Two Years Later
What if? What if, what if, what if? The question had bugged Hermione Granger all day. She reread the letter from one of her best friends, Ron Weasley. It only said that he would meet her in front of her house at 6:30 PM that evening. Apparently, there was something important he had to tell her; otherwise he would have just waited until the next week when they would meet at the Three Broomsticks to talk. She suddenly dashed to her bedroom, wanting to find the perfect thing to wear. Normally, nineteen-year-old Hermione Granger would have not cared very much about her appearance, as the only people she came in contact with were her best friend Ron and her boss, Maddie Angress, at her job at Angress's Magical Supplies, where she had a job as a store clerk in the very busy store.
"Hmm," she said to herself. "How about the—no, not that. Looks like I really primped up for it and besides, it could just be he made the Britain Quidditch team. It's not like Harry would be there—after he's been in Auror training. Hmm, let's see….Aha! This one is good." It was a blue velvety skirt, with a black top, and tiny beads. She jumped into the shower to make herself feel cleaner and better.
After the shower, she put on her outfit and looked at herself in the floor-length mirror that gave compliments, not insults like the one the Weasleys had. "You look great, honey," it told her. "Thanks," she replied. "Okay. I'm ready." She breathed in and out deeply as she stepped outside. The kitchen clock said 6:29.
She sat lady-like on the stone wall outside her one-story house in Hogsmeade. In the distance, she spotted Ron's famous red hair. Hermione leapt up and ran towards him.
"Oof!" he grunted. "Good to see you too, Hermione. But I thought I said outside your house." Hermione grinned up at her best friend, who she had not seen for almost two years. He awkwardly stepped away from her and led her off back to her home.
"So, Ron," Hermione started. "What is so important you had to see me a week early?" Ron pulled her into her house and slammed the door.
"Wha-??" Hermione asked, clueless.
"OK: I got onto the team," Hermione cheered. "But when I went by Harry's office to tell him, he wasn't there." Hermione frowned. "Yeah, I know, not odd at all. But I asked one of his colleagues where he might be, and they said they had no idea; he went on vacation to Ireland and isn't back yet." Hermione frowned even deeper.
"So?" she asked.
"So…..He's missing!" Ron exclaimed. "No one has seen him for ages! No one knows where he is! Can't you see?!?!?" Hermione sighed, and then said, "Yeah, I see where you're coming from. I just think we should ask someone…." She went over to the fireplace and took some Floo Powder from a jar on the mantelpiece. "OK, Ron, just come with me to the Ministry," she said. Ron nodded. She wondered why he jumped to conclusions so quickly, even when it was obvious there was a perfectly good reason for something. She shook her head mentally and said firmly as she threw Floo Powder at her feet: "The Ministry of Magic!" She spun around and around through fireplaces until she slowed down and threw her arms out to stop. She neatly stepped out of a fireplace in the very bury Atrium. Behind her, she heard Ron fall with a thud out of the fireplace and rolled her eyes. She spun around and helped him up. She questioned him with her eyes and he shrugged. She rolled her eyes again. "Now let's go find Harry's boss."
"Yes, boss," Ron said, teasingly. Hermione just rolled her eyes. I guess some things just don't change, she thought. As they made their way through the halls to find the Auror offices, they started chatting about their lives after Hogwarts and reminiscing about their Hogwarts days. Hermione gasped and pointed to one specific poster on the wall. In their fifth year, it had accused Ron of having a ridiculous disease called Spattergroit. Its occupant appeared to be sleeping, but Ron turned beet red and pulled her along towards the office they were looking for.
Once inside, Hermione noticed the wealth that had had to go into such a rich-looking place: the walls were cream with black trim, the desks and the chairs all matched perfectly. There were many portraits on the walls; of former great Aurors, Hermione guessed.
"What do you want?" and annoyed voice shook her from her thoughts. She turned to see a grumpy-looking pudgy man with almost no hair. Ron decided to stare at his shoes. Hermione mentally rolled her eyes. When are you ever going to grow up, Ron?
"Erm—I'm trying to find a friend of mine—Harry Potter…..His colleagues said they didn't know where he was, so I was wondering if you could tell us…….." Before she finished her sentence Hermione knew it was no use. The man just glared at her until he said:
"I don't have time for you. You have no idea how busy I am, and I can't go off chasing some Auror who probably slacked of and stopped at a pub somewhere. Now, if you don't mind, I have work to do. Good-bye." Hermione frowned, but she just bid him farewell before leading Ron out of the office.
After dropping Ron off at his house, she decided to Apperate to the Three Broomsticks before going home. Inside, Hermione bought a cup of hot chocolate and sipped it, trying not to burn her tongue. She knew she should just use the Cooling Charm, but drinking it this way reminded her of her magic-less childhood.
After finishing her hot cocoa, she took a deep breath and plunged back out into the wet outdoors. The rain beat on her back, soaked her, and made her altogether miserable. I wonder where he is. I hope he's okay. I really hope he's alive…Oh, God, please keep him alive…she worried about Harry. Hermione knew she shouldn't be so worried now that Harry was a grown man and a trained Auror, but she couldn't help it.
As Hermione made her way into the alley that was a shortcut to her house, she paused, unsure. Tonight, she felt uncomfortable going in the alley. Usually, she was too tired from a long day's work to care, but today the alley made her a tad wary. However, she couldn't stand in the rain all night, so she took a deep breath and hurried into the alley. Darkness enclosed her. She couldn't see a thing. "Lumos," she whispered, and the tip of her wand lit up. She started off again, but this time she went quieter, sure she heard footsteps behind her. She made a mad dash—almost there—she could see the lights of her neighbor's house—then, suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind. She shrieked, twisted, and fought, but the person would not let go.
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Do you like it? I have a few more chapters I think I'll post . . . Anyway, I'm sorry about the other stories--I promise I'll get back to them soon. )
Happy holidays, everyone!
-insanehpluver-
