What Without the Dragon

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it belongs to J.K. Rowling. No profit will be made from this, no copyright infringement is intended. 

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Chapter Five

Hermione lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.  She was, for only the time being she hoped, no longer a witch.  It was nothing she hadn't dealt with before.  She was muggle born; she hadn't practiced magic at all before coming to Hogwarts.  But to have it suddenly taken away was frightening.  Give the kid a lick of icing, then take away the cake, it wasn't fair.  Dumbledore had instructed them to continue in their classes as usual until a remedy could be brought forth.  They were however forbidden to discuss the fact that Dumbledore was without magic as well.  He feared that if the news got back to the wrong people, a Voldemort wannabe might take it as the ideal opportunity to try and rise to power.  The Ministry of Magic had finally restored their faith in Dumbledore, but without magic, he may be removed from Hogwarts once again.  Hermione shuddered as she picture Dolores Umbridge coming back to school.

She pulled the covers up to her chin and rolled over to her side.  Ron, Harry, and herself smiled and waved back to her from the picture sitting on her bedside table.  No matter what they had been through, they had always found time to be happy together.  Now when they had all the time in the world to celebrate, the only thing they ever really had in common had been stripped from them.  Hermione pressed her eyes shut, her eyebrows drawn together in frustration.  "Damn him."  She muttered into her covers.  She sighed in frustration and threw the blankets to the side.  It was useless; she was too upset to sleep.  She slipped her feet into her slippers, and pulled on her bathrobe.  She checked the clock on the wall.  One thirty in the morning.  Everyone would be asleep, and since she was Head Girl, there would be no one up to reprimand her.

She whispered the password to the fat lady and stepped out into the dark corridor.  Looking for either Mrs. Norris of Professor Filch, she made her way to the front corridor and slipped outside.  She walked slowly to the edge of the lake, her arms wrapped around herself to shield it from the slight chill.  She looked out across the calm lake and sighed heavily.  The air was cool enough that normally she would cast a warming spell on herself.  She dropped to the grass and pulled her knees up inside her robe.  She rested her chin on her knees and lost herself in thought.

"You know, it's really not safe to be out here by yourself."  Ron said dropping to the ground beside her.  His hair was more disheveled than usual, but he had enough sense to pull on his jeans and a sweater before following her.

"We killed the boogie man, remember."  She said, giving him a small half smile.

He put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned in against him, glad for the heat his body radiated.  "That we did, but there are other monsters out there, you know."  He laid his cheek against the top of her head. 

"The one in the lake is asleep."  She murmured, nestling into his embrace.

"Actually I was talking more about Crabbe and Goyle and what not.  But with their idol in the infirmary, I’m sure they're too scared to venture out on their own."  He kissed the top of her forehead protectively.   "I wouldn't put it past them to try something as soon as they find out about our situation."

"Hmm,” Hermione said, shutting her eyes briefly, enjoying the closeness, the togetherness, without having to wonder who was watching.  "I'm a Gryffindor.  I could be the sexiest girl in school and they wouldn’t have anything to do with me, thank Merlin."

"Could be?"  Ron asked cocking an eyebrow at her.  "You definitely have that covered."  Give or take Padma and her sister, but Ron wasn't about to mention that fact aloud.  He used his finger to tilt her face up so she was facing him.  "I just don't want you to hurt anymore than you already have."  He whispered.