Pride and Polyjuice Potion

Chapter 22

On her way back to the castle, she saw Harry walking around slowly, disconcertingly so. His face was deep in thought and he seemed almost unwell.

"Harry, Harry is that you?" She asked as she ran over to him. "What are you doing out here? Why aren't you in the changing rooms? What's going wrong?"

"It's him," he said, his expression blank and his eyes immobile. "Voldemort. He's back, I know it. He's back."

Harry's words struck her with such a force that all she could do for some time was shake her head and try to make sense of the devastating news.

"No, no, Harry, you must be wrong, it simply cannot be. It's impossible, isn't it? It can't happen. Who told you this?"

"Nobody told me. I've been dreaming."

"Oh, Harry, they must just be nightmares, just bad dreams. Nothing to worry about."

"No, Hermione," he replied forcefully, his gaze only now moving away from the floor. "They're not just any old trivial dream. I am having them more and more frequently. Somebody is trying to tell me something."

"I believe you, Harry, I really do-"

"No, Hermione, it's not a case of believing me or not believing me. It's a case of acting before anything else happens."

"Anything else? What's happened? What do you mean?"

"Two muggle-borns were killed the other day. Unknown murderer."

This is what she had feared. This is the greatest fear that she had been suppressing for so long. This. Not even so much a fear for herself, but for those around her. For her parents.

"That could be anyone. It does not mean that you know who is back" she whispered, although not quite believing what she was saying.

"There is no point in denying it. We aren't safe any more."

"We're here at Hogwarts - we're safe, don't worry," she lied once again.

"You know that's not true. Hogwarts will never be safe whilst the death eaters are still around."

His words chilled her to the bone. Her school, her friends, her home. It had been invaded by darkness and would never be the same.

"Let's get back to the castle now," she suggested, taking her friend's hand.

"No, just let me stay here and think for a little while."

She nodded understandingly and let go of him.

"Promise me you won't be long, or you know I'll worry."

"I promise."

~

As Hermione walked back, her thoughts were consumed by anguish and apprehension. She so deeply wished for it not to be true. When her tear-streaked face returned to the Gryffindor tower, she was shocked to find everyone gathering round a single space in the common room.

"What's going on?" she asked as she pushed her way to the front.

It was Parvati Patil, sitting on one of the sofas with her head bowed down to the floor and her hands covering her face. This was the last thing she had been expecting to see, but despite her initial astonishment, she was overjoyed to find her friend had returned safely. But the poor girl - everybody was shouting things in her direction and she was quite clearly overwhelmed.

"Everybody shut the hell up!" Hermione bellowed and the common room fell silent. "I cannot believe you lot. One of our dearest friends has just returned after being missing for over two weeks. Don't you think she's gone through enough already? Do you really think your shouting is helping in any way? I know we all have certain opinions on the matter, but at least for today could you have the decency to keep them to yourselves whilst we welcome our friend home?"