A/N I am so sorry guys. I know that this has taken forever, but I actually have a good excuse! Ff.net wouldn't let me log onto my account, I couldn't even review for stories, so I was unable to update like I normally would (unfortunately that is not all that frequently either) but for your troubles, I am going to update a lot. . . if I get more reviews, truthfully, I don't even mind flames, just please try to make it constructive. Thanx! -Lizzie
Ron ascended the step ladder into Trelawney's high hell. The room seemed unbearably smoky, but Ron still took his usual seat next to the window which he opened slightly, allowing a cool breeze to blow lightly over his face. His calm only lasted a few moments though as Professor Trelawney made her usual entrance, creeping out from the shadows, but this time she came up right behind Ron, who had his eyes closed, and whispered right next to his ear,
"I'm sorry." But naturally she said it loud enough that not only did Ron jump out of his chair (causing quite a few males to chuckle), but loud enough so that the table next to his, where Parvati Lavender were seated, could here what their beloved 'seer' said. Both girls paled visibly and started whispering amongst themselves. Ron groaned. Trelawney was probably going to predict Harry's death again, not knowing how close to the truth this one might come. Ron didn't know if he could handle it today, not with dinner weighing so heavily on his mind. Just as he'd expected, she started on Harry, "Oh dear Ron, I do fear that young Harry is in mortal peril again. It is so near now. I can feel it creeping up on him like a snake in the grass, like a-"
"Oh will you shut up!" Ron interrupted rudely, "I have had it up to here," Ron brought his had across the middle of his face just below his eyes, "with all of your talent-less bullshit. You have been predicting Harry's death for years, but obviously it's bound to happen sometime with that bloody prat Voldermort after him constantly!" Ron was panting heavily, "well guess what, Harry is going to die sometime, but unlike you, I do not tend to go about bragging that I know of it, I plan to actually try and help him when the time comes, not just sit back and tell him his efforts are worthless. You can just shut your bloody, bluffing, bull-shitting mouth and try for once not to corrupt our minds with your ridiculous idiocy." With that Ron stood up marched over to the trap-door kicking it open and just jumped down the hole, not bothering with the ladder. Seamus and Dean rushed over and looked down to see him stand up from a crouch and storm off down the hall, muttering obscenities as he went.
Ron wandered around for the rest of the hour until at about lunch time, he found himself in front of the great hall. His stomach grumbled and he realized he had eaten hardly anything in days, it was no wonder that he had unconsciously wandered here. It was too bad that he didn't really feel like eating with the rest of the students. He was about to turn around and head for the kitchens when a hand touched his arm lightly. It was Hermione.
"Would you like to come eat lunch with me?" He looked around hesitantly for a second before reluctantly consenting. He might as well face the teachers and the students sooner rather than later. She noticed his hesitance and gave him a questioning look. He quickly told her the story as they walked down the isle between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. When they took their seats and Ron had finished his story Hermione was smiling broadly.
"Hermione!" Ron chastised, looking falsely scandalized. Hermione just giggled,
"Oooh, I would have loved to see our dear Sybil's face. She has needed to here a talk like that for a long time now." This time it was Ron's turn to smile. Hermione always knew what to say and what to do to cheer him up. Ron let out a little chuckle which caused Hermione to start giggling again. This caused Ron to laugh even harder and in a matter of minutes both teens were laughing hysterically. People all over the great hall were giving them confused, skeptical, and questioning looks. This just caused them to laugh even harder.
When the Headmaster and Snape walked into the great hall, both Ron and Hermione were on the floor laughing so hard tears were coming out of their eyes, clutching their stomachs in the nearly foreign strain. Dumbledore stopped right behind the two of them just as they were starting to calm down.
"May I enquire as to why the two of you were laughing in that manner?" But that proved to be an awful idea, because as soon as Ron and Hermione caught each others glances, they burst out laughing again, barely managing to choke out a nearly unrecognizable "nothing." Dumbledore just shook his head and he and Severus turned and walked up to the head table.
Soon, though, Hermione was laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face and before Ron could even blink, she was no longer laughing, but crying uncontrollably. Ron hurriedly picked her up, and carried her, bawling into his chest, out of the great hall.
"Like I said," Parvati whispered to Lavender behind her hand, "Completely insane." Lavender nodded knowingly and they both turned back to their lunches.
Outside the great hall, in one of the adjoining hallways, Hermione sat encircled in Ron's arms on the stone floor. Ron was trying to calm her down by whispering encouraging words in her ear, but the tears looked as though they would never stop. The tears did eventually dry, but neither moved from the comforting position. They remained in their current state until after the lunch hour had ended. This earned them several odd glances from passing students, but neither of them really noticed.
After nearly an hour, when their legs and arms had long since gone numb from the cold stone floor, they figured they should probably get up and go to class. McGonagall, who did not know about Harry, would not be as lenient. Both of their minds must have reached the thought about Harry at the same time because Hermione had a few last tears trail down her cheek as Ron brought her closer.
Severus and Dumbledore, who did not have a class next, chose that moment to walk out of the great hall together, they were about to go a different way when the huddled shape of Ron and Hermione met their eye. They walked slowly over to the two students. Ron looked up at the sound of them approaching, but Hermione kept her eyes locked on the ground.
"Yes professor?" Ron asked solely out of custom, he knew the reason they were here.
"We were coming to ask you about your state."
"We're ok," Ron answered untruthfully. Dumbledore fixed him with an accusatory look.
"I do believe the contrary Mr. Weasley. You and Ms. Granger seemed quite hysterical today at lunch, and it is obvious neither of you managed to make it to class. From this I would have to assume that you are less than ok." Ron grimaced guiltily, he was at a loss for words, and luckily Hermione came to the rescue.
"How are the aurors doing?" She sat there fiddling with her shoe lace uncertainly as she awaited his answer.
"Not so well unfortunately Ms. Granger." He replied after a moment's hesitation, "but not to worry, they might just be able to make it in time. They encountered a bit more opposition than expected, and lost half of there group in the struggles. The injured aurors were forced to leave." A nervous silence surrounded them for a moment.
"How many aurors are left Professor?" Dumbledore glanced around uncertainly for a second; ambiguous as to whether or not he should answer her question. Snape decided to do it for him,
"Two Ms. Granger, two are left, and truthfully it does not look very hopeful. They are outnumbered 50 to one and they have approximately six hours not only to get past all of the death eaters, who are aware of there presence, but then to get into the castle and find Harry. Then they have to manage to escape with a boy who can barely walk and Voldermort hot on their trail. I think our only chance is that somehow Harry manages, on his unbelievable lucky streak, to escape. And, I have to cast the spell to act appropriately as a spy. There is no other choice." Albus glanced sadly at the two on the floor when Snape was done speaking. Regret was evident on his face. Ron had paled and Hermione looked close to tears again.
"Is it true?" She asked looking up at Dumbledore hopefully, and it crushed him to have to kill her hopes. But he nodded sadly anyways and her face fell. She buried her head into Ron's shoulder as she began to sob again, albeit a little more quietly this time. He patted her back reassuringly.
"Please forgive us," Dumbledore spoke after a moment, "but we must be getting back to my office. Feel free to take the rest of the day off. I will see you later children." Ron nodded in acknowledgment and the two professors turned and walked down the hallways that, with many connections would lead to the headmaster's office.
Ron and Hermione sat there for maybe a minute or more before Ron stood up again, bringing Hermione with him. He carried her to the top of the stairs, grateful that she was as light as she was, and made his way to the Gryffindor common room. He found Dobby in there cleaning up and had him bring up some cider, which they sat there sipping, just staring at the fire.