It was pointed out to me that I had not made it clear when this was set. This is set in Sixth Year. Um, yeah. I hope you enjoy :D
"Good," said Harry. "I suppose it's nearly time for dinner, so we should go."
Hermione nodded in agreement and the pair stood up. She slipped her hand into Harry's and he grinned.
"So.. We're something?"
Hermione nodded again. The two left the library and made their way to the Great Hall. They remained silent the whole time, enjoying each other's presence. Before they turned the corner that lead to the Great Hall, Hermione gasped.
"What?" asked Harry.
"What are we going to tell Ron?"
Harry's heart began to beat faster. "Er.." He started.
"Harry!"
Hermione immediately dropped Harry's hand and they turned around to see Ron approaching them. His ears turned red at the sight of Hermione.
"Uh.. Hermione, I'm real sorry, you know." He said, staring awkwardly at his feet.
Hermione cleared her throat nervously and looked between the two boys. "Right," She said with a nod of her head. "Well, thanks, Ron. Harry and I have something to tell you." Ron raised his eyebrows and glanced at Harry. Harry looked away. "Harry and I are together now. And I don't know about Harry, but I feel like this could potentially ruin our trio. But I think that as long as we're all honest with each other, we'll be fine. Harry and I will keep the snogging and such to a minimum and I'll still be able to hang around with you alone. Right, Harry?"
Harry looked up and nodded. "Yeah, of course."
Ron laughed. "Don't worry about me, guys! Honestly, I think this is brilliant."
Hermione gave him a look of surprise. "Really?"
Ron nodded and she beamed. "Well, that's great! And to think, I was so nervous! Anyway, shall we go inside now?"
The two boys nodded and Hermione interlaced her fingers with Harry again and then gave Ron an affectionate nudge. Hermione sat down across from Neville, Harry sat next to her and Ron sat next to Neville.
"Hi guys," said Neville. He looked over at the Ravenclaw table and waved happily at Luna.
"Hey Neville." Harry greeted.
Everyone dug into their food and happily chatted away. Hermione and Harry held hands under the table the whole time. After they finished dinner, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville made their way to Gryffindor Tower.
"I'm so glad it's Friday," Ron said with a yawn.
Upon entering, Neville tripped and fell to the floor with a dull thud. Hermione gasped.
"Are you alright, Neville?" She asked, immediately releasing Harry's hand to grab Neville's. She pulled him up off the ground and Neville nodded.
"Yeah, I just tripped on something back there. It was quite large, I think."
They all turned around to see Crookshanks lying in the middle of the dim and narrow corridor. "Oh, it was just Crookshanks!" Hermione exclaimed, snapping her fingers in an attempt to call him over.
A look of confusement crossed her face when he didn't respond. Ron made his way to Crookshanks and upon placing a hand on Crookshanks' body, gasped in terror.
"He's... dead." said Ron.
Hermione gasped and immediately burst into tears. "W-what?"
Harry pulled Hermione into a tight embrace and rubbed her back soothingly. Neville shook his head in disbelief and placed a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I don't think it was me, he was like that when I tripped."
Hermione nodded. "I kn-know, Neville. No worries."She managed to say before gasping for breath from the heaviness of her sobs.
Harry continued to rub her back. "It's alright, Mione, deep breaths."
Hermione nodded, trying her hardest to remain calm. But how could she? How could she stay calm when her cat had just been found dead? Crookshanks had been there through nearly everything. He had helped Hermione all throughout Fifth Year, when the horrible Delores Umbridge had taken over Hogwarts and was great company when she had stressed immensely over the O.W.L' had been a great source of comfort when Harry and Ron were fighting in Fourth Year, as she had refused to take sides and participate in their silly fight. Crookshanks had saved her life in Third Year and was the first to see what, or rather who, Scabbers really was. He had been there through it all and it hurt Hermione to think that his time was over. What worried her the most, though, was how Crookshanks had died. Had it occurred naturally? Or had someone accidentally performed some sort of Hex or Curse on him? Or had it been planned? Had someone purposely and intentionally killed Crookshanks? Hermione shuddered at the thought.
Without even realizing it herself, she'd been moved to one of the couches by the fire and was sitting between Harry and Ron. Harry was holding her hand, stroking it gently with his thumb. Ron had his arm around Hermione as she stared into the fire.
"Who did it?" She whispered.
Ron shrugged. "We don't know," Harry replied quietly.
"I'm so sorry, Mione." Ron added. Harry nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, boys," Hermione replied. "I think I'll go up to bed now."
The two boys nodded understandingly as Hermione stood. Harry stood up too and gave her a quick but caring kiss and then gave her a hug.
"Sleep tight." He whispered in her ear. Hermione nodded, grateful to have such an understanding boyfriend and best friend.
Ron stood too and gave her a quick hug. She dashed up to the Sixth Year girls domitory and the boys sat back down on the couch.
Ron sighed heavily. "Wow." He said.
Harry nodded. "Yeah... Wow. What do we do about his body?"
Ron shrugged. "Beats me, mate. Maybe we ought to tell Professor McGonagall. She'd know what to do, right?"
Harry nodded again. "Yeah," He turned around and scanned the room, looking for someone who would gladly do it.
"Hey, Seamus!" He called out. Seamus Finnigan looked up from his parchment and looked at Harry.
"Yeah, Harry?" He asked.
"Could you go and tell Professor McGonagall that Crookshanks has died?"
Seamus nodded and left immediately. Ron sighed.
"I feel like a right git, after what I said to Hermione. And now this has happened. I shouldn't've said anything."
Harry shrugged. "Don't worry, mate, I think she's forgotten all about it. I didn't get the chance to tell you earlier, but I found her crying in the library. That's where I went before dinner. And then I was comforting her and I asked her if something had happened and she said yes. I mean, she was crying a lot more than I'd have expected her to, because you really didn't say anything that bad. Anyway, she didn't want to tell me what else had happened, so I left it at that but I'm starting to think that it might be somehow linked to Crookshanks' death."
Ron nodded. "So that's how you two..." He trailed off. Harry nodded.
"Potter, Weasley, I must ask you," Professor McGonagall said as she entered the common room. "What has happened here tonight?"
Harry and Ron turned around and then stood to join her. "We dunno, Professor." Harry said.
Professor McGonagall looked surprised but then regained her composure. "Well, what do you mean?"
"I mean that when we came in, Neville tripped over something and we all turned around and saw that Crookshanks was lying there, dead. Neville reckons he didn't do it; that Crookshanks was already dead."
Ron cleared his throat. "Oh, and I checked to see if he was dead or not and he was quite cold, so I think that means he'd been dead for a while."
Professor McGonagall nodded gravely. "Yes, I do suppose you are right, Mr Weasley. Well, I hope you understand that there is nothing I can do about this. The death of Crookshanks is very tragic and I imagine Hermione is in quite a state. But I cannot identify how or who killed him. I'll have Madame Pomfrey or perhaps Professor Grubbly-Plank examine him and we shall see the cause of death. But for now, I advise you boys to stay out of it. I know you have a tendency to go looking for trouble, but this could potentially be very dangerous. Of course, it could very well be innocent. It could have been the result of an accident, but until we know, I want you two to let me handle it. Can I trust you not to do anything stupid?"
Professor McGonagall gave Harry and Ron a stern look and they nodded.
"Yes, Professor." They both said.
With one last nod, Professor McGonagall was gone and the two sighed.
"Well, I think it's time for me to hit the sack. Tonight has been pretty... heavy." Ron said, stretching his arms above him.
"Yeah, me too." Harry agreed, looking back at the spot where Crookshanks had been lying.
I know, I know! I didn't want to kill Crookshanks, but it made sense to. Please review :D