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Chapter Fourteen
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Note from author, and yet another disclaimer: I don't own Harry! I don't own Ron! I don't own any of these people! Mwahahah! But I will, soon, rule the world. Ha. Ha.
Umm, if you think this is slow-paced, kill me in your next review. If you don't, glomp me!
Hermione's POV
Hermione & Ron,
Right now, I'm at GH. I've just seen Lupin at Headquarters; I don't think he'll be too pleased to see me next time I visit due to the fact I gave him a whole lot of attitude and apparated in front of him without my test. But I'm sure I'll survive.
Listen. You can come, and I'm not stopping you, but you'll have to arrange a date with me. And Hermione, I'm surprised at you - don't you want to finish your NEWTS? J And to Ron, please tell your mum I'm sorry about the whole legging it at your party thing. Well, Bill and Fleur's. How are they? Not too gross? Just say to your mum that I'm okay or something like that, otherwise she'll worry.
I'm going to explore round here for a bit now, and look for those things I told you about last year. If you're sure you want to come, I know I'm probably not going to be able to stop you. So, send me a place and date where you can get to easily (preferably outside the grounds) and I'll meet you there. I know it's no good saying it's 'too dangerous', but I'm going to say it anyway. If you get hurt, either one of you, it's your own fault. And don't worry, I'd tell your parents that, too! J
Anyway, for now,
Harry
"Hm. He seems cheerful," I announce to Ron, who's in a pile of homework in the chair beside me. He looks up. It's been two days since… that whole commotion.
"Really?" Ron says, not looking up. Recently, he keeps going red whenever I state something casual. I'm not really sure what to make of it, either.
"Ron -- how many times? It was just a way of telling you I'm not completely immersed in studies. I do know a little of that kind of thing, and, well, you completely deserved what you got."
Ron looks up, that incredulous expression on his face. "And what was it that I got, exactly, Hermione?"
"A lesson, Ron," I say curtly. This is no time for his jokes! "A lesson well learnt, I hope."
From here, I can just about hear Ron mutter; "Didn't feel like a bloody lesson", but I decide to dismiss it. There are far more important things going on, anyway. The welfare of the wizarding community, for instance. And my NEWTS. Harry is completely right -- I don't want to miss them, but surely helping the course of justice is far more important than a few exam papers…?
We pause for a moment while I gather my thoughts on the matter. What to do… what to do? I guess there's no chance but to consult Ron.
"So, Ron…"
"Yuh-huh?"
"Are you going with Harry?"
Ron stares at me like I'm some kind of raving lunatic. "Well, yeah!" He says after a dramatic pause. "I'm not staying here all the time, listening to Filch tell me I'm making the corridors dirty just by standing in them! Someone like me needs a bit of excitement sometimes, Hermione."
I snort. Ron looks at me piercingly. I know exactly what he's thinking. He's probably referring to the fact that in his point of view, the most excited I get is when we have a revision lesson. Well, if I find revision a healthy exercise, that's up to me. But as a human being, I do find other aspects of life interesting, thank you very much.
"So, when do we go?" I say tentatively.
"Obvious really, isn't it, Hermione? Next Hogsmeade we can get outside the grounds, and then we can apparate. After Dumbledore… well, you know, the security's got a bit lax seeing as some of the charm he put around the castle went with him, so it shouldn't be too hard. Besides, Fred and George got away with it on brooms…"
"I see what you mean," I sigh. "Next Hogsmeade trip's next week on Saturday. I guess we'll be seeing Harry soon, then."
Immediately, I dismiss my pile of homework so I can write a reply.
Dear Harry,
Thanks for the letter. Ronald and I would like to come, and we'll be able to get out of here next Saturday, on our next visit to the village. We'll be outside the ShSh. Will you be able to apparate there, or should we meet you somewhere else, as Ron is now perfectly capable of Apparition without splinching himself.
Furthermore, I think it will be good to get some practical work done outside of school and in answer to your question about NEWTS, I'm sure I'll learn far more out there, doing things, than I will stuck here with a pile of homework by my side. Also, I'm sure Ron will carry your apologies to Mrs W, but don't you think that it'd be good to go there and say it yourself? I know you're not particularly keen on seeing members of the order, and I'd like to know a little more about the L incident, but until then, we await your reply and hope to see you soon!
Love, Hermione.
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It's funny how excited one can feel about something. I can't wait for next Saturday. I never thought I'd be keen to get out of Hogwarts, but it's like now Dumbledore's gone, the whole life and soul has gone. The fat lady may still be grumpy and a terrible singer and Nick may still float through you at the most inconvenient of times, but the whole spirit of the castle has diminished.
I'll be glad to get out there and do something about Voldemort. I'm seventeen now, so I can do magic outside of school, as can Harry and Ron, and let's face it - with the three of us out to get him, those Death Eaters don't stand a chance, do they?
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Note from Author: Aw! I can't wait to write the bit where Harry & Ron and Hermione finally meet each other again… the story is going to get so much better from there… )