Harry nearly blacks out from pain, but manages to stay on his feet with the help of Ginny. After what seems like an eternity, Harry regains his balance and composure long enough to run to the lake's edge.
"Hermione!" Ron continues to scream, his face and eyes red.
Ignoring his best friend, Harry stares at the water looking for some sign of life. Quietly, the water laps against the lake's edge and the moon reflects endlessly over the small waves.
"Harry, she's gone!" Ron croaks in defeat. He drops to his knees next to Harry and stares at the silver surface of the lake looking for something deeper in the dark depths.
"No, no, it doesn't make sense," Ginny says suddenly. The boys look back at her in wonder. "Look, if Hermione had drowned we would have seen air bubbles rising to the surface." Ginny points out.
"She's right," Harry says darkly. "There's got to be something down there." The trio looks at the lake in silence for a moment.
"Or maybe there's a monster that ate Hermione before she could drown!" Ron suggests with a whine. He looks at Harry in terror.
"Don't you think Dumbledore would have warned the students about something like that, Ron?" Ginny asks, sparks flying between the siblings. Before a fight can ensue Harry dips his wand into the water and swirls it around.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron demands incredulously.
"If it's a monster then maybe it knew Hermione was here through movements in the water." Harry suggests as he continues to swirl his wand.
"If there's a monster we don't want to attract it!" Ron objects.
"If there's a monster I'm surprising you haven't already attracted it with all your screaming," Ginny says wryly. Ron pointedly ignores her and watches the water in a combination of horror and curiosity.
One tense moment later, nothing happens. The only stirring in the water is the sound of Harry's water.
"Do you think Hermione filled the monster up?" Ron breaks the silence.
"There is no monster!" Ginny insists.
"But-"
"Ginny's right. Look!" Harry points to a flash of grey amongst the green algae lining the lake bottom near the edge before the drop-off into deeper water. He reaches a hand into the water and clears away the algae. Moments later when the water settles once again, a small encircled snake made of stone is evident.