A/N: This is my first Harry Potter fic, so if I make any mistakes please be kind

Disclaimer: I own nothing. If ya really wanna sue me then you can have what I got...Student loans debts!

A/N 2: I seem to be getting worse at updating...sori! I was off work ill for a week, and couldn't get to the computer, but that was a week ago, so I've got no excuse for taking this long...I'll try to do better!

Everyone: thanks for reviewing!


Harry and Ron left Care of Magical Creatures in high spirits that afternoon. Hagrid had decided to change teaching tactics now that they were in the seventh year.

"What're you gonna pick Harry? This sure beats regular lessons, that's for sure!"

"I'm not sure…" Harry definitely thought that this was the best project they'd been given yet. Hagrid had told them all to pick a breed of magical creature, and over the entire year they were to prepare a full report on everything they could find out about their creature. That wasn't the fun part though. The fun part was that they had to obtain an infant of their breed of choice, and raise it for the entire year. Hagrid had handed out a list of creatures he would be able to get hold of for them, and which had been approved by Dumbledore, since no-one wanted anything too dangerous on school grounds in the care of a student.

"Want a game of chess?" Ron asked as they reached the Entrance Hall.

"You've got detention with McGonagall, remember? Besides, I'm gonna go up to the infirmary, see what happened to Hermione. She's probably in her room, so meet me there if I'm not back at the common room, 'k?" With that, Harry turned and headed in the direction of the infirmary.

A much glummer and more sedate Ron stared after him.

'Damn detention! Why'd she have ta go an' give me detention?'

Ignoring the tiny voice which was claiming that he deserved detention – he'd only levitated the chair a few inches! – he turned and walked slowly towards the transfigurations classroom.

Harry wasn't sure what to do. Madame Pomfrey had told him what Hermione had done, and that she'd been given the day off classes to rest after working so hard. He had headed straight for the library from the infirmary…it was like a second home to Hermione, she was probably up to her neck in books by now, he'd thought. He'd checked the whole library, and finally asked Madame Pince if she'd seen her.

Hermione hadn't been to the library at all yet. She'd only been back for two days, true, but still…this was Hermione…

He'd headed to her room next, and this is where he now stood, at a loss. She hadn't told him or Ron her password yet, and the portrait of Godric Gryffindor which was her door was refusing to let him in, or even to alert Hermione to his presence.

He could always just see her at dinner later, he supposed, but he wanted to check on her. Madame Pomfrey had said that she wasn't ill - not even so much as a cold – so why had she walked out of Transfigurations? And why had she been late this term? Ron had said she'd 'had things to do', but what things?

Harry had the distinct impression that something was not right with Hermione.

"Godric, just tell her I'm here, can't you?"

"Certainly not, young man. The young lady shall not be disturbed, I suggest you speak to the Head Boy if it's important."

Harry sighed in exasperation. How many times had he explained?

"I told you Godric, it's not like that. I'm Hermione's friend, I want to speak to her."

"Hey Harry! Seen Hermione yet?" Ron half yelled as he came down the hall.

"She's in her room, but he," Harry indicated the portrait with disgust, "won't let me in, and he won't tell her I'm here, either!"

"Why not?"

"I don't know, he just won't!" Harry turned back to the portrait. "We're not leaving 'til we've seen her."

He sat obstinately against the wall, and Ron followed suit.

"Ummm…Harry? Why don't we just see her at dinner? I mean, if she's not well, maybe she could use some peace and quiet…"

"Madame Pomfrey said there's nothing wrong with her, she's in perfect health."

"Oh." A minute of silence followed. "Then why didn't she come back to class?"

Harry quickly filled Ron in on what he'd found out in the infirmary. Naturally, Ron found the story hilarious, and it took a good few minutes for him to stop laughing.

"Hey, where'd he go?" Ron said suddenly, pointing up at the portrait.

Sure enough, Godric had disappeared.

"Probably got sick of all the noise. He'll be back, can't leave for too long in case anyone wants in."

"Yeah, s'pose."

The conversation quickly turned to quidditch, and the upcoming match against Slytherin.

While the boys had been discussing poor old Pomfrey, Godric had slipped out unnoticed, popping up in his portrait in the Head Girl's sitting room.

The scene was exactly as he'd left it a few hours ago. Hermione lay curled up in an arm-chair, eyes closed. An almost empty cup of tea hung precariously from one of her hands, while the other appeared to be shielding her eyes from the light she hadn't extinguished before drifting off.

'Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea, letting them in…' Godric thought as Hermione whimpered softly.

The whimpers were nothing compared to last night, though. Godric shuddered. Her sobbing, and the heart-wrenching cries…he didn't want to think about what must be in her nightmares.

'I'll wake her up,' he decided. Her friends seemed worried enough – at least Harry did. 'She might talk to them, but if they see her like this, they might not give her chance, they'd fuss and talk and question…yes,I'll wake her up.'

"Miss Granger…" he spoke softly, he didn't want to startle her, after all. After a few calls she stirred and opened her eyes.

"Miss Granger, I apologise for waking you, but you have visitors. Two young men, demanding I let them in, they were. Refused to leave too, so I thought maybe I should wake you."

"Thank you, give me five minutes, and then let them in please Godric?"

"Certainly Miss Granger." With that Godric returned to the entrance portrait.

Hermione pulled herself up out of the chair, and quickly walked to her bathroom. She washed her tear-stained face quickly, and set about tidying her hair and straightening her robes. As she turned to leave the bathroom she noticed a vial on the shelf. She quickly returned the unused sleeping potion to its spot in the cabinet, and headed back to the sitting room.

"Hmm hmmm." Godric cleared his throat noisily. 'Honestly, I've been back for nearly five minutes, and they've not even noticed…maybe they weren't as worried as I thought…' he thought irritably.

"Hey, he's back Harry!"

"You gonna let us in yet Godric?"

"Miss Granger says to please come in. She's in the sitting room."

"'bout time, mate!" Ron exclaimed as they both scrabbled to their feet and made their way inside.


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