Chapter 40
Professor McGonagall moved swiftly toward the Gryffindor entrance to the Quidditch Pitch, an anxious look on her face. She was just descending the stairs from the pitch after talking with Professor Sprout, who had headed off immediately to speak with Madam Hooch and have her own team called down after noticing that they'd already begun flying laps around the pitch to warm up.
"Professor McGonagall," Oliver said in slight confusion upon seeing her as he exited the Gryffindor tent followed by the rest of the team where they had just been discussing their strategy for the upcoming game.
"This match has been cancelled," Professor McGonagall said, seeing no point in dillydallying.
"We can't cancel Quidditch," Oliver said, feeling his hopes for the team's victory in the Quidditch Cup wane.
"Silence, Wood," Professor McGonagall said, ending the argument before it began. "You and your teammates will go to Gryffindor tower. Now. You are to wait there until I come and get you, is that clear?"
Oliver nodded looking glum and led the team away.
"Potter," Professor McGonagall said, delaying Harry from following. "You and I will find Mr Weasley before we return to the castle. There's something you need to see."
It didn't take them long to find Ron. He was coming down the stairs from the stands with Hagrid, looking disappointed.
"Thank you, Hagrid," Professor McGonagall said before the boy could begin ranting about the cancelled game.
"Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said with a nod before he lumbered off toward his hut.
"Come along, both of you," Professor McGonagall said. "And please be quick about it. I want to be in and out before the rest of the house gets to the dorms."
"Professor?" Harry asked curiously.
"We are going up to retrieve Mr Wood," Professor McGonagall replied. "All will be explained once he has joined us. Now, come along."
Harry and Ron never knew just how fast Professor McGonagall could walk until they found themselves hard-pressed to keep up with her without jogging. They exchanged looks on the way, but didn't voice their concerns as they put their focus and effort on not falling behind and not getting reprimanded.
"Oliver Wood," Professor McGonagall called as entered the tower common room. "Come with me please."
Oliver stood from where he'd been talking quietly with the twins, going over various scenarios as to what could possibly cancel a Quidditch match, and joined the Professor, looking questioningly to Harry and Ron behind her. Harry and Ron both shrugged at the unspoken question however.
"The rest of you are to remain here," Professor McGonagall announced. "I have warned the Fat Lady that she is to open for no one exiting the common room. Your housemates will be joining you shortly. I will do my best to provide explanations upon our return."
"Professor," Oliver asked as they headed down the stairs once more.
"Not now, Wood," Professor McGonagall said.
The three students followed their Head of House in silence, but didn't see their housemates pass as Professor McGonagall led them off the Grand Staircase along another route. It wasn't long until they stopped at the infirmary doors.
"I warn you," Professor McGonagall said as they entered. "This could come as a wee bit of a shock."
Oliver swallowed thickly and paled when he saw the feet and legs of a young girl. He didn't have to see her face to know just who it was. Why else would he have been called?
"Hermione!" Ron whispered in shock as they came around the curtain to see the girl lying on the bed petrified, just as Mrs Norris had been.
"She was found near the library," Professor McGonagall said quietly. "Along with this," she continued, and picked up a small, hand mirror from the bedside table. "Does it mean anything to you?"
"No," Harry said softly.
Professor McGonagall looked to Ron who just shook his head, and then to Oliver who seemed frozen in place himself.
"Wood?" she prompted.
"No," Oliver said hoarsely, his throat tight with grief. "A-all I know is that she was planning on missing the game anyway."
"And why is that?" Professor McGonagall inquired gently.
Oliver glanced at Harry and Ron briefly and Harry nodded.
"She was doing research," Oliver murmured.
"On what?" Professor McGonagall asked, her voice just as gentle though she didn't miss the look the three had shared.
"I - I don't rightly know, Professor," Oliver admitted. "All I know is that it had something to do with the attacks and the Chamber of Secrets. I - I think she was trying to find out who or what was behind them, but I don't know where her research led her."
"I see," Professor McGonagall said. "Very well, come along then. I need to make an announcement to Gryffindor house, and I'd much rather do so only once."
"Professor," Oliver began.
"Not now, Mr Wood," Professor McGonagall said. "It may be possible for you to return at a later time, but at present, I would like to get this announcement out of the way, if you please."
Oliver sighed and nodded, following along behind her with Harry and Ron back to the tower.
"Go on and take a seat," Professor McGonagall told them as they entered the tower and the three moved ahead of her into the circular common room and each grabbed a seat turning their attention to her as she walked into the room behind them. "Could I have your attention, please?" she asked, drawing everyone's attention and preventing the conversation to turn to what had happened after Oliver, Ron and Harry had left the common room with her. "Because of recent events, these new rules will be put into place immediately: All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock, every evening; All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher; No exceptions," she read from the scroll that Harry noticed she'd had with her since she'd come looking for him at the Quidditch pitch.
"Now," Professor McGonagall continued with quiet sadness after a moment of silence. "I should tell you this: Unless the culprit behind these attacks is found," she paused and glanced around the room but her gaze lingered on Oliver, Harry and Ron in turn. "It is likely that the school will be closed." She nodded slightly when the silence remained and turned to head out of the tower.
Oliver jumped to his feet and followed her. "Professor," he called, dodging around students to reach the entrance to the tower.
"Ah, Mr Wood," Professor McGonagall said, turning to look at him with sad eyes. "You may return to the infirmary to see Ms Granger. I can take you there now if you wish, and then Madam Pomfrey can let me know when you are ready to return to the dormitory."
"Thank you, Professor," Oliver said. "If you'll wait just a moment, I will grab a change of clothes and my homework."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "I will return in approximately five minutes."
Oliver nodded and rushed off to get his things while Professor McGonagall exited the tower, feeling the oppressiveness of the situation and needing an escape.
"Madam Pomfrey," Professor McGonagall said as she entered the infirmary with Oliver a short time later, drawing the matron's attention. "Mr Wood would like to sit with her for a while. Please notify me once he is ready to depart and I will escort him back to the tower."
Madam Pomfrey nodded and beckoned Oliver closer.
"I - I would like to change first," Oliver murmured. "If that's alright."
"Of course," Madam Pomfrey murmured gently. "You know where the bathroom is."
Oliver nodded and dropped his bag on his side of the dividing curtain where he couldn't see Hermione's face, grabbed his change of clothes and headed back the way they'd come, but across the room from the bed Hermione was in, and closed the door behind him.
Alone, with the door closed, he exhaled a long, shaky breath. He felt like he'd been hit by the Jelly Legs Jinx as he stumbled toward the sink, grabbing the cool metal, his body trembling with nerves. "Kitty cat," he whispered as he shook, trying to hold himself upright on the sink, keeping his arms stiff. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
He blinked as tears formed in his eyes, and a sob tore from his throat. He released one hand from the sink and spun on his heel, bringing his back against the cool tiled wall, and sank to the floor as he gave into his grief and let his tears fall freely.
"Mr Wood?" a voice sounded on the other side of the door some time later, and Oliver realised it was Madam Pomfrey. He wasn't sure how long he'd sat there, but gathered himself, wiping his eyes and pulling himself back to his feet using the sink for support. This time, he noticed that his legs felt stronger. "Are you alright?" Madam Pomfrey called again not getting a response and knocked on the door.
"Yes," Oliver called out and wiped his eyes again. "I'll be out in a moment."
"Alright," Madam Pomfrey called back and Oliver was relieved when he heard her footsteps retreat.
Moving quickly this time, he changed from his Quidditch robes into his uniform and splashed some water on his face before heading back out into the infirmary. He approached her bed slowly spotting Madam Pomfrey at the end of the infirmary tending to another student, but when she noticed him she came back.
"Is she...?" Oliver trailed off as a lump formed in his throat.
Madam Pomfrey blinked, and then relaxed as she realised what he was asking. "Oh, no dear," she said kindly. "She's alive, but like Mr Filch's cat, Mrs Norris, Mr Creevey, and Mr Finch-Fletchey, she's been petrified." Madam Pomfrey paused for a moment, seeing him visibly relax, but looked at him pointedly. "I would have thought Professor McGonagall made that clear before you were brought here."
Oliver hated to speak ill of anyone, particularly his Head of House, but as he looked back at the matron, he shook his head. "Honestly, I think she was still in shock," he said. "She didn't tell us much of anything." He turned to Hermione before glancing back at the matron. "Can - can she hear me?" he asked.
Madam Pomfrey sighed and shook her head. "Honestly," she said sadly. "I really don't know. I've not seen anything like this before. As I recall, the last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, it didn't happen like this."
Oliver nodded, only registering part of what she'd said.
Madam Pomfrey smiled slightly and touched his arm gently. "But," she murmured when he turned to her again. "It couldn't hurt to try." Oliver nodded to her again, and she released his arm as he moved past her and took up the chair at Hermione's bedside. "I'll be doing my rounds," she said. "Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you," Oliver told her quietly, and she nodded and left him alone.
Hermione's head hurt. She wanted to scream — she did scream — but nothing came out. Her limbs felt heavy. So heavy and stiff she couldn't move them at all. Her eyes stung with dryness, being unable to even blink. Her consciousness was trapped in the frozen state of petrification. She imagined this was much like being in a coma, only it felt as though her limbs resisted all movement, not even moving under outside forces. Her head throbbed, feeling like it was splitting open from how long she'd tried to shout to everyone that she could hear them, that she was there!
'My hand!' she tried to scream when she felt Oliver touch her hand that was closed tightly near her side. 'Oliver, check my hand!'
He didn't though, and her heart sank. She was so focused on trying to move, trying to respond at all, that she only heard snippets of what he said. That he blamed himself for what happened, that he should have made sure she didn't skip the game, that he should have insisted that she go. That he should have paid more attention to what was going on, done more to help her, Harry and Ron figure out what was going on.
She was startled from her attempts at responding when she felt warmth pressing against her forehead and realised he'd bent over and kissed her there and that he was saying good night. She screamed internally once more than he passed beyond the field of her tunnel vision.
She could only assume days had passed like that, much the same. She actually lost track of time, but remembered that Oliver had come to visit her on more than one occasion, and even Harry and Ron. She was relieved when on one of Harry and Ron's visits, they had found the piece of paper she'd found ripped from another book — one that had appeared to be a duplicate of the one she'd found it in! The book that she'd happened across in the library when she found a list of books on serpents Malfoy had dropped in the library; Most Macabre Monstrosities.
It took him a while, and she had fought to release the paper to him, willing her fingers to relax but it had been no use. Her fingers had been clamped so hard around the paper that she knew that both she and Harry feared the paper would be torn when he'd voiced his concerns to Ron.
Relief washed over her when she had seen the paper hadn't been torn when Harry held it up within her tunnel vision. She'd been left alone after that, Oliver had come to visit her before Harry and Ron had, or at least she thought so. It was so hard to tell time anymore, so instead she let her consciousness wander and tried to 'sleep' as best she could, ignoring the lights and what she could see through the tunnel vision.
She blinked in surprise, or would have if she had control of her body, as she saw herself in her mind's eye what seemed like a short time later, and smiled mentally when she saw Oliver approach the self that she saw. She saw him smile and thought that as he moved closer that he was just going to draw her into a hug like he always did. She liked his hugs, they made her feel warm, secure and protected. But... something was wrong. He was close. Too close. Suddenly his mouth was pressed firmly to hers as she was drawn tightly against him.
"No!" She shouted, and sat up straight, her hands flying to her hair as she clutched at her face. "No, no, no!" she murmured to herself quietly, as her heart raced in her chest and realisation slowly crept into her mind that she had actually moved.
"Ms Granger?" Madam Pomfrey asked in concern as she came over to the bed. "Are you alright?"
Hermione blinked and swallowed before she nodded slowly. "Y-yes," she said. "I - I'm alright."
Madam Pomfrey didn't look entirely convinced, but let it go. "A delayed reaction, I suppose?" she asked. "You must have witnessed something frightening indeed."
Hermione swallowed and nodded jerkily. "Y-yes," she murmured, remembering the eyes she had seen in the mirror, though if she were honest with herself, that wasn't what had filled her mind as she woke. "That's it," she said softly.
She turned slowly and looked out the window, noting that it was still dark though the sky seemed to be lightening as she watched.
"Ah, yes," Madam Pomfrey said. "It's rather early."
"Early?" Hermione asked, turning to her.
"Yes," Madam Pomfrey confirmed. "You've a lot of catching up to do, Ms Granger, you've missed out on a lot."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, a sense of dread filling her that she'd gotten behind in classes again.
"Well, for starters," Madam Pomfrey said. "It's approximately three in the morning, give or take a few minutes."
"What?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Yes," Madam Pomfrey confirmed. "Professor Dumbledore wished to unpetrify the students as soon as the Mandrake potion was ready. The feast will be starting soon," she continued, smiling slightly at Hermione's confusion.
"The feast?" Hermione asked, feeling like she'd stepped into an alternate reality.
"Yes," Madam Pomfrey confirmed. "As I said, you've missed out on a lot. Once we have checked you over to make sure you have no lingering effects of the petrification, you may go. Professor Dumbledore has asked that everyone be in attendance for the feast. He will bring everyone up to speed on what has occurred then."
"Oh, okay," Hermione said. She closed her eyes, and blinked after a few moments, relieved that she could control the movement again.
"Your friends came to visit you," Madam Pomfrey said after a few moments as she ran some tests.
"I know," Hermione murmured and opened her eyes again to see the look of astonishment on the matron's face. Hermione swallowed and exhaled a breath. "Harry, Ron, and Oliver," she said.
"How did you-?" Madam Pomfrey began.
Hermione looked around. "Am I the first?" she asked, looking back at the woman to see her nod. "Good," she said. "Because you might want to check and make sure no one suffers psychological effects."
The woman looked at her in concern. "Dear, you're not, are you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I - I don't think so but I thought it would be a good idea to tell you...um..."
"Tell me what, dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Well, I - I don't know about the others," she said looking around again. "But I could hear everything, even see things when they passed my line of sight."
"Oh!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed in surprise, putting a hand to her mouth. "Oh, dear, I'm so sorry! I - I didn't know!"
Hermione smiled at her gently. "I know," she said. "I just wanted you to know."
"Well, I appreciated it, dear," Madam Pomfrey said, and gave her hand a squeeze. "And speaking of things we should know," she said, leaning in conspiratorially and nudging Hermione's shoulder. "I don't usually get involved with students and their relationships, be they friendships or otherwise, but you should know, I think Mr Wood really likes you."
"Yes," Hermione said. "He's a good friend. He helped me feel so welcome last year. He told Lee that he sees me like a little sister."
"Oh, no, dear," Madam Pomfrey said. "I think he likes you as more than just a friend, and even more than just a sibling. Feelings do change after all."
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, taken aback by the matron's revelation.
"There were times he came by, that I think you're unaware of," the woman said with a knowing look. "I remember times that he just wanted to be close to you, but it was hard for him to see you in such a state, so he set up a chair on the other side of the partition and used the bed for a desk. Respecting his wishes for privacy, I told him that as long as there weren't any other students in need of the bed, he could use it."
"I - I didn't know that," Hermione murmured.
"It doesn't have to be your time, for you to have feelings for someone," Madam Pomfrey said. "I think he likes you as more than a friend, or even a sibling. And, if you ever found out about feline behaviour from Professor McGonagall or Hagrid, well, I think how loudly you were purring one night the last time you were here says something about your feelings for him."
Hermione blushed, and bit her lip, but she couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment about not having talked to Professor McGonagall or Hagrid about feline behaviour, or that Madam Pomfrey was reminding her of the potions accident and had heard her purring.
"Ah huh," Madam Pomfrey said with a knowing look. "You should let him know how you feel."
"But what if you're wrong?" Hermione asked.
"And what house are you in again?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Gryffindor," Hermione replied.
"Then show some courage, girl," the matron said and made a playful swat at Hermione's leg as she laughed.
"I thought you didn't get involved," Hermione said with a shrewd look.
"You can go now," Madam Pomfrey said. "I should check on the other patients."
Hermione entered the Great Hall a short time later to hear the excited murmurings filling the hall. She was able to pick up bits and pieces as she headed in.
"Welcome back, Hermione." She turned and smiled to see Nick beside her tipping his head.
"Thanks, Sir Nicholas," she returned and turned back to the hall as he floated away to mingle with the students. She beamed and ran over to Harry and Ron when she saw them lean out to see who'd entered the hall and saw her standing there. They both jumped up to meet her, and she hugged Harry, before nervously shaking Ron's hand. "I can't believe you solved it!" she exclaimed as she remembered Harry and Ron finding the torn paper in her hand but being unable to help or even speak to them.
"We couldn't have done it without you," Harry said.
Hermione joined them at their spot at the table, and glanced over to see Oliver smile at her and look at her questioningly. She smiled in return and waved at him, but as the memory of the images that she saw just prior to waking, and Madam Pomfrey's revelations, she blushed and averted her gaze. While no Quidditch Cup was awarded that year, due to the cancellation of the last game of the season because of the attack that had petrified Hermione, she was pleased to hear that Gryffindor won the House Cup after Dumbledore awarded Harry and Ron four hundred points for saving the school. She tuned out most everything else, just elated that she would have a school to return to next year although she was slightly disappointed that it was announced that exams were cancelled for the year.
"Hermione?"
Hermione blinked and turned to see Oliver had entered the common room behind her as she and several students walked in and dispersed to their dorms, heading off to get some sleep to make up for the long night and early morning feast.
"Good night, Hermione," Harry said and smiled. "It's good to have you back."
"What he said," Ron replied and yawned as he headed off with Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes and watched them go.
Oddly, she was feeling sleepy herself and took a step toward the girl's dorms when she realised Oliver was still there, and turned back to see him looking at her expectantly.
"Yes?" she asked quietly, and hoped her clothing concealed the shiver that went through her as her nerves began to buzz up and down her spine.
Oliver watched her a moment in silence, then sighed, relaxing as he shook his head slightly. "Nothing," he murmured. "It's just..." he paused, and looked confused for a moment as if searching for what to say.
"It's just what?" Hermione prompted.
He looked at her and smiled again.
"It's just good to have you back again," he said at last.
He moved then, coming up to her quickly and she stiffened a moment, the memory of her dream - if that's what you could call it - replaying in her mind, but she relaxed against him when she felt that he merely drew her into a hug. He pulled back after a moment and looked at her in concern.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She cursed internally as she realised he had noticed her stiffening. She smiled up at him and nodded. "Yes," she replied. "I'm fine."
He looked at her for a moment and then hugged her again.
She relaxed as she felt him sigh against her.
"It really is good to have you back, kitty cat," he murmured before he released her. She blinked as she felt slight pressure on her head in a different part than where his chin had rested and realised he'd kissed her head. "Well, I know it seems rather odd to be wishing you a good sleep when it seems that you were unconscious for so long," he said as he pulled away. "But I do."
"Oliver, I was -" she stopped when he looked at her curiously, and she realised that her statement could do more harm to him than good.
"You were...?" Oliver trailed off prompting her to finish.
She smiled at him and replied, "I was just going to tell you the same thing."
He smiled at her as he took her hand and shook it lazily before letting go again. "Sleep well, kitty cat," he murmured and headed up to his dorm.
Hermione stood there, flushing a soft pink before she turned and headed up to her dorm.
Oliver sat at the Gryffindor table with Lee and the twins a few days later, shaking his head in confusion. "I just don't get it," he said.
"What's not to get?" Fred asked.
"She's different," Oliver said.
"What do you mean?" Lee asked.
"She's quieter," Oliver said. "It's like she's avoiding me. I - I thought we were friends."
"Does she seem mad at you?" George asked. "I mean, aside from this avoiding that you're talking about."
"I don't think she's avoiding him," Fred said.
"I wasn't asking you, was I?" George said with a look at his twin.
Oliver sighed. "Well, now that you mention it, no, she doesn't seem like she's mad at me at all. I guess she just seems...shy all of a sudden."
"Sounds like she likes you," Lee said and took a bite of his pancakes.
"She's always liked me," Oliver said. "We're friends, aren't we?"
"Well, you're the one who said you didn't know if you were anymore or not," George quipped.
"We can find out for you if you like," Fred said with a smile and made to get up from their spot and head over to where Hermione was sitting with Harry and Ron at the other end of the table.
"No," Oliver said sternly and reached out, pulling him back down by his sleeve. "No, no," he continued. "It's quite alright. I'll see if I can talk to her later."
Later on that day, they were headed to Hogsmeade to the station, taking the Hogwarts Express back home. Oliver, Lee and the twins walked a little ways behind Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Well," Lee prompted. "Are you going to talk to her or are you just going to drag your feet?"
"Yeah, come on Ollie," Fred said.
"Quit stalling and get up there," George added. "Find out what's going on so we don't have to hear you mope about it all the way home."
"I do not mope!" Oliver protested.
"Just go!" the three yelled at him as they pushed him forward.
"Alright, fine!" Oliver retorted and trotted up to Hermione as they reached the platform.
"Hermione?" he asked, feeling a little uneasy.
"Yes?" she asked, turning to him as Harry and Ron moved on to find a compartment.
"I - Well, I was wondering..." Oliver started, and then stopped when she smiled at him. "Oh," he murmured, realising by her smile that she wasn't mad at him at all.
"Yes?" she asked, wondering at his hesitation and her brow drew together in concern.
Oliver relaxed and smiled, laughing slightly at himself and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you'd write to me this summer."
Hermione smiled. "Of course," she said and slowly headed in the direction Harry and Ron had gone, mounting the stairs of the car she'd just seen them enter. "I always do," she finished with a smile before ducking in the car.
A slow smile crept over Oliver's face as he stood there a moment. The whistle sounded, and he shook himself before turning and dashing off to the car he knew the twins and Lee would be in as the train slowly began to pull away from the station.