The next few weeks ran smoothly. Hermione loved the Burrow just as much as Harry, if not more. She loved talking to Ginny every night before she went to sleep, debating the stupidest issues with Ron, and loved it when Harry comforted her. She knew that he must have been comforted be her as well. He just showed it. She thought perhaps the reason he understood so much was because he went through the same thing before. Only every summer of his life and not just one as she had endured. She knew through and through that he completely understood her when she would have an occasional break down. She was thankful that he was around, along with everyone else too. She knew that from then on out they would always be there for her. She loved the feeling. After going through so many months without someone to care about her, she welcomed the feeling with all the hope and energy that she had and every chance she got.
She was thrilled when the time came to go to Diagon Alley and get all of their school supplies. She had been needed new reading material for day after having read her old ones time and time over again. But nothing could have made her grin more when she caught sight of Hogwarts again. She had a new sense of protection as soon as she walked through the great hall.
"Come one Hermione! We'll be in trouble if were late to bed!" said Ron.
"I know, I just have to go to the restroom and I'll catch up with you. I'll meet you in the common room." she replied.
"Uh, Hermione, shouldn't you be going into a different one?" Harry had always been cautious when going near this part of the school. It was the same restroom that Moaning Mertyl haunted; the same restroom that the entrance to the chamber of secrets was.
"Oh please, that's ancient history, I'll be fine. I see you guy in ten minutes!" and with that she walked in. Ron just shrugged and gave Harry one of those looks that just said, 'oh well'. They walked toward the common room both feeling a little uncomfortable.
What Hermione had so easily avoided from telling them was that every since she stepped into the school she had been hearing a very strange voice from inside her head. It was telling her, no, commanding her to go to that bathroom. She thought that someone inside might meet her when she walked in, but there was no one there. She felt very nervous in there. She only hoped Mertyl would no notice her in there. She didn't feel like being taunted by a depressed ghost at that moment. She leaned against the bathroom wall, watching and waiting for something to happen, for someone to appear; but no one came. She stood there daydreaming for at least ten minutes before she realized the guys were probably going to be even more worried about her if she didn't get back, and quickly.
With one last tired and defeated sigh she turned to leave. But was blocked. Someone had been standing right behind her. She didn't know if he had been there the whole time, but thought by judging the look on his blank face that this would definitely be a good time to exit. She moved to the side to get to the door, but mostly to get out of his way, which she seemed to be in. But he moved to block her way and continued to stare at her, making her feel very uncomfortable.
"Excuse me," she said moving to the opposite side of him to try in get by him again. But he again blocked her way yet again.
"Will you please let me pass, I have to be getting back to my common room before my friends worry," she said trying to make herself sound as forceful as she could. But he could sense the tenseness in her voice. A very sly grin crept upon his face, sending a chill down Hermione's back. He could see her trembling.
"I think your friends are the last thing you should be worrying about." with that she felt fear run through her that she had not felt since she the night she was shot. She decided that she had only one choice. And took it without thinking twice. She managed to edge around him started to run like hell! She thought that getting by him like that might have been just a bit too easy, and she was right. Just as she grabbed the door and pulled it just barely open ready to make another mad dash to her dorm room, she heard him laughing a pure and evil laugh beyond anything she had every heard before. She thought the whole world would be able to hear her heart racing against her chest. She heard him say a spell, which she suspected to be a curse. At that moment she was lifted off her feet and slammed into the back wall. She knew immediately that her back had broken. She cried out in excruciating pain and fell to the ground, with her bad arm beneath her. She felt a streak of pain go through her arm and her weak spot on it felt like it would explode with pain. He simply left her there whimpering on the floor. He came close to her head and just stood there over her examining her. She felt sure that he was going to start kicking her. But he just stood there as she cried in pain.
"I have been waiting a long time for you to finally arrive here. You can't possibly image how long. I thought you would have given more of a fight when you saw it was me, but I take it that you didn't even recognize me. Allow me to refresh your memory.
She suddenly saw herself in her 2nd year at Hogwarts with a mirror at hand. Exactly the way she was before she was petrified. She knew him! She knew that voice!