Chapter Thirty-One.
Hermione's downfall.

Harry re-read the letter again and again. His mouth wide open in shock, he didn't know how long he sat there until he looked up to see Ron looking just as shocked and horrified. Harry was feeling a whole mixture of strong emotions. He had hatred for Voldemort like he had never felt before, and that was saying something. Worry and concern for his best friend Hermione, she had always been there for him and Ron when they needed her but now they would have to be there for her. And he felt the guilt he always did when something like this happened around him, he always blamed himself. This is awful…just awful. Why did he have to punish Hermione too? How many more deaths are there going to be before this is over? If this is ever over that is. I can't give him the horcrux now. I have to get rid of it.

"Should we go and find her?" Ron said quietly bringing Harry out of his reverie. Harry nodded and the two of them stood from their seats and ran together down the great hall and out of the doors not stopping for anyone who tried to talk to them. They finally stopped in the corridor outside the hall looking around. "I think we should split up, you take the common room, all the girls bathrooms, -

"Ron, how exactly am I supposed to check girls bathrooms?" Harry asked bewildered.

"Well I can't check them!" Ron cried.

"Then neither can I!"

"Ok, ok. I'll check them." Ron said dejectedly. "But you get Hagrid's hut and check some of the classrooms too."

"Right ok then. Let's go now. Either of us finds her, well we've got these haven't we." Harry said holding up his mirror that could be used to communicate with Ron's. Ron nodded and the two of them went there separate ways in search of Hermione. Harry went straight up to the common room where there was no sign of her. Knowing full well he wouldn't be able to get up the girls dormitory stairs he looked around and saw Parvarti and Lavender sitting in the corner of the room in deep conversation and occasionally giggling. Harry walked hastily over to them.

"Hey, I don't suppose you know if Hermione's in your dorm do you?" Harry said gesturing his hand towards the staircase. Lavender pretending she hadn't heard him got up and moved to the other side of the room. Parvarti was looking from Harry's desperate face to Lavender's scowl and chose to answer Harry.

"Sorry about her, she's still angry about the Ron thing. No Hermione isn't up there I'm sorry Harry. Why is everything…" Harry didn't hear anymore of what Parvarti was saying as he had ran out of the common room and through the portrait hole to continue searching. After looking for another half an hour in classrooms and down corridors Harry ventured out into the grounds and went straight to Hagrid's hut banging on the door for at least five minutes. When no one answered he looked through a window and saw no one was in there. That's funny where's Hagrid? Probably in the forest. Harry took the mirror out of his pocket and opened it. "Ron." He said. Five seconds later, Ron's face appeared.

"Found her?" Ron asked anxiously. Harry shook his head and Ron's face filled with disappointment.

"She probably just wants to be alone. I think we should just wait for her in the common room." Harry said remembering the times something like this had happened to him, all he had wanted was to be alone.

"Ok." Ron mumbled and his face disappeared from the mirror. Harry walked quickly up to the common room, all the way worrying about Hermione. He could honestly say he knew how she felt; losing parents and people he loved was the story of his life. When he arrived he saw Ron was already there.

"Myrtle sends her love." Ron scoffed. Harry raised his eyebrows at Ron and sat down. The two of them sat in silence for what felt like an hour but when Harry checked his watch only twenty minutes had passed. Mcgonagall came through the portrait hole and Harry and Ron immediately leapt up from their chairs waiting for her to speak as she walked over to them.

"Miss Granger said you'd be worried so I'm here to let you both know she is safe in my office." Mcgonagall said grimly. The frown lines on her forehead etched even deeper than usual.

"Well can we see her?" Ron said at once.

"Yes. I have a meeting with the minister so the three of you are to stay in my office." Mcgonagall said sternly.

"Professor why do you have a meeting with the minister?" Harry asked, wondering if he was pushing his luck to ask.

"Well Potter, I am not happy with him. When something like this happens, a student does in fact get a letter from the ministry, but under no circumstances should have to find out that way. You can understand reading such news in a letter makes it even more devastating." Mcgonagall informed them.

"That git." Ron said under his breath.

"How's Hermione." Harry said.

"As any student would be if they'd found out their parents had just been murdered at the hands of death eaters, she is not taking the news well. Having you both there might help but I'm just not sure how much." Mcgonagall said shaking her head. Harry and Ron followed Mcgonagall to her office where she gave the password and left them, as she had to meet with the minister. Harry and Ron glanced nervously at each other and walked up the winding staircase opening the door to the office, which used to be Dumbledore's. Harry scanned the room for a moment and saw Hermione slumped over on a chair in the corner of the room with her face hidden behind her hands. It was quite obvious she was crying. She seemed like she hadn't noticed Harry and Ron were in the room. They both walked slowly over to where she was sitting. Harry was feeling rather apprehensive; after all, he had never seen Hermione so upset.

"Hermione." Harry said tentatively sitting down next to her. She looked up taking her hands away from her face as if she had only just realised the both of them were there, her face was streamed with tears and her eyes were full of despair and torment. At this moment Harry had never felt worse for her. Hermione didn't say a word to either of them but tried to wipe away her tears with one of her hands. Harry took it away from her face and held it in his; she didn't look at him and carried on staring down at the ground but squeezed his hand gently to let him know she appreciated it, silent tears still falling down her face. Ron who had not yet sat down was standing in front of Hermione watching her with a look of compassion on his face.

"I'm so sorry Hermione." Ron muttered softly. Hermione finally looked up and straight at Ron. She stood up as Harry let go of her hand and flung her arms around Ron breaking down completely. Ron put his arms around her as she cried on his shoulder. Minutes went by as Hermione cried, and finally she pulled away from Ron, though not letting go of his hand and sat down beside Harry who put an arm around her.

"I've got to go in a couple of hours." Hermione said quietly.

"Where?" Harry asked her.

"My cousins. It will be the funeral in a couple of days. Mcgonagall says I shouldn't be here until I'm ready to come back. But I'm coming back as soon as the funeral is over. You need me here." Hermione was speaking with no tone of voice or facial expression, just staring at the space in front of her as Ron was still wiping tears away from her eyes.

"Were coming with you then. Right Ron?" Harry said looking over at Ron.

"Yeah we'll be there." Ron said firmly.

"No you can't. The horcrux." Hermione said simply as if it was a struggle to talk. She still didn't speak with any motivation or determination. Like she didn't care about anything.

"Look, Hermione, were not letting you go alone. So Ron will go with you to the funeral and I'll stay and destroy it on my own. Don't even argue with me. I'm sorry I can't come with you. But i will if you need me to, we can put the horcrux off. Your more important to me than that." Harry said sincerely.

"No, do it before he can take it from us. And Harry, please be careful." Hermione said letting go of Ron's hand and hugging Harry tightly. Harry had been sure she would have argued with him about this, but she didn't seem to have the strength.

"I will." Harry said hugging her back.