A/N: Thanks to ShadowOfMoonlight, who has come back to review again! =) I really appreciate it. I like the way you think… hmmm… =) Wait for the next couple of chapters… I'm not solely writing for the sake of getting reviews, although it is really encouraging to get them, even if you just say "hi"! =) So PLEASE RR!!
Sorry about this being late! I've had a HUGE workload lately… especially on Friday, where I had English stuff due periods 1 and 2, then a Computing test, periods 3 and 4, a History test, period 5, a Maths test, period 6, and then Science stuff due period 7. Talk about a crap day. Anyway… onto Chapter 12! =)
Chapter 12:
The sun was streaming through the windows, straight onto Hermione's face. She rolled over, groaning. Usually, she would be awake by now, but last night she had been up in the Owlery, waiting for word from her parents. She had been thinking about how supportive they had been when she had first gotten her letter. They had been prepared to be as accepting of her sister's, but she had refused, and run away.
Hermione looked over to Ginny's bed. It was neatly made, but looked un-slept in. She was worried about her friend. Lately, they hadn't been talking much. Hermione really wanted to talk to her about Ron, but Ron was her brother… She could tell that Ginny wanted to talk about Harry, but she had become really quite, and spent more time than Hermione did, hiding out in the library.
As if Ginny knew she was thinking about her, Ginny walked into the Domitory, her eyes red, signs of crying. "Hey," she said tearfully.
Hermione knew better than to task any questions. She simply got up from her bed and gave her friend a hug. "He'll be fine, Gin."
Ginny looked doubtful, knowing that he might do something rash. She changed the subject, not wanting to think about Harry anymore. "Any word from you parents?"
This made Hermione look down at her hands. "No," she said quietly.
Ginny looked apologetic. "Nothing bad could happen to her, right?"
It was Hermione's turn to look doubtful. "I'm not so sure. This isn't like her. She's changed a lot. The sister I know wouldn't have run away. She wouldn't have yelled at my parents. She used to be so shy, quiet." Tears glistened in her eyes, as she though about how her sister had changed.
The two friends comforted each other, their own problems swirling around in their heads, before Hermione jumped up suddenly. "It's late. We should get to breakfast."
Ginny nodded in agreement, and each of them changed into their robes, then headed to the Great Hall.
There, they met Ron, who looked like he hadn't don much sleeping either.
"Morning," he yawned.
They murmured back their "good mornings" and sat down at the now half empty Gryffindor Table.
Many of the Gryffindors appeared to be lost. Hermione began to realise just how much a part of Hogwarts Harry was. All the Gryffindors looked up to him, no matter what year they were in; even the 7th years admired him.
She looked over to her best friend and now 'boyfriend'. He had been handed the Quidditch captaincy, but all the time knowing that it was meant for Harry. He seemed lost without Harry, Hermione hadn't seen even look at a Wizard's Chess board in days. He wasn't his usual self.
Hermione tore her eyes away from her boyfriend, to look up at the teachers. Dumbledore was worried; you could tell because he'd lost that twinkle in his eye. McGonagall was worried too, her eyes darting back and forth. Even Snape looked worried, though you could tell that he was trying very hard to hide it. The other professors also looked worried, including Firenze. He looked like he had been awake all night, probably watching, looking into the future, for any signs of Harry.
Hermione began to worry more. She never felt comfortable if the Professors were showing signs of uncertainty; she trusted them. Yes, she thought. Even Snape.
Breakfast was a hurried meal, with Potions straight after. Ron and Hermione kept a close watch on Snape, excusing themselves to Ginny when he stood up from the table and walked out of the Great Hall.
"As you all know the current… 'situation', we will be learning how to make potions that may help us to disguise ourselves. Now, can anyone tell me a potion that you could use to do this?" Snape looked at his class of 6th year Gryffindors and Slytherins.
Hermione thought back to their second year, before putting her hand up. She looked around the room. No one else knew.
"No?" Snape said, tauntingly, ignoring Hermione's raised hand. "A Polyjuice Potion."
Hermione lowered her hand, blushing violently. She knew that she would never be picked by Snape, but she kept putting her hand up anyway.
"This potion uses many ingredients, some of which are-" Snape looked pointedly at Hermione, "very difficult to obtain. Can anyone tell me what ingredients may be used?"
Despite trying to keep her hand in her lap, Hermione's hand raised in the air.
Again, Snape overlooked her hand, sighed at his class, and with a wave of his hand, gave them the instructions on the blackboard.
"Follow the instructions PROPERLY, but do NOT try it. You are to take a part of your partner. For your convenience, the lacewing flies have been previously stewed. When you finish, bottle it, and bring a sample to me."
The Gryffindors and Slytherins set to work, Ron being forced to work with Lavender, and Hermione, as usual, was working with Neville.
It was hard for Ron and Hermione to appear as if they didn't know anything. Even though everyone knew that Harry was coming back, they didn't know the reason, and Ron and Hermione weren't about to let on to anyone. They continued through the lesson, struggling to keep up their performance of normality.
After an eventful Potions, with Neville once again managing to add something in the wrong order, Hermione and Ron went to find Ginny. She was in the Library again, hiding.
"Come ON, Gin. You can't just stay here hoping that Harry will be back."
Ginny was reluctant to go with them, but she finally agreed.
They headed up to Dumbledore's office, intending to ask him if he'd found out anything about Harry, but realising they didn't know the password, they headed to McGonagall's office.
"Professor?" Hermione asked timidly, gently knocking on the door.
Professor McGonagull opened the door and seeing the three, she ushered them in.
"There's been no word on Harry, if that's what you're here to ask."
"Oh," said Ginny quietly.
McGonagull noticed the deflated looks on their faces. She sighed, looking at Hermione.
"Firenze had a vision. Your s-" she remembered that both Ron and Ginny were there. "Mr Weasley, Miss Weasley, I'd like to speak to Miss Granger alone please."
Ron began to protest, but was silenced by a look from his professor. Grudgingly, he and Ginny headed out of the office.
Professor McGonagull frowned, then muttered am Imperturbable Charm over the door. "Miss Weasley seems to take after her twin brothers," she said dryly.
Hermione wasn't paying attention. She was worried.
"Firenze had a vision. Your sister is with Harry." She paused, waiting for Hermione's reaction.
Hermione was shocked, yet relieved. If Harry was with Miranda, they would be ok together. Then she wondered what happened in Firenze's vision.
Professor McGonagull continued. "Unfortunately, it seems that he has had a second vision. In this vision, Firenze only saw Harry. Your sister was not with him."
Hermione tried to calm herself down. Maybe Miranda just went home. No. Mum and Dad would have sent me word already. And she knows who Harry is. "Where…?"
McGonagull shook her head. "I'm sorry Miss Granger, we are yet to find her. Our main priority at the moment is finding Harry." When Hermione opened her mouth to interrupt, McGonagull raised her hand. "In Firenze's dream, he was at Malfoy Manor."
A/N: So how was that? I changed it a little from what I'd originally planned… but I think adds a little more of 'normality' to everything, rather than the on going thing of Harry's running away. Please RR!!!