"Long, Long, Long"
Chapter 8
"HERMIONE!" cried Ron as soon as Hermione stepped foot in the common room, "Where have you been? Harry and I were looking for you; no one's seen you since last night!"
Hermione quickly scrambled to find an appropriate excuse. "I was…er…looking for a book in the library and then I just fell asleep in one of the chairs down there." It was a lame excuse, but hey, it had been known to happen.
"But we looked in the library!"
"Right, well…I woke up earlier and decided to take a walk outside for a while."
"In the rain?"
"Well, it wasn't raining when I got out there!" said Hermione in defense of her terrible lie, "And anyway, a simple drying charm did the trick."
Normally, no one would have believed this, but Ron seemed too preoccupied to really care that much. "Oh," he said, sitting in an armchair, "fine. Just tell us next time, will you? Harry was getting all upset. Mind you, nowadays he's always getting upset."
The familiar feeling of guilt settled itself in Hermione's stomach as she thought about poor Harry spending his whole morning worrying about her. Like he needed that, on top of everything else. "Where is Harry?" she asked, noticing that he wasn't in the common room.
"Dumbledore sent for him; he left a few minutes ago."
"Oh," said Hermione, sitting in a chair across from Ron. "Anyway, sorry you spent your whole morning looking for me."
Ron shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal. We asked a couple of people if they'd seen you, stuff like that. Apparently Malfoy went missing last night, too; the Slytherin team captain asked if we'd kidnapped him. Ah well, can't say I'm all broken up about it. He'll probably turn up eventually, if he hasn't already. Was he in the library?"
"No," said Hermione quickly.
"Mmm," said Ron uninterestedly, fiddling with a quill he'd just found on the table next to him. "Well, I've got that transfiguration homework to do. I hope I can finish it today; tomorrow's supposed to be a great day."
Hermione looked out the window doubtfully. "Is it?"
Ron's smile faltered as he followed her gaze. "One can always hope," he said, standing to fetch his homework.
"True," said Hermione thoughtfully, eyes still fixed on the rain-covered window.
…
Harry didn't return from Dumbledore's office, so Ron and Hermione went down to dinner without him. Even when they had finished, Harry still wasn't in the common room. Hermione had noticed that Dumbledore had not been at dinner either, something that surprised her. She couldn't remember the last time the headmaster hadn't shown up for dinner, except for that period during their fifth year when he had left and Umbridge had taken over.
Hermione suggested they sit up and wait for Harry, and Ron agreed but soon fell asleep in his chair. Hermione thought she, too, probably would have been fast asleep if she hadn't slept through most of the morning. The common room slowly emptied as students gave up on their homework, said goodnight to their friends, and went to bed. Hermione had already finished her book and so started on her Arithmancy homework.
Around midnight, Hermione heard the portrait hole open behind her. Everyone besides her and Ron were up in the dormitories, so she turned around, hoping to see Harry. Instead of Harry, she saw a very grim-looking Professor McGonagall.
"Ah, Miss Granger. Waiting for Mr. Potter, I suppose?" the professor asked, a sad expression on her face.
Hermione nodded. "We haven't seen him all evening, so Ron and I thought we'd wait for him." She began to worry about why McGonagall looked to gloomy and asked, "Is everything alright?"
Professor McGonagall looked as though she was the verge of tears as she shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Ms. Granger." She stepped over to where Hermione and Ron were sitting and said, very quietly, as though the softer she said it, the less terrible it would seem, "The war has begun."
Hermione gasped audibly and stared at her professor in horror. It's started? her mind asked in shock. Hermione laughed mirthlessly at her own surprise. Hadn't she known this was going to happen? Hadn't she been expecting it since Christmas? So why the amazement that it had finally begun? Hermione imagined it was because anything as terrible as this was bound to startle anyone, especially when it meant that her life was going to take a drastic turn, probably for the worse, very soon.
Hermione fought off the panic that was attempting to control her and asked, "But what about Harry? Does he know? Is he okay?"
McGonagall placed a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder. "He's fine, Ms. Granger. But he will be leaving with the Headmaster shortly. I was asked to fetch you and Mr. Weasley to…say goodbye."
Hermione nodded solemnly and stood, walking to where Ron sat. "Ron," she whispered, shaking his shoulder, "Ron! Wake up."
Ron groaned and opened his eyes. "What's happening?" he asked groggily.
Hermione didn't have the strength to do anything but get to the point. "The war's started, Ron. Harry's going to leave with Dumbledore in a few minutes. We're going to see him before he leaves."
Ron seemed to wake up much more quickly than usual at this news. He didn't move for a second, obviously too stunned to. But he seemed to recover faster than Hermione had, for he nodded and stood quickly.
The trip to Dumbledore's office was quick and very quiet. No one wanted to speak, and so no one did. Hermione would have thought it awkward had she not, like her companions, been using all her mental energy to get horrible ideas of what she would soon be going through out of her mind.
"Sugar Quill," said Professor McGonagall, and Hermione looked up. They had reached Dumbledore's office. The stone gargoyle jumped alive and moved out of the way at what was clearly the password. The students entered, closely followed by Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore sat at his desk on the opposite side of the room, talking with a very tired-looking Harry.
"Ah, thank you, Minerva," said Dumbledore, noticing their presence. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, I assume you know why you are here?" Hermione and Ron nodded. Dumbledore paused, crossing his fingers and looking sadly over at them. "It is not time to grieve yet," he said quietly, "there will be ample time for that later on. But let's not bother ourselves with that now. For now, let us merely say farewell, and part paths briefly, for brief, I'm sure, it will be." He smiled at them.
Harry stood from his seat and stepped over to Hermione, who was closest. Hermione didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around him, not wanting to let go. "It's alright, Hermione," said Harry softly, "I'm not disappearing forever. I'll see you again soon," he looked at her pleadingly, his hands on her shoulders, "and please, don't waste your energy and thought worrying about me. I'll be fine."
Hermione nodded sadly, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I'll miss you, Harry. Be safe." Harry smiled and moved on to Ron.
They shook hands, being boys, and exchanged farewells, both much more miserable than either would admit to. "Take care of yourself, mate," said Ron, clapping him on the shoulder.
"You too," said Harry, walking over to Dumbledore, who had taken this time to make a port key.
"Minerva, I've left instructions and information for the students and Heads of house on my desk. I expect to many of them, this news will be quite surprising. Good luck with everything," said Dumbledore. Without another word, he and Harry reached out to the port key and, within seconds, were gone.
…
Professor McGonagall walked Ron and Hermione back to Gryffindor tower and followed them through the portrait hole into the common room. She too now looked extremely worn-out, even more so than she looked sad or worried--the two emotions affecting Hermione the most. "I suggest that you two get some sleep tonight," said Professor McGonagall, "The school will be evacuated tomorrow, and rest may not be easy to come by for some time." She turned to go to her private quarters, but then said, "It may be better not to mention the news to your fellow students until we make the announcement tomorrow morning. They might react better, and I don't want you to have the burden of telling them. Goodnight." She disappeared through a wooden door in the wall, leaving Ron and Hermione in silence.
"I suppose McGonagall's right;" said Ron, "we should get some rest." He looked worriedly at Hermione, who hadn't said anything, or, indeed, moved since they had entered the common room. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It's going to turn out alright, Hermione. Get some sleep."
Hermione nodded slowly, staring at nothing in particular, and then said, "I'll go up to bed in a bit. See you tomorrow."
Ron left to go to his dormitories and Hermione took a seat in one of the armchairs. She didn't know why she didn't just go to bed; there was nothing she could do before morning that would change anything. But somehow, she didn't think she'd be able to sleep with this development hanging over her. Harry had told her not to worry about him, but how could she not? She tried to comfort herself by remembering that Harry was with Dumbledore, the one person the Dark Lord feared. He was probably safer wherever he was then than he would be at Hogwarts.
Slightly comforted, and suddenly very sleepy, Hermione felt her eyelids get heavier. Eventually, sleep overtook her and she didn't awake for several hours, by which time the sky was starting to lighten in the distance, though the sun could still not be seen through the clouds.
Hermione warily opened her eyes and looked around, unaware that she had drifted off. The crackling fire had long ago died away, and the common room was unusually cold and dark. Hermione gasped in surprise when she discovered what had woken her up; a small owl sat patiently in her lap, a parchment hurriedly tied to its leg.
Hermione untied the parchment and smiled at the cute little bird. The message was scribbled in a familiar handwriting and was very brief:
The war has started. I leave at dawn to apparate from Hogsmeade…
The message had another sentence or so, but Hermione didn't bother finishing it as she jerked her head towards the window. It was dawn! She leapt out of her chair and quickly exited through the portrait of the fat lady. Sprinting down the corridors with the parchment tightly clasped in her hand, Hermione didn't even bother checking around corners for teachers.
She soon developed a stitch in her side, but she didn't slow down; outside, the day was breaking at an alarming rate. Breathing heavily, Hermione finally found herself in the Entrance Hall. She leaned against the wall for support and looked around the dark area. Nothing stirred; no one was there. She desperately checked down several hallways leading to the Entrance Hall, but still nothing.
She slid down the stone wall, quickly losing hope, her head in her arms. As her breathing slowed, she thought she heard a slight tapping sound…footsteps? She looked up and saw a cloaked figure across the room, a bag filled with a few belongings in hand.
Even in the darkness, Hermione recognized the figure immediately, "DRACO!" she called, jumping to her feet and running over to him. He turned, startled, and nearly fell over when Hermione flung her arms around his neck in a tight embrace, which he returned.
They pulled away from the hug and Draco kissed Hermione on the lips, his hand on the back of her neck. Hermione kissed him back with everything she wanted to say, imparting all her emotions without speaking. They pulled apart once again and some of the tears Hermione had been trying to contain slipped down her cheek. Draco swiped them away with his thumb, whispering softly, "This isn't the last time I'll see you, Granger." She nodded, but her eyes looked doubtful, and she still looked miserable. "I'm sorry it has to be this way," he said honestly, "but there's no backing out now."
Hermione nodded once more and rested her head on his chest, her arms circling his waist. She wanted to keep him there forever, but she knew she'd only make things worse by delaying his return home. She unwillingly pulled herself away and said quietly, her voice trembling slightly, "Bye, Draco. I'll miss you."
Draco gave her one last kiss and started towards the doors, carrying his hurriedly-packed bag with him. He opened them to the overcast early morning outside. Hermione stood and watched as the heavy doors clicked shut and he disappeared from sight.
She had wanted to say more than she did; there was more she wanted him to know. If their goodbye had lasted longer, she might have told him these things…but it hadn't, and she didn't. Instead she was left to sit alone on the bottom steps in the Entrance Hall, her sadness bringing the quiet sobs that only she could hear. Instead it was only the unfeeling stone walls that heard her whisper softly, "I love you."
…
It was not of his own desire that Draco heaved open the large wooden doors to the castle. The only thing that kept him from directly disobeying his father and staying with Hermione was the thought that they would both be dead within the next few months if he did so.
He couldn't bear to even look back, for fear he might change his mind on the spot. An unfamiliar sense of pain overcame Draco as he quickly walked further and further from the school. Draco had trouble dealing with the emotional ache he felt; nothing had ever come close to feeling the same. He cursed the world aloud, but for all the good it did, he might as well have not bothered.
Light rain splashed onto his face, but he didn't bother preventing it. As far as he was concerned, it merely seemed as though the weather could sympathize with him.
Only when he had reached the near-empty streets of the village and the rain was pouring down far more harshly did he turn and look back at the castle. Wondering when he would ever see it--or more importantly, a certain someone inside of it--again, he apparated to Malfoy manor.
…
Hermione started the long walk back to Gryffindor tower slowly, her cheeks still wet from her tears. She numbly looked out a large window in the second-story corridor, seeing the rain heavily falling on the grounds below. She stood there for several minutes, with no desire to do anything else, when she realized Draco's letter was still crumpled in her fist. She flattened it out and read it over again:
The war has started. I leave at dawn to apparate from Hogsmeade. If I don't manage to see you before I leave, I want you to know that this war is not marking the end of what's started between us. I'm certain I'll see you again; whether soon or not for years. Until then, I'll miss you, Hermione.
Draco
Hermione finished the letter for the first time and rested her forehead against the cold glass, closing her eyes. Despite what Draco had said, this did feel like the end, and Hermione didn't think she'd ever experienced something so painful.
END OF PART ONE