A/N: I know I've taken my good old time updating my stories but college had me whipped. I did nothing but school work most of the time. So here's an update finally.
Chapter 8: The walk
Later in the common room, Hermione was copying Harry's notes as he and Ron played a game of chess. Ginny was sitting with her reading a book and after the third time the brunette girl sighed she set the book down.
"Are you going to talk willingly, or am I going to have to pry it out of you?" Ginny said.
Hermione rubbed her eyes. "I don't know Gin, I just feel so confused all of the sudden. I can't sleep at night, I slept through all of my classes today, and it's just weird. I never do this."
The red-head moved down the couch next to her friend, "It'll be alright Mione, everything works out in its own way."
"I know, just I wish I knew what needed to be worked out." The girls went back to doing their work as Ron yelled about his knight being taken out by Harry's queen.
The rest of the week went the same for Hermione though, she didn't sleep at night and spent most of them tossing and turning in her bed. During the day she zoned in and out of focus during class. By Saturday she was ready for a day of nothing but sleep, however, when Professor McGonagall came into the common room looking for her she got nervous.
"Granger this isn't like you at all. Frankly, I'm a bit worried about you." The woman said a true look of concern in her eyes. McGonagall was like a mother to everyone in Gryffindor tower, just a very strict mother.
"I wish I could tell you what was going on Professor, but I don't know myself." Hermione confessed. "I just can't sleep at night, and it's been taking a toll on my performance in class."
The woman stood there thinking and looking at her star pupil. "Miss Granger I'm wondering if you have too much on your mind. You have spent the past few years walking these halls taking extra classes, and fighting off death eaters, not to mention doing all your work plus those of Weasley and Potter- oh, don't think I don't know you do that. But I'm not here to reprimand you for it, or to stop helping them. I'm here because the entire faculty has become concerned with your behavior lately."
Hermione felt her cheeks turn pink, she never acted this way. She always got top marks and had all her homework done a month early. "I think you're right professor, I need to relax a bit more." Both girls nodded and the Scot patted Hermione on the shoulder before walking away, the look on concern still evident on her face.
Since she had already gotten dressed for lunch, Hermione decided she would take a walk out on the grounds to try and clear her head a bit. Maybe her mind was finally catching up on her after all those years of studying for exams months before they happened, and becoming frantic over homework assignments. Stepping out into the cool September air, Hermione shivered a bit shoving her hands into the pocket of her sweatshirt and continuing to stroll around the grounds making way to the lake.
There was a spot by the lake where Krum had taken her during her fourth year, back to where they had actually met. It was covered in pebbles and a giant rock where they used to sit and talk. Jumping up onto the rock and sitting cross legged, Hermione took a deep breath of the fresh air and closed her eyes taking in the autumn sun.
A few moments later she heard barking and watched as Dobby chased a crup puppy along the shore watching defeated as the pup jumped into the water and swam around happily. "Hello Dobby," Hermione called from her rock.
"Hello Miss Granger, how is you doing?" Dobby asked excitedly clapping his hands. This caused the puppy to come out of the water and jump at the elf knocking him down. Hermione walked over towards her favorite elf and helped him back up noticing the pet jumping at her leg shivering, but not caring if it was cold.
Drying the animal off Hermione sat on the pebbles and started petting the animal. "Dobby, is this Fritz?" She asked smiling.
"Yes it is miss, Master Bill asked Dobby to take cares of Fritz while he is in class." Dobby shook his head. "It is more difficult to walk him than peoples would think for an elf."
Hermione continued petting the dog who had curled up in her lap. "I'll take him back to Bill so he doesn't jump in the lake again." She offered noticing the elf's small smile.
"Thank you miss!" He said bidding good bye and apparating back to the kitchens.
Fritz twitched his nose in the slumber. "I guess it's just you and me now huh?" Hermione picked him up and carried the dog all the way back into the castle earning several odd looks from her classmates. Eventually, they arrived at Bill's portrait and announcing the password it swung open. Fritz jumped out of her arms and ran into the living room. "Bill, are you here? I brought Fritz back." She called walking into the common room slowly. "Guess he's not here." Turning to leave again Hermione heard whimpering as the cute ball of fur walked back over and set a paw on her foot.
"He really likes you," Hermione jumped. "He never even acts like this for me."
Laughing the girl bent down and picked up her little admirer. "What can I say, animals love me." She felt Fritz nuzzle into her falling back asleep.
"I hear McGonagall came and talked to you today about how you've been acting this week." Bill said almost awkwardly offering his student a seat on the couch. "We're all worried you know, even Snape mentioned something about how you haven't been bothering him with questions."
Still looking at the sleeping dog in her lap Hermione sighed. "I don't know what's wrong with me Bill, that's what scares me more than anything." The red-head nodded in understanding but said no more. Right now Hermione didn't need advice, she needed someone to talk to.
After about twenty more minutes of comfortable silence the brunette stood up placing the dog on the couch. "I should probably be getting back before Ron ruptures an artery freaking out about my disappearance." Bill laughed as he waved good bye.
"There you are!" Ron said predictably as she arrived back at Gryffindor tower. "We've been looking for you for over an hour!"
"Calm down Ron, I went for a walk." She answered softly.
"Where to?" He kept going, his ears turning red.
"I don't think that's any of our business," Harry cut in placing a warning hand on his friends shoulder. "Hermione's a big girl she can make her own decisions." Ron glared and sulked back into the overstuffed chair.
"Where did you go?" Ginny asked curiously, knowing she would be told.