Granger Danger ⇗ Fred Weasley

Ch. 40: Hogwarts Horror

Ch. 40: Hogwarts Horror

Song For Chapter: Crystal - Of Monsters And Men

for my very dedicated fans, this chapter will seem familiar to you. i used it from my chapter in the silver trio as a base, because I've been struggling with inspo -- sadly ;/

Hermione and I were rummaging through the library after dinner, searching for extra study materials.

"Have you thought about the future, Elle?" Hermione asked, watching me as I lifted myself onto my tiptoes, attempting to reach the top shelf, but with massive difficulties. "For heaven's sake," she rolled her eyes, "Accio Advanced Potions Volume Three."

"Hey!" I wailed, pouting as the book shot away from the tips of my fingers and to Hermione's waiting arms. "I almost had it."

My sister shook her head at my antics and tucked the book under her arm as we continued down the rows. "Of course you did. But in all seriousness, Elle. Do you think about the future?"

"Of course I do," I told her, keeping my eyes on the book shelves, trying to suppress the blush on my cheeks as I thought of Fred's voice. 'Marry me'. "I think about whether I will sleep at ten, or if I'll pull an all-nighter to study. What about you?"

Hermione scoffed. "You know what I'm talking about."

I played with the edge of my blouse, fingering the lace bits while we walked. "I guess. I mean, it's hard to do any serious planning with You-Know-Who on the loose. Who knows when the world will collapse? And, when it does, where are we going to go?" I bit out bitterly, feeling a flush of anger nip at my cheeks. "Hermione, what are we going to do?"

"I don't know," she murmured, worrying her bottom lip as we turned into the Transfiguration isle. "I'm worried for Mum and Dad."

I was quiet. Bile churned against my intestines as I contemplated how much of a dangerous situation they were in as Muggles. Muggles that birthed two witches into the world -- two witches that were friends with Harry Potter. "I am too."

I thought of Jane and Dan, my loving parents that I had only just begun to know fully. I had not had much time around them, but I did love them despite the gap of life we shared. Then, I thought of Trey and Alle, and baby Ed, and even Clarissa. Clarissa Roberts, of whom I had not spoken to since I walked out of her home.

That revelation brought a pain to my chest.

I did not even know if Clarissa was alive and well; Trey had made no mention of his mother when he had visited last summer.

Blinking away the dismal thoughts, I offered Hermione a lopsided, forced smile. "What do you think we can do to protect them? Any ideas?"

"I've been thinking about it," she admitted, face taut, "but everything that happens to cross my mind is bothersome and it frightens me, Elle."

"We'll think of something, 'Mione," I assured her, grabbing another book off the shelf before slumping down into a study table in a small alcove beside the walls and walls of reading materials. I couldn't wait for summer to come so I could crack open a good book. Not books chalked full of lessons.

A few hours passed, Hermione and I casually passing the shared books back and forth as we took notes. After a while, my eyes began to droop and I pulled my pocket watch from my satchel to glare at the time.

"Curfew is in a few minutes," I mentioned, stretching as I pulled myself from my chair, feeling as if my brain weighted a least twenty times heavier than before. "We should probably head back to the --"