Sorry it's short, but hey at least it was quick this time. This story will be 9 chapters. Chapter eight is finished; chapter nine needs a little revision. Chapter seven is going a little slow but I'm getting there.
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I arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron last night soaked in my watchers blood with the knife that killed him in my hand. I knew I had to sneak back in, but I wasn't sure I had the energy or the willpower. I wanted to be found, I didn't want to hide. Maybe they would find the body as well and know it was me.
I pushed those thoughts out of my mind. Adrian had not just died so I could be sent to Azkabam and live out my life behind bars. It did occur to me though that I'd probably live longer in Azkabam then I would out of it.
So I used the last bit of energy I had to sneak past the guards patrolling the Leaky Cauldron for Harry's protection and I made my way to mine and Ginny's room. I went into the small bathroom and washed the mix of Kakistos and Adrian's blood. I stripped of my blood soaked clothes and burnt them in the fireplace. Then finally I showered, scrubbing all the blood off me. When my skin was red from the burning hot water and scrubbing too hard I turned off the water and collapsed at the bottom of the shower, my tears seemed to fall as fast and hard as the hot water just a few moments before until I fell into an easy nightmare filled sleep.
It was Ginny who woke me up, shouting at me to hurry up in the bathroom with no idea how long I had really been there. I got out, and checked my face, making sure it didn't look to puffy from all the crying.
I didn't even try to smile as I walked past. I just kept my head down and tried not to catch her eye.
"Forgot your not a morning person" mumbled Ginny as she went into the bathroom.
'You wouldn't be either' I thought, 'if you spent every night hunting vampires till early morning'
I saw Ginny's trunk sitting with most of her stuff already in it, just a few bits and pieces lying around. Mine was sitting next to my bed in quite a similar state, although I hadn't been quite sure where I was going to take it. I was hoping everything would be clearer this morning; that I would know without I doubt whether or not to go back to school.
I had been right. I didn't feel like I had a choice. If I told everyone I was not going to school then what would I do? Adrian was dead and I had no idea how to contact the other watchers. I knew there was a council, but Adrian had never told me where they were, it was never important. Besides, getting on a train and going to a school that was supposedly impossible to find unless you knew where you were going didn't sound like a bad idea.
I had staked that vampire. I put the stake into his heart and he didn't die. Why not? What would it take to actually kill him? I don't want to know. I just wanted to get the hell out of London to a place where he couldn't find her. Hogwarts was meant to be the safest place in Britain; I might just test that theory.
The journey to Hogwarts was unbearable. Even Harry who had been depressed all summer had cheered up slightly today, ready to go back to school. I couldn't even pretend to smile and be happy. Not today. I hated seeing everybody else so cheerful, wanted to scream at them to stop laughing so long after Adrian had died. But I couldn't, I had to sit there and suffer.
The others played exploding snap and wizarding chess. They ate all the snacks off the trolley and tried to include me in the fun. I shut my eyes and tried to pretend to sleep, God knows I didn't get enough last night. But there was no point. Every time I shut my eyes I saw Adrian. His lifeless body seems to be imprinted on the back of eye lids and every time I think about it's like I can still feel his blood, like I'm soaked in it. I guess I just have his blood in my hands.
At dinner I didn't eat. I just pushed my food around, I couldn't understand how everybody else could carry on joking and laughing, what the hell was there to laugh about? Ron obviously didn't notice my discomfort, too absorbed in all the food in front of him. Harry noticed, he asked if I was alright and accepted my short nod in reply.
As I sat there contemplating the idea that these last twenty four hours had probably been the worst of my life the impossible happened, they got worse.
Professor Snape left the teachers table and came over, walking purposefully towards the Gryffindor table. He stopped when he reached the part where my Ron and Harry were sitting. "Miss Granger, could you please report to my office straight after dinner so that we can discuss my replacement of Mr Grant"
He left before I could comment. I just sat there shell shocked until I could form the only two words on my mind. "Fucking hell!" I said.
"Hermione!" exclaimed Ron shocked. "And you're always having a go at me for swearing!"
"Sometimes Ron" I told him, "The situation warrants it OK?"
So there you have it. My day in hell. I lost watcher, let him die and then left him as I ran. I hid the whole thing from friends and then got the worse new possible, my new watcher is none other than Severus Snape. This is not going to be a good year.
