A/n:
This is the last chapter in the Year 2 storyline, and it is a very short one. I could've put this at the end of the last chapter but it just doesn't quite fit. I am sorry in advance if you find this chapter too short. I promise the next chapter will be of regular length and have more content!
No one knew exactly what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, except for Harry and Ron. The scariest part was when Harry discovered Ginny was being held hostage inside the Chamber. But like all fairy tales, with bravery and wit, and mostly sheer dumb luck, they defeated the Basilisk and all three were safe and sound.
The victory was kept secret, but whispers and rumours could be heard all around the school when Professor Lockhart suddenly resigned from his post. Everyone celebrated his leave but it was soon replaced by disappointment when they found out Professor Snape was to substitute in the Defense Against Dark Arts classes for the remaining school days.
Good news came along one morning when all the students had their breakfast in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall walked in with the biggest grin on her face. The Stewed Mandrake was finally harvested and brewed into Mandrake Restorative Draught, restoring the cursed victims to their lively state. It was also a sign that the school was finally free from the danger in the Chamber of Secrets, sending relief to all.
Everyone cheered when Professor Dumbledore announced the termination of the new curfew and the cancellation of all final examinations due to the unexpected events, but groaned in frustration when the Professor declared that academic results would be based on the students' daily marks and performances.
Hermione's jaw dropped when she heard about the new arrangements. Needless to say, she was looking forward to the tests. Even though she had been lying in a hospital bed for the last two months, she had already learnt everything by heart and was well prepared for any challenges. In her opinion, the cancellation was a huge disappointment.
All the petrified students were glad to be alive again, but soon discovered the side effects of lying down for a long period of time were sore backs and legs. They didn't seem to be unhealthy, but all of them claimed to be extremely starving. In the end, for safety measures, they had to spend a few more weeks in the Hospital Wing for better monitoring, until they fully recovered.
Hermione's friends visited her the moment she woke, but only once because they were all too busy with perfecting their final essays, since their final performance all depended on them. As for the petrified students, they were more than pleased to know that they didn't need to do their final essays, all except Hermione of course.
Life in the Hospital Wing was quiet, but dull. Hermione was lucky to have Professor McGonagall sending her new books every other day. Besides daily rehabilitation and lots of reading, Hermione also spent quite some time going through all the gifts and cards on her overbed table. Most were get-well-soon cards and candies and there were tons of them. The feeling of warmth filled her heart whenever she went through the beautiful words of encouragement from her friends and the professors. It was all so joyous until she reached a greyish notebook with a green stripe that was lying at the bottom of the pile.
Every page was packed with neat, cursive handwriting, documenting every detail taught in all the lessons she missed out on. Despite already knowing most of the things that were written, she carefully read through every single page. Each flip of a page came along with a heavy heart pounding. She recognised the handwriting, perhaps knew it all too well. She wanted to doubt herself, but the countless times she had examined the Polyjuice Potion recipe said otherwise.
What does it mean? He said he wished I would be dead, so why is he helping me?
Questions kept popping in her head as she went through the pages. Hermione wanted answers. She needed the answers.
She used her spare time practicing what to say when she could face him, to prepare herself mentally. She recited the words over and over again, until the memory of his sharp words didn't hurt as much when she thought of him. She imagined finding him in the library again, reading with the sunlight reflecting on his golden locks, and how she would walk up to him with trembling hands to confront him.
But life was never fully ideal.
The day she was discharged was the last day of school. Madam Pomfrey led the healthy students into the Great Hall just before the announcement of the House Cup winner and the whole place instantly roared. The moment she saw the familiar faces, all her questions and confusion were tossed aside. The welcoming joy and love from the Gryffindor table overwhelmed her, as she crushed herself into the arms of Harry and Ron. The two boys spent the whole train ride telling her all the exciting details of their adventure in the Chamber of Secrets, making up for lost time.
It was only when she got off the train and waved goodbye to her friends, that she spotted the silvery blonde hair. Uncertainty and disappointment once again took over her mind. She watched as he slowly disappeared into the crowd, leaving her alone with all the unanswered questions.