Should I open it? She asked herself. What if it's cursed or something?
She just stood there, facing her bed, unsure of what to do. The letter has to be from Ron, who else would it be? But then Ron and I are practically going out with each other now, why would he send another letter? There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that told her that whoever had sent the letters was not Ron. It can't be anyone else.
And then, even though it was night outside, she saw words in blood form in her minds eye on a wall streaked with red from the dying sun, the bold letters glimmering eerily, transfixing her. As she watched, her eyes wide, a droplet fell down, then another and another until there was a pool forming around her…
And she was drowning in the red liquid…
Where's Ron?
Her breath caught in her chest, her lungs longed for air but… there was blood everywhere and- and she couldn't see, she couldn't breathe…
Where's Ron?
She couldn'tdie… not there…
Hermione stumbled back, tripping over her own feet, gasping for air.
What the hell was that? She thought bewilderedly.
Still panting heavily, she got up and strode to her bed, and grabbed the letter. Going over to her fireplace where there was a merry fire already, she defiantly threw the letter into the flames.
She watched in satisfaction as the letter slowly curled up, burning. As the flames licked her name inscribed in the front of the letter, some red fluid oozed from it. It might've been ink, it might've been blood, but Hermione didn't stay long enough to see it.
She locked the door and closed the windows as she changed into her night clothes. Whoever had sent her these letters was probably just some sick, twisted prankster and she wouldn't fall for whatever they did next.
This is all just some stupid joke and I'm just being paranoid. Hermione thought to herself about the strange sight she had seen. Flicking her wand so that the all the lights but in the fireplace went out, Hermione crawled under the silk covers of her queen bed and fell asleep, thinking, or perhaps even hoping that the prankster would stop.
Little did she know that the real trouble was yet to come…
When Hermione woke up the next morning- she felt like shit.
Feeling almost cheerful even though her head was pounding, she got ready for the day, doing the morning essentials then dressing into her Hogwarts uniform.
As she stood in front of the mirror, she took her hair into a fist and pulled it into a messy ponytail.
Peering closer to the mirror, she saw something different about her appearance.
Hm, got a zit, have to remember to clear that up afterwards. She thought to herself, taking her eyes off the mirror and gathering her school books into her backpack.
Going down to the Heads' common room, she was about to leave for the Great Hall when she heard Harry bound down the stairs, calling, "Hey Hermione, wait up!"
Harry came over to where she was standing and together they left the Head tower.
Harry looked at Hermione worriedly. "Mione are you okay? Why'd you suddenly run away from the dorms last night?"
"Long story." Hermione replied stiffly.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Ron didn't say anything either and he seemed kind of sick after you left. What happened last night?"
Hermione sighed. "Harry can I explain it to you afterwards? I'm really quite hungry." She said, quickening her pace as they dodged around a group of Ravenclaw fourth years.
Harry didn't say anything after that but Hermione kept up her fast pace. She didn't know why she was reluctant to tell Harry about the words on the wall, she just was. Burning the letter last night had felt extremely good then, but now she felt almost guilty for having done so. What if it had been from Ron, perhaps asking her to accompany him to the next Hogsmeade trip, or to help him with his Potions homework, or-
Harry pulled Hermione to him, as a several second year boys went racing past them around the corner.
"Careful." He grunted.
"Thanks." Hermione muttered. Then it clicked in her mind. What had happened to the boys' dorm, it was overflowing with blood when she had left it last night. Had Ron been able to clean up the mess?
Of course he had, otherwise Harry would be asking me about the writing on the wall already. She thought.
The walk to the Great Hall seemed unbearably long to Hermione for she itched to ask Ron about what he done to the mess last night.
They finally reached the hall and Hermione half ran to where she saw Ron was sitting.
"Morning mate." Harry said, clapping a hand to Ron shoulder, as he planted him self between him and Ginny.
Hermione gave Ginny a brief smile before sitting beside Ron.
"What did you do last night?" She asked him immediately.
Ron looked at her with a glazed expression on his face. "It- it-"
"What happened?"
Ron leaned in closer to her. "Everything, the blood, the writing, everything just disappeared when I went back last night."
"How's that possible?" Hermione whispered to him, her curiosity peaked.
"I have no clue."
"So none of the others know about this?"
"No." Ron whispered back. "I think it was some sort of joke, someone trying to pull our leg with that little stunt last night."
"Maybe." Hermione said. She had thought for herself that it was a joke, but having Ron say it, made her a little surer that what was happening was just some stupid prank.
She ad Ron didn't speak of it all day through their classes, and nor did Harry or Ginny bring up why Hermione had rushed from the common room last night.
The day had been mundane, with nothing out of the ordinary and Hermione now felt confident that whatever happened was a joke.
After dinner, Ron and Harry parted with them, saying that they'd go out to the quidditch pitch and play some. Ginny refused to go out in the cold and stayed back with Hermione in the Gryffindor common room as the boys went to get their brooms.
"Mental I swear." Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "I love quidditch too, but I'm not going to freeze my ass off on a broom for no reason."
Hermione laughed and from the corner of her eye saw their respective boyfriends leave the room, brooms clutched in their hands.
"So you and Ron." Ginny said, smiling broadly. "It was about time it happened. You guys liked each other for ages."
Hermione blushed. "Was it that obvious?"
"You think?" Ginny asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Well, anyway, I have this incredible dress that mum sent me for the ball, want to see it?"
"You bet!"
"Okay, come on, it's upstairs."
Hermione followed Ginny up to the sixth year girls' dormitories.
Just like the night before, they both stopped dead in front of the open doorway, their mouths hanging open in shock.
Hanging from a thread from the ceiling was a muggle Barbie doll with red hair, dressed up in a miniature Hogwarts costume, her neck seemingly slashed, twirling eerily in the still air of the large room...