. We looked everywhere for her, spent hours running around."
"I assume she was found, since she is currently here with us."
"Yes, sir." Harry took a deep breath, steadying himself. "You see, she began acting weird after Hogsmeade. She wouldn't talk to us, let us touch her, and didn't act like . . . herself anymore. Last night Ron and I found her by the lake, but she ran away. She left behind a . . . a journal. So I took it for safekeeping. Um, we couldn't figure out why Hermione wasn't Hermione and she wouldn't tell us anything, so I . . . uh, I read her journal."
"Understandable, Mr. Potter, considering the circumstances," nodded Dumbledore.
"I found out that in Hogsmeade three weeks ago, Hermione was . . . uh, she was . . ."
"Raped, Professor!" shouted Ron. "Raped, and she wouldn't tell us! She wouldn't. Bloody. Tell us!" Ron banged the desk with his fist, emphasizing each word. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks, even as his face erupted with anger.
Startled, Dumbledore sat back. His face shifted from pale shock to heated anger in seconds, finally resting on an unreadable expression, though his eyes flashed like lightning. Though Harry's own face betrayed no emotion, he could sense the furiousness smoldering within his Headmaster. Dumbledore sat silent for a minute, thinking.
"Harry, where is Hermione now?"
"In bed, sir. Ginny's guarding her. I think Hermione might try to do something . . . to herself." He fell silent, glancing quickly at Ron's reaction. His friend sat rigid in his chair, eyes staring defiantly at Dumbledore, as if wishing him to go storming to Hogsmeade, find the rapist, and put a violent end to him.
Dumbledore, however, appeared unfazed by Ron's emotions. "Mr. Weasley, if you will, go to Professor McGonagall and ask her to fetch Ms. Granger and bring her to me. You will find Minerva in her office. Harry, please bring me the journal. I believe Ms. Granger would like it returned."
The boys nodded a silent assent and left Dumbledore's office, each one's thoughts resting on Hermione.