(no subject)
Prewriting thread for finding Hermione after her torture. Characters involved: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Hermione Granger, Etienne Abney
It was unusual for Hermione to not be home yet at this time of night, but not completely out of the ordinary; the new school term had just recently started, and both she and Harry were much busier now, she with her assistance to Remus and Harry with his lessons. He figured it was school business that was keeping her so long and had gone ahead and cooked dinner without her, leaving a plate warming in the oven for when she got home.
He had his own schoolwork to do, in particular studying his potions textbook so as not to embarrass himself with Snape. Taking those lessons had been his choice, and either Harry had grown up a little or he just didn't feel like being called a dunderhead anymore, because he meant to keep his word about working hard and passing his N.E.W.T.s. Before he settled into the book, he reached into his pocket to check what time it was, thinking that Hermione surely should be home by now--and Harry had worn watches long enough to keep forgetting that the pocketwatch Hermione had given him didn't tell time. Flipping it open, it took him a moment or two to remember that he was looking at the wrong kind of watch face.
He was about to close it again when he realized that something was off. One of the hands--Hermione's--was not pointing to "home" or "work" or any of the normal spots it would usually be.
It was pointing to "mortal peril."
He had never thought he could feel such cold, horrible dread again. Harry got to his feet, the hand holding the watch trembling slightly. What was happening to Hermione--where could she be? He didn't have the slightest idea. Surely there was no reason for her to be in mortal peril if she were at the school, or out with Ron, or any of the normal activities he could think of that she might be doing. Somebody must be attacking her...but who would attack her? And where could she be?
His immediate instinct was to leave, now, and go find her, but he didn't have the slightest idea where she might be, and who knew how much time he could waste looking for her, and if he'd ever find her before she...no. He refused to let himself think of that possibility. Harry paced the living room back and forth, trying to think. He needed help. There was no way he could do this alone and hope to find her before the worst happened.
Harry somehow found a memory happy enough to summon four Patronuses and send three of them out to the first three people he thought of who could help--Ron Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape--each carrying the same message: Something's happened to Hermione and she's in mortal danger. I need help to find her and rescue her. Come to my flat in London as soon as you can and I'll tell you what I know.
The fourth he told to find Hermione, hoping that wherever she was, it could reach her and she would be able to hear its message: I know you're in trouble and I'm coming to help you. Send a Patronus back if you can, but if not, don't worry, I'll find you. I love you. That one would remain beside her if it could--Hermione never had been very strong with Patronuses, and he hoped his would provide some warmth and comfort as well as protection against creatures like Dementors.
It was unusual for Hermione to not be home yet at this time of night, but not completely out of the ordinary; the new school term had just recently started, and both she and Harry were much busier now, she with her assistance to Remus and Harry with his lessons. He figured it was school business that was keeping her so long and had gone ahead and cooked dinner without her, leaving a plate warming in the oven for when she got home.
He had his own schoolwork to do, in particular studying his potions textbook so as not to embarrass himself with Snape. Taking those lessons had been his choice, and either Harry had grown up a little or he just didn't feel like being called a dunderhead anymore, because he meant to keep his word about working hard and passing his N.E.W.T.s. Before he settled into the book, he reached into his pocket to check what time it was, thinking that Hermione surely should be home by now--and Harry had worn watches long enough to keep forgetting that the pocketwatch Hermione had given him didn't tell time. Flipping it open, it took him a moment or two to remember that he was looking at the wrong kind of watch face.
He was about to close it again when he realized that something was off. One of the hands--Hermione's--was not pointing to "home" or "work" or any of the normal spots it would usually be.
It was pointing to "mortal peril."
He had never thought he could feel such cold, horrible dread again. Harry got to his feet, the hand holding the watch trembling slightly. What was happening to Hermione--where could she be? He didn't have the slightest idea. Surely there was no reason for her to be in mortal peril if she were at the school, or out with Ron, or any of the normal activities he could think of that she might be doing. Somebody must be attacking her...but who would attack her? And where could she be?
His immediate instinct was to leave, now, and go find her, but he didn't have the slightest idea where she might be, and who knew how much time he could waste looking for her, and if he'd ever find her before she...no. He refused to let himself think of that possibility. Harry paced the living room back and forth, trying to think. He needed help. There was no way he could do this alone and hope to find her before the worst happened.
Harry somehow found a memory happy enough to summon four Patronuses and send three of them out to the first three people he thought of who could help--Ron Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape--each carrying the same message: Something's happened to Hermione and she's in mortal danger. I need help to find her and rescue her. Come to my flat in London as soon as you can and I'll tell you what I know.
The fourth he told to find Hermione, hoping that wherever she was, it could reach her and she would be able to hear its message: I know you're in trouble and I'm coming to help you. Send a Patronus back if you can, but if not, don't worry, I'll find you. I love you. That one would remain beside her if it could--Hermione never had been very strong with Patronuses, and he hoped his would provide some warmth and comfort as well as protection against creatures like Dementors.