It was a rainy night when Hermione Granger got the life-changing letter.
She had been studying in her Head Girl room like every other night, closed
off from her fellow Gryffindors. She had been writing a long potions essay
when she heard a tapping on the window. Getting up, she saw an owl carrying
an official-looking letter. Hermione opened the window and took the letter
from the owl, which immediately took flight. She opened it and read,
Dear Ms. Granger,
I am regretful to tell you that your parents were tragically killed by You-
Know-Who's followers yesterday evening. They have left enough money in a
trust fund for the remainder of you education. Funeral arrangements have
been made for next weekend, and their possessions will be shipped to you
via owl once they are properly sorted.
Once again, I appoligise for your loss.
Respectfully yours, The Ministry Of Magic
Hermione dropped the letter in shock, and collapsed to her knees, too numb to do anything. "'Mione? Are you in there? We all want you to come to the common room!" Ginny Weasley was knocking on the door. A moment later she burst in, looking around for Hermione. "Hey, what's wrong? Why didn't you answer the door?" She picked up the letter. "What's this?"
"Read it," Hermione whispered, not able to bring her voice back. The younger girl read it, her expression clouding over.
"Hermione...I'm so sorry. Did you just get this?"
"Yes." Ginny seemed lost for words. She looked sadly at Hermione.
"Will you be okay tonight?"
"I'll be fine."
The Next day news of her parent's death had reached the staff. Hermione was summoned to Dumbledore's office that evening.
"Child, do you care to talk to me about your parent's passing? Or perhaps Professor McGonagall-"
"No thank you, sir." The Headmaster was cut off by Hermione's tired voice.
"It often helps to talk, but as you wish. Do you plan on attending the funeral?"
She shook her head sharply, and glared at the wall. Dumbledore inclined his head slightly.
"You may go."
Hermione dropped the letter in shock, and collapsed to her knees, too numb to do anything. "'Mione? Are you in there? We all want you to come to the common room!" Ginny Weasley was knocking on the door. A moment later she burst in, looking around for Hermione. "Hey, what's wrong? Why didn't you answer the door?" She picked up the letter. "What's this?"
"Read it," Hermione whispered, not able to bring her voice back. The younger girl read it, her expression clouding over.
"Hermione...I'm so sorry. Did you just get this?"
"Yes." Ginny seemed lost for words. She looked sadly at Hermione.
"Will you be okay tonight?"
"I'll be fine."
The Next day news of her parent's death had reached the staff. Hermione was summoned to Dumbledore's office that evening.
"Child, do you care to talk to me about your parent's passing? Or perhaps Professor McGonagall-"
"No thank you, sir." The Headmaster was cut off by Hermione's tired voice.
"It often helps to talk, but as you wish. Do you plan on attending the funeral?"
She shook her head sharply, and glared at the wall. Dumbledore inclined his head slightly.
"You may go."