Title: Teenage Detective – Chapter One – Lost, Found, and Lost Again.
Author: ridXwan
Rating: PG
Summary: Ron is dead and a funeral is being set up for him, everyone is there except someone and Hermione realises who is missing.
Warning: This will make you hate someone to the brink of ending a friendship.
A/N: I needed someone to Beta this story so is there any volunteer?
Teenage Detective
Chapter 1
Lost, Found and Lost Again
Though lost in sea of remote,
The fisherman never gave up,
Paddling and dragging his boat,
Till his last breath left a map.
Ottery St. Catchpole, a place where the sun and wind played cheerily together. The sun shined on the people to lighten up their day and the wind blew to indicate it was a grand day, cooling the area of peaceful resignation. But when tragedy slammed its way into one of the people of Ottery St. Catchpole, the town wore a grim dark weather around it.
Today the Wizarding people of the town have lost one of its well-known residents. A young lad with a bright future in Quidditch has been murdered just a day ago. His family, whose luck had been turned upside down, mourned his death. The mother still couldn't believe it, crying and wailing terribly after the news was broken to them. The father comforted his wife and pretended to be strong to the others, but inside he was falling. The siblings grouped together to get the family on their feet again.
Other than the mother, another person broke down by the news of her lover's sudden death. A death that was not supposed to have happened after the defeat of Voldemort.
The funeral was in progress, and the oak coffin, which contained Ronald Bilius Weasley, was placed at the altar watched by less than two hundred dolefully looking people. The procession was compromised of people from the Ministry, townspeople, teachers, and close friends of the family. Hermione Granger looked at the coffin, crying softly whilst listening to Dumbledore's speech. She sat in the front row of the church along with her parents and the Weasleys. She seldom wiped the tears away with her handkerchief.
Those who were attending the funeral who Hermione recognised were Dumbledore, all the professors in Hogwarts minus Snape, Lupin, Mad-eye Moody, Tonks, Shacklebolt, Bill's wife Fleur and her sister Gabriel, Ron's friends, Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Ginny's boyfriend Draco, Colin, Lee, Oliver, Angelina, Katie, Alicia and other students who knew Ron. Though there were many people, Hermione could feel something missing during this grim time. It was like a big piece of cake was stolen. She shrugged it off anyway, feeling she would figure it out later.
After the speech, people walked up to the coffin to say their farewell. One by one, people wished and talk to Ron silently. His family was the last to see him depart. All of them broke down to see Ron's pale condition, which clashed with his still fiery red hair. Hermione too broke down seeing Ron for the last time. Her parents quickly comforted her. And yet, something still nagged her in this painful moment.
Don't you ever forget me,
The one who connected you both,
To hell and back we come,
We argue back and forth.
The coffin was sent to the Ottery St. Catchpole's graveyard on a carriage carried by thestrals and the people were taken there by horseless carriages. Muggles, particularly Hermione's parents, were a bit scared of the ride, but remained strong and brave in respect of Ron.
Hermione sat in one of the carriages with her parents and her friends, Draco and Ginny. During the ride, that something has turned into someone. Hermione knew someone was missing; she tried to figure it out but couldn't put a finger on it. Draco saw her wandering expression, which was supposed to be grim. He exchanged knowing looks with Ginny and asked the bushy haired Head Girl.
"Hermione is something bothering you?" he asked politely, shook Hermione's shoulder lightly to catch her attention. Her parents immediately looked away form the horseless carriage and gazed at their daughter.
"I felt like – something's missing or – someone's missing," she told them, not bothering to look at any of them. Draco and Ginny knew whom she meant but kept quiet.
"Hermione dear – I'm sure whatever or whoever is missing – Ron is still with you," her mother said caringly, giving a warm smile to her daughter. Hermione nodded and the carriage continued to be quiet till it reached the graveyard.
But she still felt it.
The graveyard was never a pretty sight to see. The grass grew wild and untrimmed and trees along time dead spotted the landscape. Crows, and quite few, squawked loudly. Tombstones everywhere marked other graves. The coffin was lowered magically by a ministry official. People mourned and cried as they watched the process, masses of black dresses, suits and robes gathering around the grave of Ron Weasley. Girls cried into their significant other or their handkerchief. Mrs. Weasley buried her face in her hands while Hermione looked on strongly as the grave was filled with dirt, closed forever.
She still cried while in the comforting arms of her parents. Her mother sniffed lightly. Her parents help had kept her strong through the ordeal.
Finally Ron was buried. The tombstone read:
Ronald Bilius Weasley
1st March 1980– 9th November 1997
Beloved son, friend and hero,
Nothing completed him than the word 'Checkmate'.
"Where are you, Ron?"
"Ron!"
When all procedure was finished, the guests went their separate way, back to their everyday life and also remembering Ron Weasley. Hermione bid farewell to her parents as they were sent back home by Floo. The students were following the teachers back to Hogwarts by using a Portkey, although some of them stayed behind to help the Weasleys. Hagrid, Lupin and McGonagall stayed behind to look after the children.
Mrs. Weasley kept crying in the kitchen of the newly built Burrow being comforted by her husband, her three eldest children, Hagrid, Lupin and McGonagall. Fred and George and some other guests were talking in the living room. Hermione was in Ron's room with Ginny, Draco, Neville, Seamus, Dean, Parvati and Lavender. All of them were sad being in the room. They only talked about Ron and his success so far. There were some awkward silences in between the topics.
Hermione didn't join in or listen to any of them. She was still certain someone was missing, but could not figure who she was thinking about till she gazed around the room.
The room was never going to be changed, full of orange of the Chudley Cannon merchandise and things. Books and catalogues of Quidditch stuff lying around the floor and desk. Hermione was bored of reading the stuff, but she read all of them only once back when the Quidditch World Cup was held. This was the room where she snuggled with Ron. This was the room where they played Wizards' Chess and Ron always won each time. This room too was where Ron shared with a young, unruly haired, skinny boy wearing big clothes, baggy pants and round glasses.
"Oh! It's you,"
"Can't you disturb someone else?"
"Huh,"
"Harry!" she shouted, standing up form Ron's bed. Everyone in the room jumped at her voice. Thousand of thoughts ran through her brain. Where was Harry Potter? Ron's best friend and hers too. Why wasn't he at the funeral? How could she have been forgotten about him? All those questions were in her near-fragile brain.
"Hermione," Parvati's voice brought her back form her reverie, "Are you alright?"
She looked panicky at her friends, who in return looked anxious at her. "Where's Harry?" she asked, with a monotone voice.
That question alone made everyone not look her in the eye. They looked at everywhere and anything but Hermione. "Where is he? I didn't see him at the funeral. I need to see him," she said in desperation. Hearing her last five words made Ginny snapped suddenly.
"Now you want to see him!" Ginny snapped. Hermione was taken aback by the young Weasley, glaring at her.
"Ginny!" everyone whispered indignantly at Ginny. There was tension filling the room with Ginny's anger towards Hermione. The Head Girl didn't have time to deal with Ginny and walked off the room. She missed Ginny's last words, "That's because he wasn't."
She thought that Harry ought to be somewhere in the new Burrow so she went to find him. She went through all of the floors and every room but he wasn't in any of them. She thought that Harry must be downstairs in the living room, talking to the twins. She ran all the way downstairs form the fourth floor, but she found no Harry.
"Hey Hermione, is everything alright?" Fred asked form the couch where he was talking to Angelina and Alicia. She ignored him and went outside. Fred looked puzzled at her retreating form as he and the others watched her run outside.
She ran to the garden, the pond, the shack, the swing and even the secret place but Harry wasn't in any of them. Then a thought hit her, Harry must've been back in Hogwarts. She went back in to the house through the backdoor, which connected to the kitchen. She saw Mrs. Weasley already calmed down but she was stressful. She saw Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Lupin, McGonagall, Bill, Charlie and Percy by the dining table. McGonagall was the first to notice her.
"Can I help you Ms. Granger?" she asked, her eyes were tired from helping the students and guests.
"Professor McGonagall, I need to go back to school this instance," she said hurriedly. The Transfiguration teacher looked admiringly at the young girl at how she was handling Ron's death better. "You want to go back to Hogwarts?" McGonagall asked, feeling odd towards Hermione.
"Yes – alone," she said quickly. She wanted so much to talk to Harry. She didn't notice that Lupin narrowed his eyes at her and Hagrid released a sigh of disappointment.
He let out a huge sigh, watching them, not to be notice by him. It all seemed to be a bad dream or a nightmare.
One thing was for sure, he lost a few and gained a new.
"Follow me dear," the old witch said, not in her stern tone. McGonagall stood up and went outside with Hermione on her tail. The young girl followed her all the way to a barrel that was the Portkey. She touched it immediately without waiting a word from McGonagall. She landed in Dumbledore's office with a hard drop. The Headmaster watched her drop, landing on her rear.
"Ah! Hermione, pleasure to see you back again," he said delightedly, as Hermione stood up, rubbing her sore bum.
"You too, sir – but I haven't got all day, good evening, sir," she said and ran out of the office. Dumbledore looked at Hermione and then went back to his work. He smiled, thinking this Christmas should be a pleasant one.
Hermione ran all the way to the Gryffindor Tower, ignoring Filch's anger and greetings from the students. She made it to the portrait hole and stopped for a moment to catch some air. The fat lady saw her and opened the portrait hole without asking the password. Hermione was grateful for that one and ran in to the common room. A few Gryffindors were there and tried to greet her but she ignored them and headed upstairs to the boys' dormitory.
She halted in front of the boys' room or Harry's, gathering her breath and hoping that Harry would be inside. As she stood outside, she could hear somebody inside playing a guitar. She knocked on the door twice before creeping into the room slowly.
It was dark and dim lit by the outside light, a very good combination with the melodic sound of the guitar picking. Hermione walked slowly as to not to knocked anything on the ground. She then saw a figure on one of the boys' four poster bed. She knew it was Harry since the other three boys were at the Burrow but she couldn't make out the feature yet.
"Hermione! - How can you forget?"
"Forget what?"
"You're so blind sometimes, why can't you see the someone lying beside you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Harry," she called in a low tone but he would not stop playing. "Harry!" she said loudly. No response as the melody was mystifying Harry into picking his guitar with passion. The song has a lot of anger, loss and redemption in the smooth and fast sound.
Hermione drew out her wand and lit the lamp beside Harry's bed, finally seeing a much-changed Harry. He stopped playing when he realised someone has interrupted him. He opened his eyes to meet the one he knew so much and yet hate it.
Hermione was shocked to see Harry. For a fleeting moment, she thought Harry was someone else but the brilliant green eyes made it clear that it was definitely Harry. His once untidy hair was now fairly managed and he wasn't wearing any glasses, making his eyes glimmering within the light of the lamp. He looked a bit cross at Hermione for interrupting his peace.
"H-Hullo Harry," she stuttered, scared of Harry's piercing gaze. Harry remained silent with his guitar on his lap. Hermione wanted so badly to run out of the room but she too wanted to talk to Harry. "I didn't see you at the funeral," she said, with a weak grin. Harry still remained silent. "Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked, trying to sound cross but couldn't.
He finally did something. Harry bent down and put the guitar under the bed. He then sat back up and let out a huge sigh. He gazed back at Hermione, this time emotionless. "One year, two months, eight days, seventeen hours, twenty three minute and forty four seconds," he said nonchalantly, his mood for the moment. Hermione was quite puzzled by his words. "That long it took you to notice that I'm here all this time," he said.
Hermione gasped quietly, hands clapped over her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. She had forgotten her best friend for that long.
"Friends forever,"
"Promise…"
"Promise with all my heart, Harry,"
"I'm sorry," her voiced quavering, "I didn't mean to-" she started but got cut off.
"Now you come running to me when Ron's dead," he said, still emotionless but his eyes were closed.
"Yes – I mean NO!" she said abruptly, her voice was rising. "I just want to know why you aren't at Ron's funeral, your best-" she got cut off again.
"Ron is not my best friend," he snarled, anger bursting out of him. "He and you ignored me. I won't go to someone's bloody funeral who didn't even cared bout me," he said pointedly, Hermione's eyes were wide opened of fear.
"Both of you were so caught up being the 'Famous Gryffindor Golden Couple,'" he said curtly, "ignoring and forgetting me – your friend," he continued sarcastically. Hermione was in disbelief now and sobbing. She didn't even bother to cover up. Harry then went on to explain in a lazy tone. It seemed that he was fed up with her.
"I was alone and no one was there for me. I called for the both of you, but neither respond back. I found solace in Hagrid and some other people that I didn't know if you would care about me. I waited and waited for the both of you to come to me but neither of you spared a glance," he said with a hint of rage. He didn't want to torture her but to expressed his disappointment with their once friendship. There were no evident smirks or smug face, a sign that he was not savouring the moment.
Hermione couldn't bear hearing this, she already had a bad day and it sounded like she was going to lose another friend. "Guess what?" Harry said. She didn't want to hear it.
"I stop being your friend, Hermione. I don't care about you or Ron or whatever happened to the both of you. Go back to your popular friends that you always hang out with," said Harry, this time scowling. Hermione gawked at him with her red puffy eyes, shook her head in disbelief.
"No, no – please don't – I don't want to lose you – I love you," she said out of extreme anxiety. She saw Harry was standing up from the bed. He needed his glasses she thought. "Let me get your glasses," she said, trying everything she could to be friends again. She went to his bedside table and searched. To her disappointment, there were no round-framed glasses on the table. "W-where's your glasses?" she spluttered, looking back at Harry who turned his back on her.
"I've changed Hermione," he said, and spun back to face her, narrowing his eyes at her, "a lot if you didn't notice this past year. I don't need my glasses anymore. I got an operation." Hermione was utterly terrified by his intense gaze. She bit her lower lip and grabbed the hem of her skirt, trying to fend off whatever Harry was doing to her. He turned around and headed for the door. Realising that Harry was about to leave, Hermione swiftly ran to him and hugged him from behind.
"Please! I need you! Don't go!" she pleaded while crying miserably. Her eyes were red from the tears. Harry pushed her back with magic and she landed softly on his bed.
"I've changed, Hermione – I'm not the same Harry you knew. I stopped being your friend after Voldemort's defeat, when you and Ron ignored me," he said for the last time and walked to the door. He left Hermione, who fainted on his bed, weak from having a very bad day. Harry really meant every word that he told her. She heard the door shut closed.
Down in the common room, Harry bumped into Neville, Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender and Ginny. The six Gryffindors looked unsure at Harry and he looked nonchalant at them.
"Hermione's upstairs in our room, she fainted," he said and walked out of the common room, leaving a few people in shock. All six of them ran to the boys' room and found Hermione lying on Harry's bed, legs dangling from the side of the bed. Neville carried her to the Hospital Wing with Ginny following him.