Disclaimer: Blah blah blah... please don't sue me I do no wrong.

Authors's Note: Okay, chapter two. You know, I still don't have a clue what I'm going to call this story. I guess I'll know by the time it's posted... obviously... but for now I'm lost. On a side note, I have a beautiful little treat for tomato lovers (not in the story, right here) and that is this: butter an English muffin, toast it, then put a salted and peppered slice of tomato on top. It is divine. Anyway, this was a rather boring chapter to write, so I can't imagine the pain in reading it. Bear with me, it won't last long.

Chapter 2: Buh Bye!

Standing anxiously in front of McGonnagall, Hermione was breathing too hard to say or hear anything. She had run full speed from the dungeons to the fourth floor where McGonnagall had been waiting, having to detour twice due to the fickle stairs.

"Miss Granger," McGonnagall strode forward and led Hermione to a chair in front of her desk, allowing her to calm her breath. Hermione removed her robes, as they were much more of a burden than anything else and only increased her perspiration. Finally she looked up to her professor to know the cause of the meeting.

"Yes, Professor McGonnagall?"

McGonnagall sat across from her, a brooding expression falling across her face. "Miss Granger, would you like some tea?"

"No thank you, just water, if that's alright."

McGonnagall retrieved a pitcher of water and poured Hermione a glass, which was practically inhaled by the radioactively red student.

They then sat for some moments in silence, neither allowing their eyes to meet the other. Hermione picked at a loose string hanging from her blue long-sleeved t-shirt and McGonnagall shuffled papers on her desk until finally drawing her mind around the situation and addressing Hermione again.

"Miss Granger..."

Hermione was getting just plain annoyed.

"Yes, Professor McGonnagall?"

McGonnagall cleared her throat and stared directly at Hermione.

"Do you know what the attack today was about?"

"I haven't a clue. " Hermione did have a clue, but she'd much rather have McGonnagall tell her and get it over and done with.

"Those Death Eaters were after only half and muggle-born students. They know that Hogwarts is a society in and of itself and is just as influential as any other Magical headquarters. An attack here would send a message."

"Why are you only telling me? Shouldn't the other students be told?"

"They attacked in Snape's class today, which is comprised of only Slytherine and Gryffindor sixth years, am I right?"

"Yes."

"The eight other students that were targeted are half-blood... you are the only sixth year Gryffindor muggle-born."

"Why does that matter if they were looking for half-bloods as well?"

"Did you realize they didn't take action until they found you?"

"Yes."

"You were the target- not them. They want to be rid of all muggle-borns, half-bloods are on the side. You were the target today, and that means that you are at high risk of other attacks as well."

"We're all at risk- this is a war. Shouldn't you be addressing the entire school?"

"No. "

She lowered her head, obviously she was not getting to the point and Hermione was downright irritated. There were so many other things she could be doing than hearing her professor state the obvious.

"Miss Granger..."

"Yes, Professor McGonnagall?" Hermione thought her brains would explode if she had to repeat that statement even one more time that day.

"I've alerted your parents of the attack."

Okay, she was wrong. If her brains were going to explode at all, it would be because of this. She could feel a cold sweat forming on her forehead and suddenly speaking became very difficult.

"Why?" she stuttered, tears forming slowly.

"They have a right to know, they're your parents."

"That doesn't give them a right to be scared out of their mind." She knew what was coming, she just didn't want to hear it, so she stood and crossed to the door before McGonnagall said anything else.

"Miss Granger!"

"Yes, Professor McGonnagall?" she slowly turned to face her professor.

"Sit down. I'm not through." Her voice had taken a very different turn. It was not friendly or nice or even stern- simply calm and expectant.

Hermione walked back to her seat and sat.

"Miss Granger, your parents have demanded you be taken out of this school's care."

Hermione thought for a moment. That couldn't be right, it was unheard of.

"You mean for the rest of term? I'll go home four days early, you mean?"

"No. They have asked for you to be removed from our care permanently. You will be installed in a muggle school, and continue your education there."

Hermione shook her head slowly, unable to grasp what her professor had just said. No more Hogwarts? What was this world coming to? She tried to shake her head from the thought and it kept returning- it wouldn't stop. No more Hogwarts. Next year she would be a muggle, devoid of magical influence. What the crap? her mind yelled. That is not right!

"When will I be leaving?" she heard her voice ask calmly. No wait, her mind shouted, that's not what you want to say.

"I will give you ten minutes to pack your things and then I will expect you to return here."

Punch her! but she didn't punch Professor McGonnagall; instead she stood, nodded, and left the room, towards her dormitory, which wasn't far.

She sat on her bed, looking at her trunk sadly. She shifted slowly and suddenly a painful something jabbed her bottom. She felt and pulled the small diamond ring from her pocket. Tears welled up in her eyes and she curled up in a ball and cried for the remainder of her ten minutes.

She sat up and, still sniffling, levitated her trunk down the stairs and into the Common Room, where she was met with a swarm of Gryffindors, Harry in the lead. Ron ran forward and swung her around in his arms, laughing happily, obviously ignoring the tears running down her cheeks as she realized what she was leaving.

"What's going on?" she managed amidst her choked sobs.

"I just heard," Ron said, turning to Harry. "Congratulations, you guys'll be great."

Harry smiled and went to wipe the tears from Hermione's cheeks.

"I told them all," he whispered. "Now everyone knows about us."

"When's the date?" a girl squealed from the back.

"We don't know yet," Harry said proudly, "I only proposed two nights ago."

"Harry..." Hermione sniffled.

"Hold on, Hermione," he said, soaking up more questions and congratulating pats on the back.

"Harry..." she tried again.

"What is it?" he said finally.

"I have to leave."

"Okay, where are you going?" he was so oblivious.

"No, I mean I have to leave Hogwarts..." tears returned to her temporarily dry cheeks, "for good. My parents have pulled me out and put me in a muggle school."

Harry's face sobered; as did the students close enough to hear.

"Why?" he stammered, his chin wrinkling.

"The attack today was meant for me- it scared the hell out of my parents."

"How did they even find out?"

"McGonnagall."

"That bag!" Ron shouted from behind them. Tears were streaming down his face and his hands were balled into fists. Hermione went to console him. She wrapped her arms around waist and nuzzled her face in his shoulder.

"I'll still see you, Ron. Don't be upset, it'll just make me more upset."

Ron wiped his face with the hand that wasn't holding Hermione close.

"I just love you, Hermione. Hogwarts won't be the same..."

"I love you too, Ron." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, then pulled away to greet the other students that wanted to say their good byes.

She hugged Parvati and Lavender, who just this morning she had been so angry with for waking her up. She wouldn't mind anymore, she thought. She hugged Neville, whom she would miss helping in Potions, she hugged Seamus, who had always made her laugh, more at him than with him to be perfectly honest. She hugged Dean Thomas, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell, the Creevey brothers, and finally, in a wave of tears, she tugged Ginny to her, sobbing softly. This had been the only real female friend she had ever had. Harry and Ron were great and they were like brothers to her, but there were just some things that she couldn't tell them, and Ginny was where she had gone when those things came up.

Suddenly, looking up, she saw McGonnagall come into the room and beckon her to come, a gentle smile on her face. Another urge to punch the elderly woman shot through her body, but the feeling was overtaken by Harry's arms wrapping around her and holding her close as he kissed her hair.

She turned to wrap her arms around his neck and close her eyes, inhaling the clean scent of his hair.

"This doesn't change anything," he whispered. "I'll write you the moment you leave."

"I know you will." She pressed her lips to his, clenching her eyes shut, trying to take in his taste, his feel, for as long as she could, trying to seal it on her lips so that she would never forget.

"Miss Granger..." Professor McGonnagall's voice broke the silence and Hermione unlatched herself from Harry's grasp.

"I'm coming, Professor." She went to her trunk and levitated it out the door, following McGonnagall. She turned at the portrait hole, to see Harry, Ron, and Ginny's sad faces waving at her. She smiled at them and disappeared through the portrait hole.

When they arrived in McGonnagall's room, Hermione dumped the trunk onto the floor hard.

"I'm going to double-check the portkey, if you don't mind waiting for a moment."

"No, it's no trouble." Hermione stood awkwardly, watching McGonnagall when her stomach lurched and her eyes grew dizzy. "Could I wait in the hall?" she stammered.

"Yes, but don't go away from my room," McGonnagall said without looking up.

Hermione ran to the door, vomiting the moment she got out the door.

"I'd appreciate it if you blew chunks in private next time," a glossy voice said behind her. She spun around and saw Malfoy, leaning heavily against the wall, legs crossed, looking as menacing as ever. Hermione stood slowly and made her way towards Malfoy, stopping inches in front of him to raise her wand and perform a lightning spell, which replaced his hands with feet and visa versa.

"What the hell?" he shouted, bending down to put his feet on the ground as well as his hands.

Hermione shrugged, figuring that as it was the last time she'd perform magic in two years, she should take advantage of it. She made him do a jig, sing opera, impersonate a fish, and finally grow a tail. It was only after the last spell had taken effect that McGonnagall grabbed her arm, pulling her into the classroom, and then correcting the damage that had been done to Malfoy.

"Miss Granger!" she shouted, once the door had been slammed behind her. "Do you have any idea how many rules you have broken in the last six minutes? Lucius Malfoy will be furious and..."

"And I thought I was no longer in the care of Hogwarts and therefore don't have to abide by its regulations."

She smiled smugly, crossing her arms and staring at McGonnagall in the eyes. "Well," McGonnagall said, more calmly, "regardless of who's care you are in, it was an inappropriate and disrespectful thing to do."

"My last minutes at Hogwarts and you think I'm going to pay Malfoy respect!" Why was she being so forward with McGonnagall? Usually she would be cowering at the thought of earning her disapproval. "Okay," Hermione said moodily, "so, is the portkey ready?"

McGonnagall nodded and summoned the trunk to both of them.

"Are you coming with me?" Hermione asked.

"No," McGonnagall said, shaking her head sadly, "I have too much to do here."

Hermione understood.

"It's the empty quill on my desk."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said, tears returning once more, "for everything."

"You're welcome, my dear."

And with that, Hermione took hold of her trunk and grabbed the quill lying on Professor McGonnagall's desk, feeling as if a fishhook had gotten behind her naval and tugged. She spun for a moment, the cool rush of the portkey familiar and comforting, before landing abruptly in her living room, with two worried dentists waiting for her.

End Note: Could I be sappier if I tried? Oh, I don't really know if McGonnagall's classroom is on the fourth floor or not, I didn't really want to check, if it says it in the book. I apologize if you all know that it's not on the fourth floor. Also, I don't really know if Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell would even be at Hogwarts in Hermione's sixth year- that one's much lazier of me not to check on. I also apologize if I got that wrong.