After a few moments, Hermione's laughter finally subsided. She began wiping her damp eyes with a golden-colored cloth napkin that was once placed on her lap.
'Oh Harry, did you see…I mean really that was just too…and it reminded me of the time-' Hermione turned towards Harry, her eyes growing bigger, '-oh you remember that time when you and Ron and I we were sitting here as second years, and Ron made the funniest face when that ghost from Ravenclaw-…'
But suddenly, Hermione stopped speaking.
Her mouth suddenly closed slowly. The grin upon her face quickly faded. And Hermione looked down at the napkin in her lap and smiled sadly. She rubbed the back of her neck with her hand and chuckled softly.
'God, those were great times, weren't they…' she said to no one in particular, continuing to stare down at her lap.
Harry looked at her, offering a kind smile in return.
'They were, Mione. They were…great times…' he added softly, looking at the woman next to him, his eyes hiding just a twinge of sadness behind them.
Watching the students interact – watching them talking with one another, acting silly and goofy, and seeing their excited faces (especially the first year students) made him reminisce about years ago. Those were, indeed, some very precious memories…
Moments passed, and soon Hermione and Madame Pomfrey found themselves in discussion regarding the care of the students in the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey was inquiring whether or not Hermione recalled certain spells, and most importantly, would feel comfortable in performing them. Hermione was a bit taken back by the older woman's lack of faith, but Hermione assured her that even if her magical abilities were hindered in certain circumstances, modern medicine just might be able to take over in other ways.
When supper had ended, the Headmistress instructed the students to go to their dormitories to retire for the evening, and to get ready for the first day of classes. Once again, the Great Hall was buzzing with the sound of young voices, and as Hermione surveyed the sight before her, a sea of black robes began to filter through the heavy wooden doors out into the main hallway.
Seeing the last of the students retreat to their houses, Hermione quickly stood up from her seat, and scooted her chair back from under her. She excused herself, and began to walk down the platform, leaving the two men on either side of her still seated. Hermione wanted to get as much rest as she could before the next day.
The first day.
The first day of class…
If those first years were nervous as to what their first day would be like, she wished those very same students knew just how nervous she was as well. It was as if the young woman was starting out all over again. But just as quickly as that thought entered her brain, Hermione quickly thought back to her first day of classes, and it put a small smile on her face.
Maybe things wouldn't be that bad afterall…
…But just as she was about to start making her way down the aisle towards the entrance of the Hall, she heard a screeching sound from above. Obviously, it belonged to an animal of some kind. It sounded...rather hostile, Hermione thought. Who would be getting a package this early in the evening, even before classes began, the young woman wondered. As she turned towards the sound, she noticed a black owl making its way towards Hermione. It had a rather large package within its dangerous talons. Hermione continued to stare at the ominous creature, when it hovered above her for a second and released the package above her.
It was true that Hermione hadn't received mail from any type of winged creature in quite some time. So naturally, her reaction was to duck and step away a few paces.
All of a sudden, two large hands reached out to grasp the package.
It was Hagrid who took hold of the parcel. Taking a most careful look at the front of the box, he squinted and appeared dumbfounded.
'Oy, Hermione! What are you doing getting a package this early in the year?' he asked, continuing to look at the box.
Hermione continued to stare at the neatly wrapped box, a bit of twine holding the package ever so neatly.
What Hermione failed to notice, was two men who quickly appeared on either side of Hagrid upon hearing that the package was for Hermione. There were few people that knew of her residence here at the castle. The students would of course come to know and recognize her in later days, but for now, knowledge of her where-abouts had remained rather low-key.
Harry's eyes narrowed at the script written on the package. He took the package from Hagrid, and began opening the parcel, tearing and ripping the packaging haphazardly.
Hermione gritted her teeth, feeling the heat rise from within her chest, creeping towards her face. She stared at Harry, frozen in place.
Just then, Minerva McGonagall scurried down the aisle from where she was seated towards Hermione, her heavy green robes flying beneath her. She looked at Harry, then back and Hermione, and then back at Harry once again.
'Hermione,' she stated in a somewhat shaky voice, as she placed a steady grip on Hermione's right elbow '-let's go my dear, it is probably nothing, and you must go with Madame Pomfrey to the hospital wing to prepare all-'
But as the Headmistress tried to turn Hermione away, the young woman jerked her elbow, releasing its grip from the older woman. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she addressed the worrisome face of the Professor McGonagall.
'No, Professor. I'd much rather see what's going on. Harry?' Hermione turned towards Harry. Unfortunately, he did not hear her, being so fixated and concerned in regards to the contents of the package. This only made her angrier.
'HARRY!' she bellowed, her voice echoing within the Great Hall.
Hermione began walking up the aisle. The Headmistress once again, though this time a bit more forcefully, placed an arm around the woman in attempts to coax her away from the scene.
'Hermione, I must ask you to leave, we have much to accomplish before-'
Hermione didn't pay one bit of attention to Professor McGonagall. Instead, she began walking past the Headmistress towards Harry, but stopped suddenly in her tracks when she saw a glimpse at the open box.
She looked at Harry. Then at the box. And once again at Harry.
She recognized that orange fur anywhere. And the collar. That very same collar that she had made for the animal, years and years ago. The animal that she was just reunited with days ago. And the animal that she would never see again. It made her heart hurt.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears, face full of disbelief. She covered her mouth, an instant reflex in regards to the site in front of her.
…And then she made a connection…
This was a warning. This was a message.
And this was all very much tied into the disappearance of Helen Crawford…
Hermione continued to cover her mouth. Moments passed before she lowered her hand ever so slightly.
'No…' she whispered, feeling her heart ripped to shreds beneath her breastbone. 'No…no it can't be…what could he have done to deserve this…what could…'
Hermione stopped speaking.
For out of the corner of her eye, she saw another black bird fly across the room, dropping a dark green envelope directly above her. Instead of stepping aside, the young woman remained planted on the spot. Hermione saw Harry place the box on a nearby table and make his way over to Hermione in order to intercept the letter.
Hermione's eyes went wide. Her nostrils flared.
'NO' she commanded, throwing her arm and pointing her right hand in Harry's direction. The young man was instantly thrown back, first landing on the table, then sliding across the length of it onto the floor with an audible 'thud.'
Hermione could have cared less.
With eyes full of fury, she reached out with the same hand to grasp the letter. She tore open the envelope and read the scripted parchment to herself:
I do hope you enjoyed your little 'welcoming' gift, Granger. And, by the way, what DO you think happened to our dear Helen Crawford? Your precious little patient who has gone missing. You couldn't save your ugly feline – what makes you think you could save the old bag…even if you tried? Time is ticking, Mudblood…
Hermione lowered the parchment. Holding the paper in one hand, she looked at the people surrounding her. With one hand, she crumpled the paper, clinging ever so tightly onto the ball of parchment in her fist.
Hermione felt her teeth clench. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, and her breathing quickened steadily.
She instantly regretted coming to the castle. For letting Harry and Snape bring her here. For going to Helen Crawford's house that very day to deliver her forgotten script to her. A random act of kindness – and where did it get her? Absolutely nowhere. If anything, it had made things worse…
Hermione looked down at the ground, and then back at the box.
She once again covered her mouth with her face, and felt her eyes continue to well with tears. Tears that would not be shed within the face of company. She would not break down in front of them that evening.
After many seconds of silence. Hermione whispered a barely audible, 'Excuse me,' and she turned around. Her quick footsteps echoed within the Great Hall, and out into the main staircase.
'Hermione,' Harry called as he began to follow her out to the main hallway, but she did not respond.
Harry stood at the base of the staircase, watching Hermione in her beautiful burgundy gown, make her way quickly up the marble steps. He continued looking at her when he saw Severus approach him out of the corner of his eye. Never taking his eyes off his friend as her faint sobs could be heard throughout the now empty staircase, he spoke to the Potions Master.
'How did she know Helen Crawford was missing,' Harry asked, a touch of anger in his tone. Severus looked at Harry.
'She was with me when I was notified,' he stated quietly, he too looking at the form of the woman now flights above them.
Harry looked at Severus. His eyes darkened, and he frowned.
'Couldn't you have lied?' he asked, growing the slightest bit annoyed that she had found out in the first place.
Severus turned towards the young man. His brow furrowed and he sneered.
'What would you have had me done, Potter? Lie to her then only so she would find out later? Do you believe her to be that daft, that she would not eventually find out that the old woman went missing?' he too becoming annoyed at the young man's insolence.
'She didn't need to know right then. You know that. I know that,' Harry stated. 'You know, just as well as I do, that we don't need her running off. If she gets into the wrong hands…or god forbid something happens to her…you know how they want her on their side. You know just as well as I do that she is-'
Severus felt his anger boiling over.
'Potter – do not lecture me. Do you not think that I am well aware of the circumstances? Do you not-'
…But Severus Snape was unable to finish his sentence. He grabbed his left arm with his right hand, and hissed in response. Harry looked at the Potions Master and sighed.
'This ought to be good,' he stated sarcastically, looking at the arm of Severus Snape.
For once, Severus inwardly agreed with the arrogant twit.
The Potions Master gritted his teeth. He glared at the young man in front of him, and brushed pass the insolent boy, knocking into his shoulder on purpose.
As Severus made his way down the main staircase towards the front of the castle, he reached for the inside of his cloak, retrieving his Death Eater's mask in return. With a disproving look, he exited the castle, took his first breath of the evening air, and disappeared outside of the gates of Hogwarts with a single 'pop.'