Left Behind
Chapter Four
"From our birthday, until we die
is but the winking of an eye."
William Butler Yeats
Gryffindor Seventh Year Girls' Dormitory, a quarter past six in the morning
It had begun as a light tapping and perhaps other Seventh Years would bask in the fact that graduating students had private rooms and ignore the knock on their doors, but Hermione was Hermione and being Hermione, she had rightly expected that her male prefectural counterpart, Seamus Finnegan, would often sleep in a bed not his own, thus one of the complicated wards she had erected around her room included what could be thought of as a knock-amplifier. The lightest of raps would increase in volume until she responded to visitors or students in need of assistance.
It was still fairly dark outside and cocooned in the silence of her room, the tapping came across as fairly loud thuds now. Hermione stood, reaching for a dressing gown to don over her night. A quick Scourgify later – not good for the skin according to Lavender, but Hermione doubted a visitor this early in the morning could wait and since when did she listen to Lavender – Hermione opened the door to a rather bloodied Neville waiting outside.
She gasped, hurriedly pulled him in and left the door open as he was followed by a frightfully pale Ginny and an unperturbed Luna, carrying a box. Raiding her personal first-aid box, she deferred questions until the cut on his face had been cleaned. The blood all over the front of his robes, on the other hand, was removed with Ginny's assistance.
"Six brothers." Ginny replied when Hermione looked up from Neville's cut to witness the redhead's perfect execution of a rather tricky stain-removing spell. "Wasn't too sure about healing spells though so we had to go to you." There was no need to mention that Poppy had been visibly overworked during the past few weeks.
It only took a few dabs of a cloth dipped in dittany to have the skin knit itself together. After replacing the bottle in her wardrobe drawer, Hermione turned to the three.
"There had better be a good reason for that."
"There is."
"Well," Hermione sat down at the end of her bed. "Let's hear it."
"We were walking along the corridor," Neville began. "Professor Carrow appeared out of nowhere and sent a Slicing Hex straight at Ginny or Luna – I couldn't really tell – and the Protego I cast didn't seem to work so I just blocked it myself."
Wide-eyed, Hermione understood why they hadn't gone to Madame Pomfrey. The girls all winced and Neville looked down at his hands, rubbing the palms together. "It was okay. Really."
"Did he even say why?"
"She. Amycus Carrow. And no, I have no idea why."
"Something about us convening outside class time," Ginny added. "Honestly, we were just on the way to your room."
"What?" Hermione was clearly confused. Neville was chuckling as he got off the bed. "Honestly, do you even remember what day it is today, Hermione?"
Hermione thought for a few moments. Her eyes lit up when it hit her.
Luna spoke up. "We were bringing you a gift, Hermione. Happy birthday."
Hermione turned to where Luna stood behind her. She had gravitated to the window or rather the Healing Herb she had been carrying in the box was gravitating to the sun, its leaves angled to bask fully in the light. Hermione was touched by their thoughtfulness after she realized it was a gift.
"Neville obviously grew it." Ginny offered. "Luna handled the charms that will keep it small and in shape so it won't take up too much space. I mostly helped out in keeping an eye over it. The rest of my contribution to your birthday surprise is waiting on your breakfast plate." She came over and hugged the older girl.
"Thank you, guys." Hermione rested her head atop the red waves of her friend's hair. Luna and Neville approached them and the young man pulled the three girls into a giant bear hug. "I'd forgotten with all the things I've been handling."
A wheeze. "We knew." Luna was having difficulty breathing because of Neville's crushing hug. "So do we head on to breakfast so we can eat Ginny's surprise cake for you?"
"Luna!"
Hermione laughed. "Oh, it's all right, guys. I'll pretend I'm surprised when I see it, Ginny, if you want me to."
"If we get to see it." The normally fair girl was turning an odd shade of blue. "Let go of us, Neville. Asphyxiation just isn't a good way to go."
Great Hall, lunch time
Something had been niggling at Hermione all morning during the whole of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, but it was only during their lunch that she had the opportunity to ask.
"Neville," she cast a covert Muffliato beneath the table, "what happened after the Carrows attacked you?"
The boy had been tucking heartily into his meal. Swallowing, he looked to Ginny to answer and said, "It was a bit of a blur, really."
"The Headmaster came by," the redhead supplied.
Hermione put down her spoon. "What?"
"He was following the Carrows." Luna continued. She had been walking behind the other two since she was levitating the plant box, hence she'd seen the scene clearer. "Fuming mad about something."
"Yeah. Another hex hit me and blood started dripping from my nose. The whole front of my shirt was immediately bloody too."
"The Headmaster hit you, I think, Neville." The calm manner in with which Luna said this perturbed Hermione, "Then he sent us off."
Hermione was surprised. No points, no detention, not even a questioning – and given all she had overheard him saying to the Carrows? Then again, she wouldn't tempt fate by mentioning it. She asked instead, "Did he say anything?"
"He said, 'Happy?"
"What?" The frequency with which she was asking that question was beginning to irk her inner know-it-all.
"I think it was directed at the Carrows." Neville looked like he was trying to remember the sequence of events more clearly, "He said that, then told us to leave."
Hermione became pensive. As she pushed the food around her plate, she couldn't help, but feel something was wrong with the turn of events and deciding that she wouldn't be eating any more even if she stayed longer, she stood to leave.
"You're done eating?" Ginny's tone was incredulous.
"Still full from breakfast." Hermione grinned. "Lots of food for thought." As if a replay of that morning, she swung her bag over her shoulder and walked to the door of the Great Hall.
"Honestly." Ginny huffed, "She's not even the type to watch her weight, but she's thinner than I am."
Room of Requirement, after dinner time
She'd missed dinner to be here, sitting by the hearth in peace, since Hermione was truly more of an introspective person. All in all, this birthday had been pleasant – or at least, more pleasant than could be expected under the conditions they were in. The cake Ginny made was almost Molly-like, which caused Hermione to speculate on the younger girl's marriage plans. Tea and cookies from Mrs. Weasley sent through owl post this morning were there to tide her by as well as her personal stash of Pepper-Up laced chocolates.
The Weasley brothers were pretty thoughtful friends too as the majority of her presents came in the form of books from the Weasley family – she presumed the books on wards was from Bill, for instance, but there were several others on potions and dragons too. Lupin also sent a Honeydukes gift check. The most entertaining gifts, however, were spread out before her: an assortment of Weasley Wizard Wheezes products. They'd been disguised as female toiletries, but Hermione knew enough to recognize the trademark personalized, touch-activated WWW glamour. How they did it without breaking privacy laws since such a charm would technically require a sample ofhair or nails or something similar from the recipient, she didn't want to know. She touched the wrapping and in an instant, she had a vial of tester potions, including what she guessed was an illegal Veritaserum the boys marketed as Bluff!, several pairs of enhanced Extendable Ears, a complete Skiving Snackbox, and apparently the Luscious Lipgloss – Bewitch Your Wizard! (Hermione's eyes rolled at that)-, that had been among the beauty products wasn't under a glamour.
The whole package had been stuffed with chains of heart-shaped confetti and one of her eyebrows shot up as she noticed their shape.
'Now is as good a time as any,' she mused. The hearts were lined up on the table in front of her in short order and she directed a shot of a bluebell flame at the last one. Like dominoes falling, the flames ran through the paper chain, creating sparks that ricocheted around the room. It was a curious mix of shiny cusswords and split-second explosions of naughty images. Only the last words to dissipate were clearly for her.
"Happy Birthday, Hermione!" glittered in rainbow colours. "Welcome to the adult Wizarding World! Don't have too much fun okay?"
Hermione laughed at the irony of what she was hearing and who sent the message to her. Making a mental note to check the lipgloss for added enchantments by the twins later, she enjoyed the message at face value, purposely not thinking of the innuendo.
One of the clear benefits of the Room of Requirement was sound-proofing and the distinction from most castle wards. Else, she'd have teachers running in when she released the fire-hazard hearts. Good thing too because the next thing she heard was not fit for enemy ears. She could recognize Ron's voice from anywhere.
"Bloody hell! What was that for?"
AN: Thank you for the kind reviews. As I edited my drafts for the succeeding chapters, I realised that I'm terribly slow and we've had little SS/HG action. Just going for a realistic pace so I hope you don't mind and we'll get there eventually, I assure you. :) Please do keep reading and drop a review if you'd like.