Okay, that was really mean of me to leave you for that long with a cliff hanger like that. And wow. I sucked at that last chapter.
"It's fine guys, really!" I protested. "I'll come out later, promise!"
"Okay..." Hermione said. She pushed Neville out and closed the door. I sat there for another minute, before opening the stall door and walking up to the bathroom mirror. I splashed some cold water on my face. I heard a door shift open, and looked up into the mirror to see who came in, expecting to see Hermione again.
"Look, Hermione, I'll come out in a second!" I said, just about to turn around before I saw what had come in through the mirror. It barely registered before my body went completely stiff, and all went black.
HPOV:
"Have any of you seen Rita? I haven't seen her since I saw her in the girls bathroom, and that was yesterday!" I said as I sat down next to Harry and Ron.
"Why would we care? Honestly Hermione! Why do you even hang out with her? Do you not know who her father is? She's not good enough for you!" Ron exclaimed.
"Oh please Ron. Just because her father did bad things doesn't mean she will too! You should at least give her a chance! Once you get to know her she's a really nice girl! And besides, she was way more accepting of me than either of you two. It took a bloody troll to make us friends. All we did was bump into each other!" I said, shaking my head. Boys and their stubbornness.
"I don't know Hermione. I think you should at least be careful around her, you never know what can happen." harry warned, not even looking up from his breakfast. I huffed.
"Fine. If neither of you are going to help me look for her, I'll go on my own!" I snapped before abruptly standing up and snatching my bag off the bench.
"Hermione! Wait! Don't be a prat, Hermione!" Ron called after me, but I ignored him. The bloody git.
"Have you found her?" I asked, running up to Neville. We had been searching all morning, and it was almost time to go to class.
"No!" He huffed, shaking his head.
"Oh no. What do you think could have happened to her?" I asked. "I knew we shouldn't have left her alone in the bathroom!"
"I still can't believe I was in a girls lavatory!" Neville groaned, looking quite sick. I chuckled despite the situation.
"Neville, there was no one else in there! And besides, we were helping our friend. I highly doubt that you would have gotten into any trouble." I said, looking around at the passing people, hoping to find Rita tucked deep into the crowd somewhere. No such luck, however.
"T-Trouble? Oh Merlin! I could have gotten in so much trouble!" He groaned again, putting his hands over his face. I couldn't help but laugh.
"I hope she's okay.." I said, looking around again. "Should we ask Professor McGonagall if she knows if she is okay?"
"Maybe... That might be smart. Come on!" He said before leading the way through the crowds of kids going to the great hall.
"Professor McGonagall? Professor!" I yelled when she was in sight.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" She asked, turning around and facing us.
"Would you happen to know where Rita Black is?" I asked, hoping she did.
"No, I'm sorry. Where did you last see her?" She asked.
"I saw her last in the girls bathroom yesterday. I don't know when Neville saw her last, though." I lied.
"Alright, well don't worry Miss Granger. I'm sure we'll find her soon." She said before walking off.
"That did nothing to help my worry. What do we do now?" I asked, throwing my hands up into the air.
"We have to go to class, Hermione. It's getting late." Neville pointed out. I sighed.
"Yeah, I guess. She might even be in the classroom already." I said, hoping beyond hope that I was right.
NPOV
I walked out of the Herbology greenhouse with Hermione. We had lunch next, but I had a feeling that Hermione was going to skip lunch like she did breakfast to try and find Rita. We haven't seen her all day, and I was really worried. Especially with people showing up petrified.
"Hermione..." I said, tapping her on her shoulder.
"What? Did you find her?" She said, turning around.
"We haven't checked the hospital wing yet." I pointed out. She frowned.
"Why would you say that? DO you think she got hurt?" She asked, ringing her hands. I shrugged.
"It's worth a shot. She is kind of clumsy... Maybe she just fell down the stairs again." I said, more to myself than Hermione.
"We shouldn't have left last night until she came with us. This is all our fault!" She groaned. I dropped my head and kicked at the grass.
"Come on," She said, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the hospital wing. We were about halfway there when we ran into Harry and Ron.
"Did you guys hear? Black is in the hospital wing!" Ron said, a smile on his face.
"Ronald Weasley! Why are you so happy about that? What is wrong with you?" Hermione scolded.
"What happened?" I asked through gritted teeth. I can't believe that Ron could be so happy about this.
"I heard she was petrified..." Harry mumbled. At least he had the decency to be ashamed of Ron's behavior.
"Oh God," Hermione said before rushing off towards the hospital wing, with me behind her.
"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey!" Hermione said as she rushed into the room lined with hospital beds.
"Yes dear?" Pomfrey asked, turning towards us.
"Is it true? Is Rita in here?" I asked. Madam Pomfrey nodded sadly.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall Brought her in a few hours ago." She said sadly. I groaned.
"This is our fault!" Hermione said, covering her face with her hands.
"Don't worry dears, once we get those mandrake plants to the right age we will be able to un-petrify them." She said.
"Did you send a letter to her Mum yet?" Hermione asked.
"We sent one to her legal guardian, Her Mum passed away when she was younger." Madam Pomfrey said. Hermione and I shared a look.
"She never told us that." I said.
"Well then when she wakes up don't say anything about it." She said, giving us a look that meant she meant it. Hermione and I nodded to show her we understood.
"Good, now go on to lunch. There isn't anything you two can do now." She said, shooing us out.