Chapter Fifty Nine
Three months had passed since Draco had left for America, and although the couple had spoken often over the phone, it was difficult to believe that their torrid weekend had ever happened. As the weeks passed by the events that followed Halloween seemed more and more like a dream.
Hermione sat in her office, watching the rain drip down the window pane, a pile of unmarked Arithmancy papers obscuring her view of the grounds. The sky was darkened with huge swathes of swirling leaden clouds and the wind howled around the parapet's of Hogwarts many towers. Hermione sat quietly with her own thoughts and was jolted out of her reverie by a knock at the door.
"Come in." She said, picking up the quill she had knocked to the floor with her surprise. A tall student entered through the door, holding in his hand a tightly rolled scroll.
"I have an owl for you Miss Granger." The young wizard announced, holding out the scroll for Hermione to take.
"Thank you Rollins." Hermione said, taking the scroll gratefully. As the door closed softly Hermione deftly unfastened the scarlet ribbon from around the scroll and slowly unrolled it.
"Hermione,
Meet me at the Hog's Head, there is something we
need to discuss urgently"
-Aberfoth Dumbledore"
Hermione looked at the stack of marking she had yet to complete, and then at the tempestuous weather and sighed. She couldn't ignore the message as it sounded important, so with a certain amount of resignation Hermione pulled on her thickest cloak, and set off for the unwelcome walk into the village.
Almost as soon as her foot crossed the threshold of Hogwarts her hood was blown down and her hair was whipped around her like a fiery inferno. Hermione did her best to wrap herself with the cloak but by the time she had reached the main gates, she was utterly bedraggled. Weather conditions deteriorated further outside of the grounds as the open moorland gave little refuge from the battering wind and rain. Hermione shuddered as she slipped and squelched her way down the muddy cart track into the village, and she was unsurprised that there was not a soul to be seen on the narrow cobbled streets of Hogsmeade. The wind had let up a little as she approached The Hog's Head, but she was yearning for the beckoning fire by the time she opened the old door into the pub.
A wall of sound hit her as she entered the smoky room. The pub was busier than she had ever seen it, probably filled with shoppers who had given up there shopping and sought refuge within it's warm walls. As expected, the open log fire was crackling away and people were huddled around it tightly. Hermione had to push her way through groups of witches and wizards to get to the bar, and when she got there she was disappointed to see that Aberforth was not in his usual place, serving his customers, instead a tiny witch (stood upon a wooden crate so as to see over the counter) was busily pouring butterbeer into tarnished tankards.
"Be with you in a mo deary." The little witch said upon seeing Hermione.
Hermione waited patiently as the harried witch served her rowdy customers, and before too long the witch picked up her crate and moved it over to where Hermione stood.
"What will it be, dear?" The witch enquired politely, climbing back up onto her platform.
"Actually," Hermione replied, "I was looking for Aberforth, but I would love a butterbeer please?
"Ah, Hermione is it?" The witch asked, "Aberforth told me to expect you. Unfortunately he had to go out, but he asked me to ask you if you could wait."
"Oh, okay." Hermione said, a little dissapointed.
The witch expertly poured Hermione's drink, "You can either wait here or wait in the back." She said.
"I'm okay here." Hermoine said, thinking of the fire. Taking the tankard from the witch Hermone paid, and tried to edge closer to the fire side.
"Move aside, you lot." A deep voice boomed. Hermione felt a massive arm around her shoulders and looked up.
"Hagrid!" She exclaimed, seeing the friendly face of her colleague.
"Hey 'ermione, you look a right sight!" Hagrid said, "she's angry today!" He added referring to the weather, then turned to face the group surrounding the fire, "Come on move your bloody carcasses, can't you see this poor witch is soaking." The group mumbled but parted nevertheless to allow Hermione access to the warmth from the fire. "What you doin' 'ere on a day like this?" He asked as they took a seat next to the hearth.
"Aberforth sent for me," Hermione answered, "so your guess is as good as mine."
"Ah well, we'll soon find out." Hagrid said, wiping a smear of foam from his moustache. "Here he comes."