Harry Potter and the Crazy Girl's Dream Part VI
Yes, the story continues. Run while you still can. Or turn off your computer. That might be easier.
The year has been passing fairly uneventfully at Hogwarts. Harry and Ron have noticed, however, that Hermione seems to be growing more and more distant as time passes.
"Harry, do you think we've offended her somehow?" Ron asks as he and Harry walk through the halls toward their next class. Hermione walks ahead of them by herself.
"I don't think so, Ron," Harry says, "I saw one of her papers the other day. She failed Snape's last exam." Harry explains. He looks at Hermione's back as she shifts through the crowded hallways.
"That was a tough exam, Harry. I don't think anyone did well," Ron says thoughtfully.
"Yes, but this is Hermione we're talking about. She never fails anything. Think about it, Ron, have you seen Hermione studying at all this semester? I haven't seen her studying in the library or the common room and Ginny told me that the only time she ever sees Hermione in the dormitory is at night." Harry explains, waving his hands for emphasis.
"You're right, Harry! Where does Hermione go? We never see her except in class and in the Great Hall now." Ron states, glancing up at Hermione's back.
"Whether or not Hermione's still our friend, I still care about her. I think we should find out what's going on in her life!" Harry tells Ron, forcefully.
"But how do we do that? We can't bloody well follow her everywhere she goes!" Ron cries. The boys exit the castle and walk through the courtyard having parted ways with Hermione as they head toward Divination and she disappears toward Arithmancy.
"Tonight, after dinner we'll follow her in my invisibility cloak. We'll get Ginny to help us too since we can't get in the girl's dormitory." Harry decides forcefully. His concern and determination sparkle in his eyes, bright against the rainy north England afternoon.
****
Evening...
"Harry, where do you think she's going?" Ron asks in a loud whisper from behind Harry.
"I don't know," Harry says quietly, listening to the breathing of both Ron and his younger sister. Ahead of the trio, Hermione walks slowly through the dark hallway. The pictures snore quietly around her as she moves almost as if in a trance. Her footsteps are slow and almost haphazard, more like that of a puppet or a wind-up toy than a vibrant young woman. The dark doesn't seem to bother Hermione as she meanders unlike the three following her who can barely keep from tripping over their own feet.
Silently, the trio moves after Hermione, wary of the sounds of approaching teachers or ghosts. The journey through the halls seems almost endless until a turn takes them out into the courtyard where they are momentarily blinded by the moonlight.
When the three regain their vision, they locate Hermione and follow her out of the courtyard and toward the lake they all traveled over during their first year at Hogwarts. They all watch in confusion as Hermione stops in front of the lake and stares into the waters cast silver by the moonlight.
"What's she doing?" Ginny asks the question on all of their minds. Before anyone can give any thought to an answer, the water stirs and something snakes out of the water so quickly no one can identify it. The thing latches onto Hermione and pulls her like a rag doll into the depths of the lake.
"Hermione!" Ron shouts, tossing off the cloak and running toward the lake's edge. Ginny starts to follow him but stops to help Harry, noticing that he's clutching his scar, pain evident on his face.
"Harry, what is it?" Ginny asks as Ron shouts at the lake, looking around desperately.
"My scar, it hasn't ached that bad since the last time I fought Voltemort," Harry says with worry.