Chapter 2: Worrying About Harry
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Hermione Granger sat in the recess of her bedroom's bay window that overlooked a small pond behind her home in a Coventry suburb. She often sat here when she was watching the sunrise over the water or just doing some stargazing, but this night, she was in a rather pensive mood. Her mind ran over the memories of the past month and how they would probably be affecting her best friend. The girl's body gave an involuntary shudder as she recalled the pain of the purple lighted-curse striking her body, sending her to the hard floor. She sighed heavily and lifted her eyes to stare at the stars in the night sky, "Oh Harry, if this is what my memories do to me, I can't imagine what yours are doing to you."
A female voice from the doorway tore her from her thoughts, "Are you okay, dear?"
Hermione snapped her head and shoulders around to look at her visitor. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her chest as she turned. Helen Granger quickly strode to her daughter's side. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to give you a start like that. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Hermione answered in a reassuring tone, "It's okay, mum. I sometimes forget to slow down a little bit. It'll be fine."
"You still didn't answer my question though. How are you feeling?"
Hermione turned around to look at the stars again and gave another weighted sigh, "I'm worried about Harry, mum. He's already lost his mum and dad because of Voldemort; now he's just watched his godfather die right in front of his eyes at the hands of one of Voldemort's followers. He has to be feeling incredibly alone at the moment, and if I know him as well as I think I do, he probably thinks he's responsible for it."
Helen looked at her daughter disbelievingly, "Why in the world would he think that? I know you said that this Voldemort monster set a trap for Harry, but Harry didn't actually hold a gun to his godfather's head and pull the trigger now, did he?"
Hermione turned to face her mother again, "No, but in his mind, he might as well have. It was because Harry fell for Voldemort's ruse that he thinks Sirius was there in the first place."
Tap, Tap
Both women's eyes turned to the window to find the source of the noise. A white Snowy Owl was perched on the other side of the glass. Hermione lifted her hand to work the window latch, "I hope this letter is better than the others."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Harry has basically cut himself off from everyone. He's sent me two letters so far and both of them said the same thing, 'I'm fine. The Dursleys are leaving me alone.' I think the only reason he is sending out mail at all is because members of the Order threatened to go to Surrey if they didn't get a letter every three days." Hermione stopped speaking momentarily as Hedwig was now perched on the girl's thigh with its leg extended. Hermione removed the scroll and read it before passing it to her mother. "See what I mean? The Dursleys could probably be beating Harry to death right now, but we wouldn't know it. Harry wouldn't send out anything other than this. He either doesn't want us to see him like he is, or he feels that we might put ourselves in danger by openly associating with him."
"I see what you mean, Hermione. Is there anything we can do? Harry is welcome to stay here if you think that would help him."
Hermione turned again suddenly toward her parent and gave another wince of pain but ignored it entirely as her face lit up. "Do you really mean it, mum? Would you let Harry come to stay?"
"But of course I mean it. No one needs to go through what your friend is, especially if he's in essence alone. And you know our house is always open your friends."
Hermione jumped to her feet and gave her mum a quick hug; almost bouncing as she did so, "Oh mum, thank you so much." She let go before continuing and walked purposefully toward her desk, "I need to ask Professor Dumbledore right away."
Hermione pulled out quill and parchment as her mother left the room and started he correspondence with the headmaster of her school.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
I'm really concerned about Harry. He's sent me three owls since leaving school and they've all essentially bore the same message. 'I'm fine. The Dursleys are leaving me alone.' That's it—nothing else. I think it's also significant that I've received a letter at the same time on every third day as our 'guards' had told the Dursleys that they would send someone to check on Harry if he wasn't heard from for three days in a row. I think he is sending out these letters no matter how his horrid relatives are treating him. I think he's trying to cut himself off. If I had to guess, I believe he's either afraid to face us or just doesn't want our pity. Either way, he needs help in dealing with his grief.
My mum and I were speaking this evening, and she offered to have Harry stay here. At least he would be around people that would look after and care for him. He needs that. I beg of you to let Harry stay here for a while to get through this. I think he needs a friend now more than ever.
Respectfully yours,
Hermione Granger
After blowing the ink dry, she rolled the parchment and called for Hedwig. The owl fluttered over to her. "I know this is out of your way, Hedwig, but I need you to take this to Albus Dumbledore. It's a question for him that may help Harry. Will you take it for me please?" The owl gave soft hoot in response and offered her leg. Hermione quickly attached the post and the white owl flew out the window on its new mission.
-----
A/N: OK. Time to let me know what you think. I have Chapter 3 most of the way done, but be warned; I am not above blackmailing for reviews. As it stands, I will probably post Chap 3 on Monday. I know you all would probably like to see longer chapters, and I plan on working up to that once I really get the story rolling.