In Perpetuum

Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Lam ergo cognitis

 

It had been several weeks since the incident involving the Marauders’ Map and while tensions had not completely dissipated, they had cooled enough to espouse some sense of normality back into their daily routine.

Hermione had gone back to the Common Room, almost bouncing with euphoria. It was a feeling that was also slightly tinged with trepidation. She wondered whether Voldemort would be able to feel these sudden losses of himself – whether he would find out what they were doing. However, Hermione relieved herself with the fact that she was at Hogwarts and she was under the protection of Dumbledore. Surely Tom Riddle would not be stupid enough to even attempt to penetrate the hallowed halls.

When Hermione reached the Common Room on that night, she was disappointed to find it in a state of semi-darkness and complete abandonment. It was late and everybody had already gone to bed in anticipation of tomorrow’s lessons. She climbed the staircase to the Third Year Boys’ Dormitory and knocked softly on the door.

There was no reply.

Her buoyant attitude was somewhat weakened as she realised that she would have to wait until the morning to find out how the rest of the confrontation had progressed.

Making an impatient noise, she quietly crept down the stairs so as to not wake any of the students.

When she was only halfway down the stairs she heard a door creak open behind her and soft, hesitant footsteps moving towards her.

“Mione?” a doubtful voice whispered.

Hermione turned around and was confronted with a pale and drawn face.

“Remus! You scared me!”

“Sorry,” he mumbled in a barely audible voice.

Seeing the hurt expression on his face, Hermione quickly justified her actions.

“No, no, it’s alright. I guess I just didn’t expect anyone to be here at this time when the Common Room was empty.”

She stared at Remus enquiringly.

“Speaking of which, what are you doing down here anyway?”

The paleness of Remus’ face coloured slightly at Hermione’s question. Clearly the discussion had created more questions that what it had answered.

“I couldn’t sleep,” said Remus, not giving away any more information other than his reply.

Hermione nodded before adding her own sentiments.

“I couldn’t sleep either...would you like to join me downstairs with some hot chocolate?”

Remus nodded eagerly feeling glad that Hermione had not pressed him for answers.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

They sat cross legged on the floor, leaning against the back of one of the sofas, warming their toes at the grate of the fireplace.

They had spent some time chatting about their subjects and teachers, however, it was not nearly as much of a discussion as Hermione would have liked. She had spent a good part of the last half hour almost talking to completely to herself while Remus sipped at his drink and occasionally offered a small sound of agreement. Therefore, it was a bit of a surprise for Hermione when Remus finally asked her a question.

“How long have you known?”

This seemingly simple question left Hermione dumbstruck. She had no clue about how to go about answering this question. How on Earth could she tell him that she had known for almost eight years when they had technically only been friends for only half that time?