Here's a new chapter – it's a bit shorter than the other two, and that's because I, well, to tell the truth, wanted to end it where I have..
Anyway, I want to say I'm really sorry for not updating sooner. I have been awfully busy with another project and I completely forgot all about this story – until someone suddenly reminded me about it and demanded me to keep writing. Sometimes I need a kick in the cough er, head (- grins-) to get going… Well, here's the third chapter. I hope you like it )
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Hermione woke up with a sudden. It had been one of those dreams again, only this time there had been another person in the room with her. The person had been faceless, and it had walked towards her while whispering something to her - something she had not been able to understand. And then, when the person was standing just about two feet from her, it had suddenly disappeared. Just like that - gone, vanished! And it was at that moment she woke up.
It took a good couple of seconds before Hermione finally snapped out of her thoughts, and when she turned to see what time it was, she discovered to her horror that the alarm clock was blinking 10.55. "Oh, no," she groaned and silently cursed the alarm for not going off when it should have. She hurried into the bathroom, where she noticed that Mary had already put out some clothes for her.
"I can dress myself, you know," she said out loud.
A giggle was heard from downstairs. "I just thought you needed some help," Mary replied. "I mean, since you just have a little more than an hour before you're, -"
"Why didn't you wake me then?" Hermione interrupted. Seeing that she did not have much time, she quickly put on the outfit Mary had put out for her, and ran downstairs to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think of it…" Mary answered.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You didn't think of it?"
"No, I sort of… Was on the phone."
"On the phone?" Hermione grinned. "May I ask with whom?"
"You may," Mary answered, and with a smirk she added. "But it doesn't mean I will answer. But anyway, I think you've got to run if you're going to make it."
Hermione quickly ate up and rushed out the door, and five minutes before twelve she found herself outside the cafe. Ron had still not arrived, but it did not take long, however, before she could see the red-haired in the crowd of people that was walking towards her.
"Good morning there," he smiled. "All set and ready?"
"Yes. Ready for what exactly?"
"By the way, is it all right if stop by apartment first?" Ron asked, and Hermione wondered whether he actually had not heard the question or if he just did not answer deliberately. "I realised on the way that I have forgotten something."
"Sure," Hermione answered.
It took about twenty-five minutes to get to where Ron lived. "It's a bit messy," Ron said when they stood outside the door to the apartment. "I'm letting a friend of mine stay here for a couple of days, and he makes even a more mess than I do." He was about to unlock the door when he noticed it was already open. "Speaking of the devil," he said with a smile.
It was less messy inside than Hermione had expected it to be. There was, of course, clothes spread around, and clearly they had not bothered to clean any of the dirty dishes from their last meal – but all in all, to be an apartment where two men in their early twenties lived, it was not too bad.
"Make yourself comfortable," Ron said. "I'm just going to have a word with my friend, and sort out a few things. Won't take long."
Hermione nodded and watched Ron as he went into another room. As curious as she felt at that moment, she could not help but lean against the door and try to listen to what they were saying.
"I'm telling you, Harry," she heard Ron whisper. "It has to be."
"Ron," another voice, apparently belonging to Harry, said. "You have to let it go, mate."
There was a short pause when no one spoke, and Hermione leaned closer to the door. "You don't mean that," Ron said, and there was a sad tone in his voice.
There was a sigh, and then Harry spoke. "Ron… Even though I'd like to wish it were true, it has been three years. I think, maybe, it's about time we, -"
Hermione did not get to hear more. Someone was fiddling with the outer door, and Hermione, who did not want to be caught eavesdropping, immediately rushed back to the sofa and sat down. A few seconds later the door opened and in walked a girl - another red-haired. Her eyes widened when she saw Hermione and her mouth dropped.
"Ron!" she yelled, as the door slammed shut. "Ron! Are you there?" Her eyes did not leave Hermione for a second. "I think I'm hallucinating."
It did not take more than two seconds before Ron and a black-haired with glasses came rushing out from the other room. When the last mentioned saw Hermione, he stopped dead on the spot.
"Hello there, Ginny," Ron said. "This is Jenny. Jenny, this is my sister Ginny. And that's Harry."
Hermione smiled weakly and waved her hand to say 'hi'. Harry only gaped back at her, and blinked a few times. "I take it back," he whispered to Ron. "What I said…
Ron pulled him to his side. "You see why I need it then?"
Harry nodded, and Ron glanced at Hermione. "We'll be right back," he said. "Ginny, why don't you go and get Jenny something to drink in the mean time." And with that they disappeared in to the other room yet again.
Ginny did not make a move at first, but kept staring at Hermione, who could not remember feeling more uncomfortable in a situation before. She felt rather confused, and she deeply wished the girl in front of her would say something. Finally Ginny snapped out of it.
"Sorry," she apologised. "You're just, -"
"Just so much like your friend." Hermione finished the sentence for her. "I know. Ron has already told me."
Ginny raised her eyebrows, seemingly finding this a tad surprising. "He has? Well… You really do. Anyway, did you want something to drink?" she asked, clearly changing the subject. "A soda, or anything else, perhaps?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, that's all right. I'm fine, thank you," she answered.
It was at that moment Ron and Harry returned – and this time Harry was carrying a rucksack on his back. "…But we should be careful, Ron," Harry was whispering. "You never know."
"Why do you sound like you think I'll mess things up?" Ron asked.
"Because you have a habit of doing so?" Ginny smiled sweetly to her brother, and with a hiss she added. "And manners, boys. Don't argue when you're having guests."
Hermione snickered. "So, are we going then?" she asked Ron.
"Yes," he answered. "Er… Do you mind if Harry tags along?"
"No, not at all," she answered, and yet again she felt slightly bewildered. "Where are we going, anyway?"
Ron ruffled his hair, which Hermione suspected was a habit he did when he was either nervous or when he had no idea what to reply to something. Hermione guessed that this time it was the last.
"Well, to tell the truth," Ron answered. "This might sound weird, but we're actually going to our old school - Harry, Ginny and mine."
"You're what?" Ginny seemed almost stunned, and through gritted teeth she added. "And how exactly are you supposed to get there?"
Ron did not answer, but simply gave his sister a look that could be saying something like 'how do you think?' "Now, Jenny," he said. "There's one thing that need to be said before we continue." He cast a quick glance at Harry before carrying on. "You might witness some… rather strange things now. Very strange, to tell the truth. I just need to know that you won't panic."
Hermione looked at him curiously: his voice had sounded serious and his expression was solemn. She did trust him, though – for reasons she could not really explain. It felt a bit strange, of course. Normally, she knew she would never have wandered off with a stranger like she just had, but somehow she just felt it was right.
"You're going to apparate to the Burrow, aren't you?" Ginny's eyes widened.
"Apparate?" Hermione asked.
"Well…" Harry began. "You see that, Jenny, we're travelling in a way that you might find… Very odd."
"So, whatever you do," Ron told Hermione. "Don't let go of me." He took her hands and held them tight, and before Hermione knew it, something was happening. She could not explain exactly what, but she could feel that they were moving. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and she wished it would end soon. And all of the sudden it did, and she could yet again feel save ground under her feet.
"You can open up your eyes now," Ron said.
Hermione heard Harry arrive, and slowly she opened up her eyes. They were now in a house; it looked quite cosy, and also a tad bit cleaner than Ron's apartment. "What did just happen there?" Hermione stuttered. "Where are we?"
"You're at the Burrow," Ron answered, blushing a little. "I used to live here."
"And what happened," Harry carried on. "Well, I don't quite know how to explain that, to tell the truth."
Hermione did not respond, and yet again she had no clue what to say. Not only did her head feel empty for words, but she did also feel a bit dizzy. However, strangely enough, she was not that frightened by what had just happened. In fact, what did frighten her, was that it had felt so oddly familiar.
"I need to sit down," she said.
Harry gave her a sympathetic look as Hermione stumbled over to the chairs that stood nearby and sat down on one of them. "I'll go and check if your dad's car is working," he told Ron. "You'd think that after what happened last time he would have learned, but lucky for us, your father is exactly who he is."
Ron replied with a smirk, and Hermione watched Harry as he disappeared out the door before she turned back to the red-haired. "Car?" she asked him, and she could not help but feel a little relieved. "No more of that… that… disappearing in thin air and show up somewhere else, then?"
Ron shook his head. "Listen," he said. "I'd lie if I told you I could understand the feeling you must have now. I have known about these sorts of things my whole life, -"
"These sorts of things?" Hermione interrupted him. "You mean there's more of this…" She had to swallow before saying the word. "This magic?" And then, meant as a joke to ease up the tense mood she was in, she added. "Don't tell me; your dad's car can fly, right?"
Ron let out a nervous laugh, and Hermione's eyes widened. "You're not serious?" she choked.
Ron did not know what to say at first; he opened up his mouth, but changed his mind and closed it again, and then he slowly nodded. Hermione stood frozen for a moment: this had to be a dream. She pinched herself, only to discover that no, she was wide-awake - but before she had the chance to gather her thoughts, Harry was back.
"Well, the car looks all right to me," he said. "Shall we go, then? Hogwarts is waiting."
Hogwarts! Hermione abruptly got up on her feet. "Hogwarts?" she stuttered, not sure whether she wanted to cry or laugh. She felt hot, burning hot, and thoughts and questions appeared in her head almost like tiny explosions. Every day since she had heard the name she had searched for anything that could give her a clue of what it was, and now… Right in front of her stood two people that did not only know about it, but had apparently been to it too.
"Hogwarts' a school?" she whispered.
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Well, hope you enjoyed it - and please review! I will do my best to finish the next chapter before another year has passed. – evil grin – Only joking . I will start writing today.