Stories to be Told

Hermione woke in a daze. She looked around the room, trying to figure out where she was. It was cold and rather dark. As she looked around she saw she was draped with a green and silver quilt. She sat up, then it all came rushing back to her; the blood, the screaming, the horrible night…

“LUNA”, she cried as she jumped out of bed. She stumbled a little.
Snape walked into the room. “Ms Granger, it would be beneficial for you to lie down.”

“I can’t, Luna…Luna….I have to help her!” Hermione yelped out as she stumbled around the room.

“She is well beyond your help Ms Granger…..the dreamless sleep potion I gave you was very strong, you need to
lay down,” Snape said this as Hermione stumbled into a wall. She started crying and slid to the floor.

“I can’t do this, I can’t do this!” Hermione started bawling again. Snape glided over to her and bent down in front of her.

“While I know you’ve been through a lot, crying will solve nothing”. Hermione kept crying, but then Snape picked her up and carried her to the bed. Hermione still couldn’t seem to pull it together.

“This is too much!” she wailed, fresh tears streaming down her face.

“Ms. Granger,” Snape said smoothly. She was paying Snape no attention and began to hyperventilate.

“Hermione”, Snape said in a silky calm voice.
The shock of him speaking her first name, and the calmness of his voice made Hermione look into his eyes. He had a calm sense about him, which made Hermione slow her breathing.

“It would be best if you would rest”, Snape said while pulling the blanket over her. Snape placed an arm on both sides of her.

“But..” Hermione started to protest but was quickly cut off.

“Shhh, just shut your eyes”. Hermione was so surprised by Snape’s caring and his soothing voice, she obeyed and drifted back to sleep.

Snape sat and watched her for a moment. He then got up and walked out into his living room and summoned Dumbledore, whom arrived a few moments later.

“My dear Severus, it is the middle of the night, is everything alright with Hermione?” Dumbledore said with concern in his voice.

“Albus, I think Ms Granger is a little more distraught then we first thought, she woke up just a moment ago…that was a very strong potion I gave her, she shouldn’t have woken for hours now,” Snape said, sounding concerned. Albus watched Snape for a moment.

“All we can do is be there for her, seeing as she’s been through such tragic events”, Albus said.

“But am I the right person to be watching over her?” Snape asked hesitantly.

Albus walked into the spare room where Hermione was sleeping, Snape followed behind him. “She looks to be well off right now”, Albus said with a smile.

“That’s because she is sleeping, you should have been here about 20 minutes ago,” Snape replied blandly.

“Severus, you don’t give yourself enough credit, who was the one who calmed her down, and got her back to sleep?” Albus said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “She needs to be comforted, and I’m sure after tonight’s episode, she trusts you now”, Albus said, with a twinkle in his eye.

They walked back out into the living room. “Well, I am off to my rooms, I am going to have everyone gather in the great hall in the morning, and advise them of the tragedy of Ms Lovegood. Please make sure you and Hermione are in the great hall by then.” Snape nodded and Albus left. Snape returned to the room to check on Hermione, then went to his room to sleep.

Hermione woke again, this time not so much in a daze. She vaguely remembered waking up in a panic, then Snape

calming her down. Hermione turned her head to the side and saw Snape sitting in a chair nearby, grading papers. Snape looked up, unsure of what to say to her.

“We are needed in the great hall in about an hour, for breakfast and Dumbledore’s announcement..” Snape said, trailing off.

Hermione just nodded and turned her head to the other side, trying to choke back tears.

“Professor McGonagall brought down new clothes and robes for you, they’re in the bathroom right through there, ready for your shower”, Snape said, pointing in the direction of the bathroom. Hermione didn’t say anything, she just lay there for a moment. “I will leave you to get ready, if you need anything I will be right out here.” Snape got up from his chair and walked into the living room.

Hermione rolled into the pillow and cried. Snape stood outside the door, debating on whether to go in or not. After a few moments he went to walk in, but heard Hermione get up and go into the bathroom.

An hour later they both sat in the great hall, Hermione at the Gryffindor table and Snape at the staff table.

“Hermione, how are you?”, Harry asked with a gloomy face.

“I don’t know,” she replied, while pushing the food around on her plate. “How about you two?” Hermione directed
toward Harry and Ron. They both just nodded.

“Where did you stay last night, in Dumbledore’s office?” Ron asked, trying to make conversation.

“No, I stayed in Professor Snape’s chambers.” she said with no tone to her voice. Ron made a face, while Harry just sat there watching Hermione.

Hermione was unaware that Harry wasn’t the only one watching her. Snape made unseen glances towards the Gryffindor table, watching Hermione look miserable and not eating. Dumbledore then rose and announced to the hall about the unfortunate events that happened to Luna.

“Since classes are cancelled today, what should we do?” Ron asked, as him Harry and Hermione walked towards their common room. “Let’s go hang out in the girl’s room.” Hermione suggested.

The girl’s dorm was empty, as everyone was either outside or in the common room throwing around rumors from the night before. Hermione immediately walked over to Luna’s bed and laid on it. The boys followed and lay on the bed with Hermione. Hermione picked up a picture and saw Harry, Ron, Luna, and herself waving back.

“I feel so sad”, Harry said.

“She was so young.” Ron added.

“I don’t want to do this”, Hermione said in a shaky voice.

“I know, none of us do”, Harry said, rubbing her arm. They all lay together on the bed for hours.

“Let’s go outside, we can fly on our broom sticks”, Harry suggested eventually.

“Yeah, let’s go to our room and get them,” Ron said getting up.

“Hermione, are you coming? It’s going to be dark soon, so we should go now”, Harry said following Ron.

“No, I’m going to stay here.” She replied, listlessly.

“Will you be ok?” Ron said standing in the doorway. She nodded and the boys walked out.

Hermione lay on Luna’s bed, cried out of tears, and just stared at Luna’s pictures. All Hermione could think about was the blood gushing out of Luna’s arms. Hermione rubbed at her wrists just thinking of the sight. She stared at the pictures, I can’t do this, she thought. She sat up and opened Luna’s drawer and found a razorblade. She pressed it against her skin, terrified, she pressed down and dragged the blade quickly across her arm. She yelled out in pain, but at the same time felt relief. She wasn’t sure she could press the blade down far enough, so she headed for the astronomy tower.

Ron and Harry rode their brooms for awhile, before they decided to go check on Hermione.

“Hermione, are you still in here?”, Harry called out. They walked over to Luna’s bed and looked around.

“HARRY LOOK!” Ron yelled. There was blood on the bed sheets.

“Oh my god, HERMIONE!” Harry yelled out. They searched the girl’s room, bathroom, and common room. Ron and Harry were panicked.

“What do we do?” Ron said, rushing around. Harry thought for a moment,

“Dumbledore!” Harry and Ron ran out of Gryffindor towards Professor Dumbledore’s office.

Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall were standing outside the stone gargoyle waiting for the entrance to open. “PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!” Ron and Harry both yelled while running at them. All three turned around as Harry and Ron skidded to a stop. Harry told them about their afternoon and then coming back and finding the blood.

“She said she couldn’t do it”, Ron said, still catching his breath. All three Professors just looked at each other.

“Minerva, take the boys up to my office, Severus, come with me.” Albus said, as he pushed the boys into the staircase and the gargoyle closed.

Snape configured a map of the school with his wand. “Find Hermione Granger”, he said tapping the air. A spot showed up,

“She’s on the tower”, Snape said looking at Dumbledore. Dumbledore grabbed Snape’s arm and they were immediately in the tower. Hermione was standing on the ledge, they could see the blood running down both of her arms now.

“Hermione,” Dumbledore said, trying to be gentle and not to scare her. She turned her head and looked at them with tears in her eyes, then she leaned forward and allowed herself to fall off the ledge.