Will You Ever Grow Up?
A/N: So here's the deal…I've been getting frustrated with myself. I want to keep the characters in character and slowly move into something. So far I haven't been able to do that. I scrapped a story or two and am going to start over again. Now that things are calmed down around here I plan to be writing much, much, more often. I'll be good. And if I'm not, I give you all full permission to flame to death. Alright? Anyways, on with this new and better story. If there is something you feel should be done, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
He would never learn. He would never grow up. Hermione Granger fumed in her room with her new school books that she had just purchased for the new school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She hated the pompous Malfoy, him and all his family.
As Hermione sat, organizing books and putting them neatly away, packed and ready to go for the new school year. This would be her final year at school. After this she would be an adult, out in the world on her own, with only her friends and family to back her. Not that she was concerned about getting a good job within the wizarding community. She had perfect grades, perfect scores; there was no job that was too much for Hermione Granger. The thought perked her up a bit, taking her mind of the encounter with the pompous jerk known as Malfoy.
"If only someone would deflate that ever growing ego of his. Annoying little bugger…Stupid ferret…if I had my way…" she trailed off, grumbling to herself. Only being pulled from her thoughts when two sets of sniggers reached her ears from the door way. Looking up Hermione smiled.
Her two best friends, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter stood in the door way, watching her talk to herself. She chucked a pillow at them, Harry caught it and acted offended.
"Now, now Hermione. We were just enjoying watching you talk about the Ferret in such a way. It brought us some sort of joy, Merlin knows we could use some humour these days." A frown crossed his face as he looked down at Hermione, tossing her the pillow. Catching it Hermione sighed softly, nodding her head ever so slightly.
"To true, Harry. With the attacks on muggles growing it won't be long before we're all forced to face the facts. Who knows how many people will actually be at school this year. With all the fear…" Ron shuddered, Harry wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Hermione stood, walking over to the two boys, hugging them close. "We need friends now, more then ever." She left out the impending sentence that they really needed Harry to stay strong because he would end up being the one to face Voldemort in the end. Every knew that, even Harry.
"She's right mate. We have to stick together like we always have. Especially know, with what's right out there. But hey, we're us. Even when things seem to be getting really bad we pull through, right?" Harry and Hermione both nodded their heads, hugging each other tighter with a universal sigh.
Everything had been so quiet. Diagon Alley had been very calm and quiet, with little cheer like there usually was. Less people out in the open, and the ones who were, were always out with a large group. Moving slowly through the streets as if something was going to leap out and attack them at any moment. This is the fear the Voldemort had put in each and every person, muggle, witch, wizard. Everyone was scared of what was to come. Who would be there to face the Death Eaters and Voldemort? It was a question that only the magic community could think about. The muggles merely thought about when this seemingly meaningless killing would end.
"These are the times we only heard about. Or didn't, I suppose. The things we study about but don't ever expect to happen in our lifetime. Now look. We're all living in fear. All because of one stupid man…" Harry's face was full of anger, and hate. Not just for the innocent people who are already dying, but for the innocent lives of the people who had died in the past; including his own parents.
"It won't last forever, Harry. This fear will only go on so long as we allow it to happen. We can stop it, but we have to have time, you have to give it time." Hermione looked up at Harry.
He moved his arm from around Ron and slammed it against the wall. "I'm tired of waiting, Hermione. I'm tired of sitting back and watching as all these innocent muggles are killed. It's not their fault that this is happening, it's mine." Hermione shook her head, as did Ron.
"It's nothing to do with you, mate. You couldn't help that Vol…Voldemort came after you. That he made it into a portkey. None of that is your fault, mate, none of it." Ron patted him on the back reassuringly, Hermione rubbed his arm. Harry seemed to sag a little, like the weight of everything was weighing him down.
"I dunno, guys. This is just…" Harry trailed off, running a hand through his hair and letting out a frustrated sigh.
"We know, Harry. But we're here to help however we can. That what friends are for. You can lean on us anytime." Hermione gave him a smile, nudging Ron to do the same. Harry brightened a little bit, smiling some in return.
"You're right. I don't think I would have made it this far without you two and all the others. I just hope those others are going to be around too. We need as much help as we can get now." All three nodded their heads, giving each other looks before smiling and hugging once more.
"You three hungry? Supper is nearly ready." Molly's voice rang up the stairs at them.
"Yeah, mum. I'm starving!" Ron practically ran down the stairs, the mere mention of food could get Ron to do anything. Harry and Hermione shook their head, laughing, following Ron down the stairs and to the large dining area of the Leaky Cauldron.
Sitting around the table were most of the Weasley family, the twins coming to visit with the family for dinner, as they had since the family had been in Diagon Alley. The only person missing was Percy Weasley, and they doubted that Percy would ever sit with the family again. At one time it broke Molly Weasley's heart, but now it's almost like he was never there. Harry and Hermione have become part of the family. Adopted by the Weasley family since the first time that they had ever spent part of the summer vacation at the house.
It was a full table, full of talking and laughing. Everyone trying to be heard over everyone else. The twins talking of business with their father, Harry and Ron talking about Quidditch, and Hermione, Molly, and Ginny speaking of the year to come. No one touched on the topic of Voldemort, Death Eaters, or anything that pertained to them. Wanting to keep the light air of the place now. It seemed to seep into others as well, making everyone slightly more cheerful. Not that there were that many people in the building, most people were to frightened to be anywhere but in their own homes.
Stretching out and finishing the last of desert, the people of the table slowly started to make their ways to their own rooms. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last at the table. Having a final talk of the last of their years and Hogwarts and what they would down outside of it.
Hermione yawned and her eyes drooped closed slowly, though she forced them open.
"Maybe it's time we headed off to bed to, eh? I think we're all tired and we have to be up and ready to go to King's Cross station tomorrow. Time for another year of school." Hermione smiled at the thought and nodded her head, pressing her chair back. Standing up and stretching out a little bit she waved goodnight to the boys and made her way up to the room.
Changing into her nightgown and sliding beneath the warm covers of her bed, she fell asleep with a slight smile on her lips and warm food in her stomach.
"I wish this wasn't happening, Harry." Ron looked down at the table, picking at the chipping wood with a fingernail.
"I wish it wasn't either, Ron. But we don't have a choice anymore, do we? We're up to our necks in trouble, we have to keep our heads above it." Ron nodded slowly. Harry's eyes slid around the Leaky Cauldron, taking in everything before looking back at Ron again. "This could be the last time we ever see this place."
"Nah. We'll get through this and everything will be just as it used to be. People will be less scared, and we can all move on with our lives. Once he's gone that is." Harry grimaced.
"It could happen Ron, it very well could." He gave Ron a serious look and Ron nodding, taking a long look about the place before standing up.
"It's time for bed, mate. If we don't go to bed now our heads will be filled with the same fear that is scaring everyone else right now. It's time we face the fear rather then cower behind it. You can't run away from an enemy forever, right? So let's face him head on now." Ron looked down at Harry, slightly surprised at himself.
"You're right Ron. I guess I've been spending to much time thinking of what could happen, the big ifs, rather then what is happening." Harry stood up also, slowly turning around and then facing Ron once more he smiled some. "We'll make it through this, like we always have before." Ron nodding and walked around the table to clap Harry on the shoulder, giving him an encouraging smile and walking upstairs to his room.
"See you in the morning, mate."
"Yeah, see you in the morning Ron."
Both boys strolled into their rooms, crawled beneath the covers, and stared at the ceiling for a long time before falling asleep.