Harry Potter and the Bite of the Serpent

CHAPTER TWO

Tears

After several moments of holding his friend, Harry felt Hermione break away. They were both utterly confused to see each other, but no words had been exchanged. Harry gazed into Hermione's soft eyes and he ran a hand through her drenched hair, the rain teeming down around them.

"Hermione, what is going on?" Harry asked softly a pained expression developing on his face,

Hermione looked up at Harry, her eyes shining with tears her visage perplexed. "I don't know, we obviously both have reasons to be here, but I don't know what else to say." Hermione snuffled and tears began to form in her eyes again. She moved her right hand to brush away the tears and stated, "I'm so confused."

"Shh," said Harry softly. He took the hand that Hermione had pressed to her eyes and engulfed it with both his larger hands. "It's going to be okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, leaning his head in so that their eyes locked. "What happened?" he asked gently caressing her hand. She snuffled once more and looked up at him, biting her bottom lip.

"I've run away." She couldn't look into Harry's eyes anymore; instead she looked down at the cobbled street, the rain whipping the back of her head. Harry stepped forward in silence, raised her head by the chin with his forefinger and removed a few loose tears from her cheeks.

"Come on, let's get inside," he said quietly. He took Hermione by the hand and moved her slowly towards the pub door. He let go of her hand and stepped back a few metres, then he moved quickly towards the door and kicked it with as much velocity as he could conjure. The door broke free from its lock and Harry pushed it open giving Hermione access to the room. She stepped past him into the dark room that from what they could see was empty.

"Harry, we shouldn't be breaking into a pub, it's against the law." Hermione admonished. Harry shrugged his shoulders still standing in the doorway.

"I'm sure the rats can find a new home," he said with a small grin and Hermione returned it. "Did you bring any bags with you?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, they're in the toilets just up the street." Harry nodded now.

"I'll get them. You stay here." Harry stepped out of the door but Hermione followed.

"I can get them Harry, you're making me feel useless," she said staring into his eyes.

Harry sighed. "Look, I'll get your bags, but if you really want to help then you can tie these prats up. I think I spotted some rope in the corner of this room and I hate to think what it's used for," suggested Harry pointing down at the two men on the ground. Hermione smiled.

"Thanks Harry."

"And they say chivalry is dead," muttered Harry, as he ascended up the street. Hermione smiled again and rolled her eyes, before collecting a large piece of rope from the corner of the room.

Harry returned a few moments later dragging Hermione's suitcase on the floor behind him. "Are you sure you didn't bring your mum and dad with you?" Harry laughed as he entered the pub as Hermione hurried up from the worktop she was seated on. Harry noticed her walking was a little awry and that occasionally her left hand would move to her right shoulder. Hermione approached him and took hold of her suitcase. Harry stopped her, rolled off her coat and rolled the sleeve of her jumper up her arm, until a gash beneath her shoulder was revealed.

Harry looked at her with care and she remained silent squinting her eyes. "Why didn't you mention this?" he asked sternly.

"I didn't want you to bother with it, you've done enough Harry." Harry tutted and searched the room. "I wish we could use magic, but I don't fancy another hearing just yet." Harry eventually found a light switch and flicked it, lighting up the room dimly, but better than not at all, he thought. He entered a small room underneath a flight of stairs, and inside he found a small white box. "Medical kit," he said, returning to the dim, near empty room. The floorboards were caped in dust and the large fireplace appeared to be out of commission. The only thing which appeared in tact was the worktop which Harry guessed had once been used as a small bar area.

"This pub actually seemed half decent from the outside," said Harry. Hermione didn't answer instead she gazed at the wound in her arm. Harry approached her and pulled a bandage out of the box, and gently placed it onto her wound. She gritted her teeth and Harry quickly folded the bandage once over her arm then continued rolling it over and over.

"So do you want to tell me what happened or am I going to have to start reading the Daily Prophet?" asked Harry continuing to roll up the bandage.

"It all seems like a big blur now to be honest," Hermione began. "It was only two days ago-"

"Two days!" Harry gasped temporarily releasing the bandage.

"Yeah, today has been the worst though."

"Thanks," grunted Harry pretending to look hurt.

"You know what I mean," answered Hermione smiling. "Anyway, it started off like any other day. We had just eaten breakfast, dad was reading the newspaper and mum was researching the newest set of braces available. She still hasn't forgiven me for having my teeth fixed the magical way."

Harry finished bandaging up Hermione's arm and sat down on the worktop opposite her. "Sounds okay so far," he said.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I know - it was. Later that afternoon, I'd started writing you a letter when mum called me downstairs to help her with dinner. I didn't know my dad was upstairs and he found the letter." Harry furrowed his brow. "I had written my thoughts out about everything that had happened this year. I was trying to make things a little easier for you. Well, dad read my letter and got scared thinking that I was in too much danger. He told mum and they decided for me that they didn't want me going back to Hogwarts."

Silence hung in the air for a few minutes until Harry broke it. "I know that must have been surprising but I'm sure they were only looking our for you Hermione. That's what you do for me and I don't always agree with what you say, but I'm sure that you get that from one of your parents."

Hermione nodded. "I knew you'd say that. I know you are right but they can't stop me going back to Hogwarts. I love it there."

"I know you do. Did you try reasoning with them?"

"I tried but they wouldn't listen. They hardly gave me a chance to speak." Harry scratched at his neck for a moment.

"What exactly did you put in that letter?" he asked looking a little confused.

"Like I said, everything that might have upset you last year." Harry continued thinking and he could see why Mr and Mrs Granger would think as they did. He also thought that they should have at least heard Hermione out.

"I tell you what," said Harry more cheerfully. "As soon as you're ready and there is no rush. I'll take you back to your house, but I'll come with you. Let me talk to them, it's worth a shot."

Hermione wore a confused expression. "I don't know, it's just that...you know...you're a...boy and well, my dad, see, he might get the wrong idea."

Harry felt himself going a little red and he wasn't the only one as he noticed Hermione hiding her face in the shadows. "Don't worry about that Hermione, we'll sort it when and if it comes up."

"Oh...okay then. We'll go back soon." Harry smiled and pushed off the worktop.

"So do you have any more injuries that you're hiding?" Harry asked rounding on her.

"My back is a little sore, right in the middle," she said. "I can do it though." She brushed past Harry and opened up the medical box, pulling out a large plaster. She moved her hand behind her back, and Harry watched as she made what she was doing appear particularly difficult.

"Do you want me to do it?" Harry asked.

Hermione moved her hand away from her back. "Y-Yeah, erm, here." She handed Harry the plaster and he moved behind her. Harry placed his right hand onto the bottom of her jumper and began lifting it up. For a second he thought he felt Hermione shudder but the next minute she stepped away and took the plaster off him.

"Maybe there's a bathroom upstairs, all I need it a mirror." Hermione hurried up the stairs leaving Harry, who was feeling a little confused, alone.

Five minutes or so later, Harry ascended the stairs to wait for Hermione. The upstairs of the pub was even more empty than the downstairs only that there was a bathroom behind a door to his left that he hadn't seen yet. Hermione came out of the bathroom to which Harry peered inside. "Nothing too special," said Hermione. "Just an average toilet and sink."

"And a mirror," Harry added, grinning. Hermione looked a little uncomfortable. "You okay? Did I do something to offend you downstairs?"

"No, No!" said Hermione defensively. "It's just you know..." Harry anxiously waited for her to continue - eager to correct whatever he may have done wrong. "Anyway, you still haven't told me why you are here?" she said catching Harry off guard by changing the subject.

"The same as you, except I hate my family." Harry said casually. Hermione listened intently. "I hit my Uncle this morning. I'm sick of him talking about Sirius as though he's a piece of shit."

"Harry!"

"Sorry," Harry apologised for his use of language, "I just couldn't take it anymore, if they knew half the stuff I had to put up with...and it is a waste of time trying to talk to them. You'd be better off talking to a boggart. You'd probably get a better response," said Harry bitterly.

"I know this isn't the best thing to say...I don't know what to say." Hermione faced Harry and looked painfully into his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm never going back anyway," said Harry stubbornly folding his arms.

"Maybe not this year, but you know you have to go back each year while Voldemort is alive." Hermione trailed off as Harry put up a hand to silence her.

"That's it," he said, his eyes wild. "That's it Hermione," his face was now determined. "I'm going to kill Voldemort, this year."

"Harry-"

"No! Think about it, I'll be free. We'll all be free, to live happy lives free of that snake lurking about." Hermione began to speak but Harry cut her off. "Don't even try to stop me," he snapped. Hermione took a step back. "Please," Harry added his tone a little softer. Hermione backed off and said no more about the subject.