~Chapter 3~
'Okay Hermione, let's try this again' I said to myself as I pushed the large oak door of the hospital wing open. My head felt much more clear after the long skulk I had at the lake, and my heart wasn't racing nearly as fast as it was earlier today.
I needed time, I decided. I had no business dating anyone. It's perfectly acceptable for me to need to take a step back and find my footing again. Ron and Harry, or any other potential suitor, would just have to understand. However, my priority was making sure Ron was okay. We could talk about the more complicated stuff later.
I set my shoulders square, took a deep breath, and walked towards the curtain in the back that I knew surrounded Ron's bed. I could hear whispers and whimpers from behind the other curtains, and I said a silent prayer to whoever was listening that the wounded and traumatized would find peace.
"Hey 'Mione!" Ron said gleefully, setting aside the radio he had been fiddling with. "Glad you were able to make it up for a visit finally. Harry said you've been crazy busy." Seeing him in such good spirits made me smile, Ron was always one to bounce back from most injuries pretty quickly – unless his ego was involved. I winced internally.
"Yeah," I said finally, after his expectant look reminded me that I had yet to reply. "The castle was, and parts of it still are, quite the mess. Most of the big stuff is complete though." I finished, taking a seat next to his cot.
"That's good. Glad to hear it. I can't wait to get out of this bloody place. Has Harry told you about 'The Plan'?" Ron lowered his voice to nearly a whisper, and I narrowed my eyes into suspicious slits.
"He has not told me about 'The Plan', what on Earth are you talking about?" I asked, not very politely.
"Well, it's probably best to not discuss it here. Madame Pomfrey has a way of knowing everything that's going on in this place. Why don't you have Harry catch you up later tonight?" Ron said. Just then, we heard footsteps approaching quickly.
"Discuss what, mate?" Harry said as he rounded the curtain, taking a seat next to me atop the bedside table.
"Harry, find yourself an actual chair. Ron here was just telling me about..." I gave Harry a stern look "'The Plan'" I emphasized. I was extremely worried that Harry was making rash decisions so quickly after such an emotional event for everyone.
"Well, I can understand your concern, Hermione," he said with a raised eyebrow "but that's why I'd like to make an actual plan this time 'round. I know I've jumped the thestral too many times, and I think I need to go about this differently." Harry said, looking down at his hands which were folded in his lap. I huffed, he still had yet to grab a chair.
"We will talk about it tomorrow." I sighed, "Room of Requirement at 8am, as soon as you're out of the hospital wing." With a wave of my wand, a chair with paisley cushions appeared. I nudged Harry off the bedside table with my foot and into the chair rather forcefully.
"But, I'll miss my breakfast!" Ron complained.
"Oh shut up, call a house elf. It's the bloody Room of Requirement." I snapped playfully.
"You've come a long way since S.P.E.W." Harry cracked.
"I hate the both of you sometimes." I huffed. Not too sure where the sass was coming from, but it felt good to joke and tease like things were relatively normal.
xxx
Once again, I was curled up in the common room with a book. This time, I was actually making some progress. I was trying to find anything I possibly could about horcruxes and other related soul-magic. With a note from Professor McGonagall I had gotten permission to check out books from the Restricted Section. I could tell that Madame Pince did not like this new development at all.
It didn't make for very good light reading, unfortunately. Oftentimes I'd wince, and in one case, nearly lose my stomach when turning the page to a new illustration even worse than the last.
This time, I heard Harry approaching. He took a seat across from me, and stared off into the fireplace as he waited for me to save my place. He seemed to have a lot on his mind these days, and would rather sit in silence, or talk quietly. Gone was the once young and boisterous 11 year old boy that was eager to find his place in the world, and replaced was a man who seemed to have the task of saving instead.
"You're not allowed to visit me when I'm here sitting by the fire." I joked "Look what happened last time." I was trying to lighten the mood.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You're on one today, 'Mione." He said with a smile.
"I'm just... I guess this is me now. I feel, changed somehow. I understand the gravity of the situation we're all in. But also, I understand that without finding some sort of humor, I'll end up angry and bitter." I said sadly.
"I agree." He said with a slight inclination of his head.
"So, this plan?" I asked.
"I've just been thinking on some things." he said "I'm not planning on staying here and finishing my seventh year. School can come later, I have things I need to do."
"I wouldn't expect you to. I think I've known since the attack on the school that we can't sit around any longer." I said, tucking my legs up under me.
"You know I'd rather you and Ron stay where you two would be safe." He said, mostly to his trainers.
"Yeah, well... we're in just as much danger regardless of where we are." I replied "Not just because of you." I said quickly before he even had a change to go down the path of self-blame. "But because of who Ron and I are. He's from a family of very vocal 'blood traitors', and here I am... 'brightest witch of her age' and quite muggleborn. We're targets Harry, we would be whether or not we're close to you."
"Fair point." He said sharply. "I still don't like it."
"You need us, Harry" I replied softly. "And we need you." I finished.
"Okay." He sighed. "I don't even know why I try anymore." He shared a rare, yet slight, smile with me.
"We will talk about details tomorrow morning?" I suggested, looking at the clock that hung on the mantle.
"Yeah, at 8." Harry confirmed. "We're going to be late to the Order meeting." He observed, after craning his neck to look at the clock also.
"We should go." I said, not wanting to move from the soft cushions.
-
Harry and I walked in to an absolute uproar. Remus was holding both of his hands up, trying to get everyone to stop yelling, but it was to no benefit. Everyone seemed to be trying to say something at the same time. I wasn't even sure what the topic of this so called 'discussion' was.
Finally, Harry raised his fingers to his lips and let out a whistle that would make Madame Hooch jealous.
"What..." he looked around the room, from one end to the other, "is going on here?"
And that's when I realized the Order would never be the same.