Chapter 9 – Armadillo Bile

Armadillo bile. Harry sat and contemplated the next sentence of his seemingly unending, two and a half foot essay for Snape. As he waited for a stroke of genius to be bestowed upon him, rescuing him from this utter torture, he looked around the room to see if maybe other sixth years were having the same problem as him. As if on cue, Ron crossed out the last sentence on his parchment and, judging by Harry's inability to read his essay, he had done so more than once before. Harry tried to focus again but his efforts were pointless now as his mind kept wandering. Fifteen minutes later he had not written anything more and was thinking about anything but the strengths of armadillo bile. In fact, he found himself asking, "Who the bloody hell cares?" Truth was, outside of potion making, armadillo bile was completely useless.

Harry, who had been trying hard to avoid this situation, as he was sure to be lectured on how he should just simply pay attention in class, decided to consult Hermione. He turned to the chair in which she usually sat but looked to find that she was not there, and nor was Ginny. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen either since the end of lessons that day, not even at dinner.

"Ron, where are Hermione and Ginny?"

Ron looked up from his essay with a tired look on his face. Harry understood; he felt the same way.

"Dunno mate. I haven't seen them for awhile. Reckon we should go look for them?" Ron stretched and yawned.

"Sure. I have a feeling that I'm not going to be getting many more brainwaves about armadillo bile anytime soon."

"I know, stupid essay! I think I've written the same sentence maybe five times already."

They set out into the dimly lit corridors, searching the most common places first. The library was the first place they sought, but Hermione, nor Ginny, was there. Next was the Hospital Wing. No. The Astronomy Tower. No. The Great Hall. Nothing.

Each and every classroom they passed was searched and Ron and Harry, though distraught over not being able to find Hermione and Ginny, were rewarded with a small treat about halfway through their search. Since many of the classrooms they entered had been empty, it being pretty late at night, they had stopped knocking before going into a room. Almost every time they got no answer anyway and the practice was getting quite tedious.

But of course, there was one exception. Ron and Harry, being quite bored and tired by now, forcefully opened the door, talking together about Quidditch and such. They were ready for another disappointment of not finding anyone. But they did in fact find someone in this room. It was Malfoy. With Professor McGonagall. Taking remedial Transfiguration!

Malfoy's cheeks had reddened the moment they entered but McGonagall seemed quite unfazed. She offered that perhaps next time, Harry and Ron knock.

After apologizing and politely excusing themselves, they made their way toward the door. Once outside and a good distance away from the room, they burst into hysterics. They hooted with laughter until their sides hurt and their eyes were tearing.

Finally giving up hopes that they were going to find the girls, and hoping that they were back at the Common Room by now, they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. On the way, they were careful to avoid Filch and anyone else who might present trouble. They did, however, have to pass by Myrtle's bathroom, something Harry really didn't like seeing as Myrtle always asked why he didn't come to visit. He was not looking forward to the day that he had to tell her the truth. Quite frankly, that she creeped him out.

He had expected to hear some noise; possibly Myrtle whining and acting miserably as usual. But instead of her high pitched moans he heard low, muffled sobs. This was not Myrtle.

Who would be in Myrtle's bathroom at this time? From what he knew from Hermione, no one even went there during the day, never mind in the dead of night. He summoned Ron over and they pressed their ears against the door.

"…I'm just scared, you know? He's back and I'm afraid and, I'm just so scared right now. Oh Gin, I'm so sorry I brought you here! I just didn't want anyone to really hear this conversation. I didn't want anyone to know that I really feel this way."

Ron looked frightened now, but at least this verified where Hermione and Ginny were. What was it Hermione didn't want them to know? Oh no, was it a girl thing? He pressed his ear up against the slightly cracked door again.

Ginny answered, her voice cracking slightly, "No, it's okay Hermione. I'm just…this place brings back really bad memories."

Harry heard her voice drop several octaves and he imagined her glancing nervously at the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, where she had been forced to do the bidding of Lord Voldemort himself. Harry wanted more than anything to be there for her, to hold her. But if Hermione didn't want him and Ron to hear this conversation, then they better not get busted. Or else, there would be hell to pay. He listened again.

"I just…it used to be the trio, you know? And of course, Harry has you now, but I'm afraid he'll never trust us fully again. I can't have that happening. I need him as much as I need Ron. I need him to support me and Ron through this and I know he needs us too."

Ginny spoke, "I know Harry doesn't want to hurt me or you and Ron but I'm a big girl now. I was only in first year when this all happened, you know, everything that happened in this bathroom, and well, I was vulnerable."

"I know, it's hard to believe it was so long ago. I wish I could have been there for you. Stupid basilisk. He had to go and petrify me in the corridor outside!"

"It wasn't your fault, nor Harry or Ron's. I didn't have many friends then and Ron wasn't always there."

There was a silence then and Harry looked to gauge Ron's reaction. He shrugged but whispered, "I wish I would have paid more attention, maybe I could have done something to stop it if I had known what was going on."

They turned their ears back to the door. There was still silence until Ginny spoke abruptly.

"He's still my favorite brother, you know? He always has been."

"Who? Ron?"

"Yeah, it was always me and him, even before Hogwarts. It was always us two against Fred and George's pranks, us two against Mum and Dad's accusations. God, it was us two against Charlie when we blocked him at the door and begged him not to go to Romania!"

"Really?" Hermione asked, "Oh, that's so sweet. I wish I had brothers who cared about me. I have nobody."

"That's not true! You've got your parents, they love you! My parents love you! I love you, Harry loves you!"

At this point Harry was able to slightly change his position so he could see through the crack in the door. Hermione smiled weakly at Ginny's last comment. Ginny smiled back.

"And Hermione, I think one more person loves you more than you can ever know."

"Who?" Hermione asked disbelievingly.

"My brother. He loves you more than anything in the world, Hermione. Just remember that."

Hermione smiled broadly at this and reached to give Ginny a hug. Harry turned to see Ron frowning. He smacked himself in the head:

"Why, Ginny? Why? I was saving that line! That was supposed to be my line!"

Harry grinned, but didn't say anything. The point had gotten across to Hermione either way.