Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own any of the characters of Harry Potter; they belong to the brilliantly magnificent J.K.R
A/N: Lately I have had a butt load of work to do for school….and it appears it will be a long, hard semester…so I will update as often as I can…please bare with me and keep reviewing….thanks to all who reviewed…that totally made my night…because I was having a horrible one! you rock….and now on with the show…
Chapter 2
Hermione heard her parents screaming at each other in the next room as she was checking her trunk to make sure she had all of her new books, quills, ink and parchment.
…I cannot WAIT to get out of here so I don't have to listen to THIS for awhile… she thought bitterly to herself.
She was more than ready to go back to Hogwarts though she was extremely worried about Harry…knowing full well he had not spoken to anyone about anything over the summer. She hoped he would tell her…even if it meant him screaming at her out of anger. All she wanted was for him to get it off his chest…for him to vent…let it all out…so it was not all pent up inside of him. It was so typical of him, she knew for sure he would keep it all inside so he wouldn't draw more attention to himself…ah so modest…and he never wants anyone to worry about him. "He can handle everything himself"….typical male….typical Harry…even though she knew he was not doing it out of "pig- headedness…" like most guys their age….because Harry was not like most guys their age…he had to grow up fast…he has to act like a 40 year old man in a sixteen year olds body…..
"SIXTEEN!" Hermione exclaimed…she had totally forgotten about his birthday! How selfish of me….perhaps Harry would understand…..
"Hermione…" her dad called to her. "Your mother and I would like to discuss something with you."
This is it… she thought numbly to herself. She dragged her way into her parent's bedroom.
Hermione sluggishly walked into her parent's room which was quite uncharacteristic of her….she looked around….remembering when she was little how her and her mother would sit in THAT chair over by the window and her mom would read to her stories about Merlin and witches and wizards and magic saying to her…. "That will be you one day sweetheart…" Hermione had no clue what she was talking about then…but she had been absolutely right….
"Sweetie…" her mother said snapping Hermione out of her reminiscent thoughts
"Your father and I have been discussing this…"
"No, actually you have been yelling at each other and screaming…" Hermione pointed out matter of factly.
"Watch your mouth Hermione…." her dad replied warningly…..he could always make her feel like a child even though she was 16 already…she was so fed up with this. Fed up with people telling her what to do…fed up of trying to be perfect….she ignored the tears stinging in her eyes and refused to let them fall.
"SO..." her mother continued impatiently, "We were thinking it would be best for the family to…"
This is it…they're getting a divorce…. A large hole formed in Hermione's stomach causing her to be over come with a wave of nausea.
"For the family to move away from here to America…." her mother finished briskly
Hermione gaped at her in shock, "Excuse me?"
Her emotions were battling within her relief washed over her when she realized they weren't getting a divorce but at the same time panic struck her heart…..but moving….
"M-moving..?" she asked in disbelief
" I-I thought you were divorcing…."
"Whatever gave you THAT idea?" asked her father
Hmm maybe the nights that you have kept me awake all night with your screaming…
"Erm…nothing…but why… why are we moving?"
"Well…" her father began, "With You-Know-Who on the lose I think we should get as far away from the situation as possible…."
"But…but what about Harry? And Ron? And Hogwarts…?" Hermione could not believe this was happening….. She began to think guiltily maybe a divorce would have been better….
"You'll make new friends dear…and you can begin school in America. It won't be hard for you to fit in…as bright as you are…you'll make friends in an instant…"
Hermione let the tears begin to fall now…she just convinced herself over the past three years that Ron and Harry really did like her…and did think of her as a friend…not a know it all…she had found friendship…loyal good friendship at last…this cannot be happening….
"Dad we can't…." Hermione lost it….. "I CAN'T…I DON'T WANT TO MOVE! I WANT TO STAY! I WANT TO BE THERE FOR HARRY! I WANT TO HELP HIM! THEY NEED ME!"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" her father lost it as well… "IT IS NOT YOUR BATTLE TO FIGHT!"
"BUT IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HARRY'S AND IF IT IS HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE! HE'S MY BEST FRIEND!" Hermione started sobbing…
"I am so sorry Hermione…"
"NO! I AM NOT LEAVING! I WILL STAY WITH RON! I WILL DO ANYTHING!"
"Honey..." her mother said to her husband…. "Maybe we should give her a choice…"
Her father sighed…Hermione's stomach gave a lurch of hope…
"Alright…here is your choice…" her father began… "We can leave now…which would be the smarter thing…the safer thing to do…."
Or…..
Hermione shut her eyes tight holding her breath
"We will let you finish out this year….only to tie up any loose ends with Ron, Harry, and any of your other friends...and so we can have time to really search the schools in America to see where would be best for you to attend."
Hermione opened her eyes….and thought long and hard with tears streaming down her face….
Since when was she…a Gryffindor…who was known for courage, bravery, and loyalty…..when was a Gryffindor known to back down and run when things got bad….and leave their friends…. Perhaps she could take this year to talk them into staying….
"Give me this year…" she said sternly. "Please…" she added as an afterthought.
Her parents sighed clearly thinking she had made the wrong choice….
"Alright then…" her father said "Let's get you on that train for your final year…."
We'll see about that…. Hermione thought as she went back to her room to get her things.
XxX
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