Chapter 4
The Aftermath
After finishing the grueling job of cleaning the owlery, accompanied by some laughs, they walked back to their common rooms. They immediately acted like nothing that great had happened, while deep inside they were kind of glad that they had the chance to spend time with each other.
Draco came up to the Slytherin common room and muttered the password, slickensticks". He walked into the room and flopped down onto the leather couch in front of the warm, comforting fireplace. Immediately, as predicted, Pansy Parkinson came over and sat next to Draco. Oh my, Draco. You will never guess what Crabbe and Goyle did to Ron… What's wrong?" Pansy said suddenly, noticing that Draco was acting differently. Nothing, I'm fine," He didn't hear another word that Pansy was saying because he was lost in a whirlpool of thoughts. Dang It! Draco thought. I am in so much trouble. I can't believe I was actually enjoying that mudblood's company. If Father ever hears about this I am going to be in so much trouble. The Dark Lord knows that she's only one of the closest friends that Potter has. If he ever knew that she was on the edge of becoming my friend, I would be dead the next day for sure. He shuddered at the thought. I need to forget about what happened tonight. I need to forget about Hermione Granger.
Hermione felt so weak and dirty that she just wanted to take a shower and go to bed. But, unexpectedly, when she turned the corner to go to the Gryffindor common room, she saw Ron lifeless on the ground just laying there. RON!" she screamed. Oh Ron, please don't die, please don't die," Hermione kept repeating breathlessly as she cradled his head in her arms. She instinctively put her ear to his chest and listened to his heart beat. It was beating, but it was faint. HELP! SOMEBODY! HELP ME!" Hermione screamed. Suddenly, two pairs of footsteps ran around the corner and Seamus and Neville stopped so fast that Neville knocked Seamus to the floor. Good job, Neville," Seamus complained. Hermione, what happened to Ron?" Neville said amazingly. I-I don't know. I just got back from detention…" Wait a minute. THE Hermione Granger got detention? This makes wizarding history." That's not important! I was going back to the common room when I found him here."
Suddenly, Harry ran around the corner shouting, don't touch him!" Why?" Neville said curiously. Breathlessly, Harry replied, He's toxic. Crabbe and Goyle got him with one of those nasty love potions." What did you just say?" Hermione said sternly. Love potion. Crabbe and Goyle had him drink it so that whoever touched him first after the potion was given, the person that touched him will fall in love with the next person that she sees other than the victim of the potion," Harry explained. Oh my word," Hermione said under her breath. She slowly looked at Seamus. That was you," Hermione said slowly. Seamus stepped back a couple of steps. Hermione, can I talk to you down this hallway?" Sure, Seamus," she said as she started to walk down the hall. As she was leaving, she heard Harry tell Neville that he had just left to get Madam Pomfrey when they found Ron.
Suddenly, Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by Seamus sharply pulling her into the hallway and pinning her against the wall.
Madam Pomfrey quickly summoned Harry and Neville to the hospital wing because Hermione and Seamus were still 'busy. Once she had gotten Ron comfortable, she was summoned to another emergency. Oh my, this one's a biggie. I will chat about Mr. Weasley with you two later." And she vanished out of sight. Harry got a sick feeling in his stomach, as he knew the probable place that she was at right now.
Hermione and Seamus, still in the empty corridor, were talking all about their lives outside of Hogwarts and all their deepest secrets and desires. Hermione, you know, ever since Harry and yourself started Dumbledore's Army, you've been more than just a leader, an instructor to listen to, you were the object of my dreams, my hopes, and my life. I really like you," Seamus said. I can tell by the way we were snogging earlier," Hermione said with a smirk. Want to do it again?" Seamus asked. Okay," Hermione said with a laugh. And then they lost all sense of thought.
Later, Hermione and Seamus walked back to the common room. Beginstantis," mumbled Hermione. They both walked in. Seamus stopped and said Oh my gosh." Hermione couldn't tell what was going on because Seamus' huge figure was blocking the door. She pushed him aside and instantly put her hand up to her mouth. There, on one of the couches, Cho Chang was lying there, seemingly injured badly, by the way the cuts, bruises, and bleeding were in many different places, it seems that she went through a terrible accident. Helping her out was Lavender, Luna, Parvati, Patil, and Ginny. Ginny, what happened to Cho?" Hermione said, still staring. I don't know Hermione," Ginny sighed. I was taking a walk with Dean when I saw Cho all crumpled up against a large tree behind the castle. Crumpled? Hermione thought to herself. So that means that someone must have used force on her and it wasn't an accident. Ginny, do you know who Cho was planning on spending the evening with?" Hermione asked, deep in thought. All I know is that Harry told me that they were going to spend the evening together," Ginny replied. Harry. Hermione gasped and ran up the stairs to her dorm. Ginny, suddenly realizing what Hermione's conclusion must have been, she took off up the spiral staircase, racing after Hermione. Madam Pomfrey arrived just after Ginny left.