Chapter 3: Rane Voitekh
The train ride from Platform Nine and Three Quarters to Hogwarts had been long, depressing and quiet. Ron stared out the window at the passing country side arms crossed over his chest as if he were in pain, his face disturbingly blank. He had hardly spoken since the day of the incident. Since the day Harmony had left without saying a word to him. When asked questions he would nod or shake his head when he could, and said hardly more then two or three words when he had too. He kept mostly to himself, spending most of him time up in the attic in the spot where Hermione and Harry had sat and had that earth shattering conversation that he had over heard. His depression had cast a shadow over the house causing the other occupants to be gloomy even when not in his presences. It was almost as if they felt they had no right to be happy when he was so miserable.
His mood had the same affect over the other occupants in the car. Harry and Ginny, who were sitting across from each other, cast furtive looks at each other or at Ron. Several times they opened their mouths to speak and break the grating silence but always snapped them shut before they could utter a word.
Neville sat with his nose buried deep in the pages of his book trying desperately to escape the tension and silence that gripped the small space. Unusually observant he noticed immediately Hermione's absence but seeing the look on Ron's face had stopped him from mentioning anything for the duration of the ride. He decided he would ask either Harry or Ginny when they sat down for the feast or when they reached the common room. Until then he was determined to ignore the strain and read.
Luna on the other hand seemed completely oblivious to the awkward silence permeating the car. She sat relaxed in her seat, her face hidden behind the newest addition of the Quibler, her wand stuck haphazardly over her ear. Harry, Ginny and Neville all envied her ability at the moment to be oblivious to what was around them.
The atmosphere was so bad that even Draco, when he stopped by their car halfway through the journey, didn't stay long. As he slid open the door to the car Ron turned for the first time towards the sound breaking the silence. His eyes narrowed instantly at the sight of the scrawny boy with the ugly sneer on his face. Ron's own quickly morphed from indifference to a look of pure hatred so intense that it took Draco back a few steps in surprise.
The white haired boy looked about the car and noticed that Hermione was not sitting with them. He hadn't seen her earlier at the prefects meeting and had to admit his curiosity had gotten the better of him. Seeing that she wasn't in the car with the rest of her friends brought an evil gleam to his eyes as he finally understood the scowl that marred Ron's features.
Knowing that no words were needed he smirked at Ron raising his brows in mockery before he turned and left the car laughing maliciously as the door slid closed.
Ron watched the back of his head with narrowed eyes until he disappeared from view, then turned and slammed his solid fist into the wall with a sinking thud before leaning his brow against the cold pane of glass that was the window and let this mind go and stare blankly at the pacing landscape once more.
After what felt like forever the train came to a stop at the Hogsmead station and the students began to pile out. Neville gathered his belongings as quickly as he could and fled the car while Luna followed soon after, a dreamy look plastered on her sweet face.
Harry and Ginny watched as Ron moved mechanically gathering his own trunk and the cage that held Pig before exiting the car. The silent pair looked after him a moment then followed, Ginny pulling her own trunk and toting Crookshank's carrying basket and Harry his trunk and Hedwig's cage. The three of them climbed into the carriage along with Neville and Luna, Neville's face sinking slightly at the sight of Ron. Again he sat silently and stared out the window as the carriage lurched into motion and made its way towards Hogwarts castle.
Harry and Ginny sighed when the castle came into view. The fact that they were that much closer meant that the Hogwarts Opening feast was that much sooner, a prospect that always cheered Ron up in the past. It was something that they both knew he looked foreword to all summer.
As soon as they rolled to a stop in front of the massive stone steps leading to the main entrance of the castle they disembarked the carriage and rushed up the short flight, eager to get out of the biting wind. The group let out a collective sigh once through the doors as the warmth of the castle started to ease the cold out of their bodies. As soon as they were warmed Harry nodded towards the Great Hall and they all began to move towards it.
"Mr. Potter. Miss Weasley. If you'll wait a moment?"
The group stopped at the sound of McGonagall's stern voice. They all turned. Ginny groaned almost audibly. How on earth could that have gotten into trouble already? McGonagall rolled her eyes at the unflattering sound.
"You may relax Miss Weasley. You're not in trouble. At least not yet." Her eyes settled on Harry as she said this. After Harry had the decency to flush slightly, McGonagall looked over his and Ginny's shoulders to Ron, Neville and Luna who had stopped as well. "You three can continue on to the Great Hall. Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley will join you shortly." The stern faced teacher waited until the three students had disappeared into the Great Hall before instructing Harry and Ginny to follow her.
Silently the trio worked their way through the silent, familiar halls of the school until they reached McGonagall's office. She ushered them inside and closed the door directing them to take a seat before she took her own.
She stared pointedly at the two observing that Harry looked calm and resigned while Ginny squirmed anxiously in anticipation, uncertain as to why she had been called to her Head's office minutes after arriving.
"I imagine, Mr. Potter, that you have some idea as to why I've called you both here." It was a statement not a question though Harry nodded as if it were. McGonagall nodded and opened a drawer in her desk. "Miss Granger was provided with a portkey incase of an emergency and this," she said handing Harry an oblong sheet of glass identical to Hermione's, " is the way that the Headmaster has decided that you can communicate with her."
Harry took the sheet of glass and held it up to his face cringing slightly. It held an odd and painful resemblance to the mirror that Sirius had given him last year. Ginny saw the look on his face, a look that she knew by now could only be contributed to thoughts of Sirius and reached to take Harry's hand comfortingly. He accepted her touch, giving her hand a squeeze back.
McGonagall saw the small exchange but choose to ignore it. "You activate the mirror by tapping it with your wand. The mirror in Miss Granger's possession will glow blue as will yours if she wishes to contact you. All she need do to activate her mirror is tap her wand to the glass. You may then speak freely without fear of being over heard."
Harry nodded and slipped the oblong piece into his pocket.
"Excuse me, Professor." Ginny's hesitant voice broke the congenial silence. "But what exactly is going on? Where is Hermione? And why does Harry need a mirror to communicate with her?"
"The mirror is not just for Mr. Potter," McGonagall corrected. "It is for you to use as well by Miss Grangers request." The older witch ducked her head down again and riffled through her drawer extracting two envelopes addressed in Hermione's crisp, clean handwriting. McGonagall extended the two letters towards the teenagers. "Miss Granger left these to explain everything." As soon as the letters were in the hands of Harry and Ginny, McGonagall rose to her feet. "You may stay here and read them before joining us at the feast. I however must go and perform the sorting ceremony." And with that she walked briskly towards the door closing it firmly behind her.
Harry, already knowing most of the contents of Hermione's letter, tore his open almost bored. He had resigned himself weeks ago to the fact that Hermione was not going to be here when he got back. Studying in Bulgaria was too big of a learning experience for Hermione to pass up. He also knew that the breach between his two best friends was another reason that she had fled the country.
He sighed resignedly. Those two were impossible. He knew for a fact that Ron was mad about Hermione, had been for years though he himself didn't realize it. If there had been any doubt what so ever in Harry's mind it had been alleviated over the past three weeks.
Harry scanned over the letter his scowl deepening. And it seemed Hermione, who he normally would have considered to be the more intelligent of his two friends, was being horribly foolish at the moment. He threw the letter down on the table wishing he could set it a blaze. Inside she had described her reasons for leaving, all of which Harry already knew. But much to his irritation she has also requested that neither he nor Ginny tell Ron about the mirror.
Harry looked over at Ginny who was also scowling at Hermione's letter. He imagined it had been along the same line as his own. Her brown eyes blazed with furry as she rose to her feet and started pacing the room.
"I can't believe she did this." The red haired girl growled to herself. "Inconsiderate and rude. It's not like her. Doesn't she have any idea what this is doing to him? I aught to give her a piece of my mind."
"Ginny."
The young girl whirled around at the sound of his voice. "What about you Harry? Aren't you upset? Not only did she run away from Ron she ran away from you. She's not even allowing him a way to speak to her." She ragged. "I never imagined Hermione of all people would do something like this." Ginny turned and continued to stride up and down the length of McGonagall's office ranting in her furry.
While Harry's eyes were watching her progress he reached inside his pocket and extracted the mirror. He tapped it once with his wand and it glowed a soft white. Less then a minute later the glowing ceased and Hermione's face appeared in the smooth surface.
"Hi Harry. It's wonderful to see you." Hermione greeted brightly.
Ginny stopped ranting at the sound of her friend's voice and came to stand behind Harry. "Hermione." She greeted coldly.
Hermione's face instantly fell at the cold looks she was receiving from both Harry and Ginny. "Please." She pleaded softly. "Don't look at me that way. You understand why I had to come, don't you?"
Harry stared at her contemplatively for several agonizingly long seconds. "I think you're making a big mistake." He finally said. "Not about going to Durmstrang," he continued before she could protest, he could understand her reasons for wanting to go. "I understand that decision. However I think it's very wrong the way you left things with Ron. If you…"
"Harry please." She stopped him, her eyes welling with tears. "You of all people should understand." She gnawed hard on her lower lip. "I just needed to get away."
"But Hermione," Ginny interceded, "you're not even giving him a way to talk to you. How are you supposed to mend things if you won't speak to him?"
Harry and Ginny watched as she turned her head ashamedly to the side. "Will you promise me not to tell him about the mirror?"
"Hermione." They both objected.
"Harry. Ginny. Please…I'm begging you. Will you do this for me?"
After several minutes of silence in which Hermione thought for sure that they were going to refuse they looked to each other and Ginny nodded slightly.
"Yes Hermione." Harry turned back to the mirror. "We promise."
"Thank you." she beamed at them through the glass. "It really means a lot to me."
"Yeah, yeah." Ginny waved aside her gratitude. "Now that you've rung that out of us, what's it like? How do you like the school? Are the student's nice? Have you met any dashing blokes?"
Hermione's musical laughter came through the glass. "You're incorrigible, Ginny. You know that right?"
The red haired girl beamed at her friend. "Of course I do."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Listen. I have a lot of homework I have to do and you two have a feast to get to. It was wonderful to see you. I miss you both already."
"We miss you too, Hermione." Harry's voice was slightly chocked. Without hesitation Ginny rested her hand on Harry's shoulder giving it a light squeeze.
"We'll talk to you later then," Ginny smiled assumingly at the glass, "as soon as we can."
"Goodnight." Hermione called before the glass went blank and started to glow white again. Harry gave it a tap with his wand and it eased into the smooth surface free of reflection once again.
"Well," Ginny tossed her bright copper hair over her shoulder. "I imagine there's a feast that isn't waiting for us."
Harry nodded and the two left the room, Harry slipping the mirror into his pocket as they exited.
Down in the Great Hall the feast had indeed already begun when Harry and Ginny arrived. They took the two seats that Ron and Neville had saved for them and began loading food onto their plates, neither of them looking at Ron for fear that their faces would be filled with pity, something they both knew he would not appreciate.
"So," Neville started when the two settled and began shoveling food into their mouths. "What did McGonagall want?"
Both Harry and Ginny's heads snapped up to look at him before they turned and looked at each other then finally at Ron who was looking at them with the first sign of interest that either of them had seen in days, which made it even the more difficult for Harry to mumble, "I'll tell you later, Neville."
Ron's brow furrowed as he watched Harry and Ginny squirm under his gaze. "No." He said slowly, setting his fork and knife down beside his plate before pushing it away as if the sight of the succulent food nauseated him. "Why don't you tell him now?"
Harry avoided Ron's eyes by continuing to shovel more food into his mouth while Ginny couldn't help but look over at him in sympathy as she feared she would. Ron's face dropped in understanding.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry's neck shrunk into his shoulders. "Harry." Ron said again, his voice low and insistent. "Where is she? And who is that girl sitting between Lavender and Parvati?" He pointed down the table directing Harry's gaze to a very beautiful girl with dark toned skin, large bright amber eyes, and long black hair that hung to her waist in a wavy sheet. She was a slight girl whose every movement was filled with grace and poise.
Harry coughed in the back of his throat and opened his mouth to speak but instead shoveled in another mouthful of food at the last moment. Ron's eyes narrowed further at Harry's avoidance of the question. Just when he was about to demand answers from either Ginny or Harry, Dumbledore rose to his feet at the head of the Great Hall directing everyone's attention to the front. Harry sighed with relief when Ron was forced to let him be so that he could focus on what the Headmaster had to say.
Dumbledore smiled over the crowd waiting until they had all gone quiet. When he spoke his voice boomed out over the hushed mass. "Welcome once again to another year at Hogwarts. I know most of you are tired of hearing me drivel on every year but I fear I must once again, to the benefit of our first year students and perhaps some of our older students," Harry distinctly saw Dumbledore's twinkling eyes look at him, "who let it slip out of their heads over the summer. The Dark Forest continues to be strictly forbidden to all students. Magic is not to be done in the corridors between classes. And finally, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the list of contraband items is posted outside of his office for anyone who cares to take notice. Now that that is over with," he clapped his hands together as if excited, "some of you may have noticed a few new faces in out mists as well as a few missing. First I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Darcie Donavan."
A small woman sitting next to Professor Snape stood up. She was short in stature, appearing to be about the same height as Hermione. She was quiet young and very beautiful with pale white skin, bright blue eyes and blond hair that was cropped close to her scalp and done up so that it looked surprisingly similar to Harry's, though Harry decided she could pull the look off far better then he ever could. Her full pink lips separated and she flashed the crowd with a charming, straight toothed, achingly bright smile. Many of the students, most pointedly the male students, clapped feverishly as she bowed in greeting before sinking back into her seat.
Dumbledore, who had been clapping along with everyone else turned back to the students holding up his bony hands in an attempt to quiet them. He waited patiently until their enthusiastic clapping died before speaking once again.
"I would also like to make an announcement that affects some of you more then others. This year I have agreed for an exchange to take place between Durmstrang Academy and Hogwarts. As some of you may have noticed," Dumbledore's soft blue eyes settled on Ron, "Miss Hermione Granger is not with us this evening." Murmuring burst out amongst the crowd as several of the older students noticed for the first time that the Golden Trio, as they had been dubbed many years ago, was not complete. Hermione Granger was suddenly blaringly absent amongst her friends. "Nor will she be with us for the remainder of the school year." Ron and Harry both glared when they heard a whoop of joy come from Draco Malfoy and the rest of his cronies at the Slytherin table. Dumbledore ignored their outburst and continued with his introduction. "Miss Granger was specially selected to be our representative to our Bulgarian neighbors this year. We wish her great success." Dumbledore and most of the teachers clapped, prompting most of the student body, excluding the Slytherins of course, to clap as well.
"Now that we have that settled I would like to introduce Miss Granger's exchange partner. Miss Rane Voitekh, who will be joining Gryffindor house for the school year." Ron's eyes instantly narrowed to a glare aimed at the beautiful girl now standing and waving, slightly flustered, at the crowd. "I hope you will all strive to make Miss Voitekh feel welcome during her stay."
When the clapping had once again died down and Dumbledore returned to his seat to eat his pudding, Ron turned his narrowed eyes on Harry and Ginny. "Hermione's in Bulgaria!" Harry flushed pink at the accusation in Ron's voice as if it were his fault she were gone. "Hermione is in Bulgaria?" He said again unable to believe the truth of the statement. "She left without saying goodbye? You both knew and you didn't tell me!"
"We only just found out, Ron." Ginny cried, trying her best to calm her angered brother. "That's why McGonagall pulled us aside. Hermione left letters to us explaining…"
"She left letters?" Ron's blue eyes lost a bit more of their sparkle when the full impact of what Ginny had said sunk in. "She left you and Harry letters, but not a single word for me?"
Not knowing what to say Harry and Ginny just stared at him feeling wretched at having received letters when he had not. Without waiting for a response from either his best friend or his sister Ron rose from the table and walked stonily towards the door.
Upon catching sight of Ron leaving the Great Hall, alone, Draco Malfoy hurried after him, Crabbe and Goyle following close behind. They reached the massive double doors seconds after Ron slipped through.
"Oy! Weasle!" Draco called after Ron upon reaching the hall. "What has you so melancholy?" Ron did his best to ignore Draco and keep walking, his shoulders hunched over dramatically. "Could it be that you miss your filthy Mudblood?" Ron flinched at the word as if it had caused him pain, for indeed in a way it had. "What? Did you two have a row? Let me guess…" Draco snickered at Ron's back. "You finally got up the nerve to tell her your filthy little secret and she was so repulsed she had to run all the way to Bulgaria to get away from you." Crabbe and Goyle laughed along with Malfoy as Ron disappeared on the upper landing. "It's pathetic really," Draco called after him, "the way you pine over a Mudblood like her."
The three Slytherins burst into a fit of laughter that did not end until Draco felt a slight tap on his shoulder. He turned only to be confronted by the full impact of a fist on his nose. He heard a loud crack and blood started spilling down his face, dripping of his chin and staining his new robes.
"You leave my brother alone." Ginny snapped, drawing back to slug him again but was stopped by Harry who placed a hand on her shoulder at the same time pointing his wand at the three Slytherins.
"You lot better get a move on."
Crabbe and Goyle glared at him as they followed Malfoy, who was pressing the sleeve of his robe to his nose, taking the stairs two at a time toward the hospital wing.
As soon as the three boys disappeared from sight Ginny stamped her foot angrily on the floor. She growled fiercely "Those three make me so mad. I swear, before the end of the year, I am going to do something drastic to them. I'm…"
"Ginny," Harry stopped her before she could continue her tirade. "Let's just go check on Ron."
The red haired girl nodded and followed Harry to the common room. Upon gaining entrance they found Ron sitting in one of the three chairs near the fire that had become the trio's chairs over the years.
"I really messed up big this time." He muttered without looking up. "She left without even saying goodbye." Ron lifted his head revealing the disheartening sight of his blue eyes swimming with tears. It was hard for both Harry and Ginny to see. Ron was always the strong one, refusing to show any weakness. Harry couldn't think of a single time in all the years that he had known him that he could remember ever having seen Ron cry. Ginny, who had literally known him all her life, was having trouble doing the same.
Ron ran his hands through the thick waves of his fire red hair, making it look even more disheveled then it normally was. "I love her, you know?" Ron snorted as Harry and Ginny took the two remaining seats. "I know that's hard to believe after what I called her. But…she knew what she was doing when she called me weasel and pauper. She knew and she still said it." His eyelids blinked rapidly. "That's why I said what I did. She purposefully hurt me so I said what I knew would hurt her the most." Silent tears slid down his face. "I would give anything to go back and change that."
Harry lifted his head, turning towards the portrait hole when he heard the gentle hum of voices drawing nearer. Knowing that Ron would be embarrassed if anyone caught him crying Harry got quickly to his feet and pulled on Ron's arm. "Come on mate. The feast is over. Let's get you to bed."
Ron didn't even protest when Harry pulled him to his feet and directed him towards the stairs to the boy's dormitory. Upon reaching their room Ron went to work silently getting ready for bed. After pulling on his pajamas and brushing his teeth he climbed under the covers and waited for Harry to do the same. As soon as his best mate was settled, Ron turned over and looked at him. "Thanks mate." He said with a scratchy voice.
Harry turned his head to the side and smiled sadly at the boy who was closer to him then a brother. "Don't even think about it mate. That's what friends are for."
Ron nodded and turned over onto his back pulling the curtains closed around him. He stared up at the ceiling feeling acutely the heavy wait on his heart. This time when the tears came they flowed swiftly and silently.
