Finding nothing in Harry's trunk, the demon turned its attention to Draco's, and repeated the exercise of tearing it apart. Both boys watching in resignation as it scattered Draco's clothes and books all over the floor. 'You know,' said Draco to Harry in an undertone, 'I always figured demons for more of the attacking, mauling and killing type. This going through our stuff thing…it's sort of…tacky.'
'I really agree,' said Harry.
'You could banish it,' said Draco hopefully.
'I think it's probably better to convince it we haven't got the thing, otherwise it'll just come back,' said Harry. 'It doesn't seem to be able to sense where it's 'other half' is any more. I hope,' he added, thinking of Lupin.
'Fine,' said Draco. 'But if it tears up any of my clothes, it's out of here.'
'This is all your fault,' said Ron, glaring at Ginny across the table.
His blue eyes were blazing, and his red hair was sticking up in wild tufts just like Harry's. 'How could you just leave her in the Leaky Cauldron with that- that-'
'That is not fair!' Ginny yelled back, her eyes flashing. 'You didn't hear her, Ron! You weren't there! She wouldn't have let me stay, she as much as told me to go away and leave her alone!'
'It's midnight!' said Ron, who was looking both very angry and very worried. 'Where is she?'
'I know,' said Ginny, sitting down unhappily at the kitchen table, 'I know, but Ron, please try to have some perspective. Maybe they just got to talking and lost track of time.'
'She'd have sent an owl, or something. Hermione's not like that, she's-'
'Not like what?' said Hermione, coming in through the screen door and regarding them both curiously.
Ron and Ginny gaped at her. 'Hermione,' breathed Ron in relief.
'You're all right!'
'I told you she was fine,' said Ginny, who was nevertheless extremely relieved to see her. She turned to Hermione. 'You are all right, aren't you?'
'Of course I'm all right,' said Hermione calmly. 'Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to go upstairs for a moment. I'll be right back.'
She turned, still very calm, and went up the stairs. Ron and Ginny watched her go with open mouths.
'Do you think she's upset about something?' asked Ginny, when she could find words.
'I don't think so,' said Ron slowly, 'She seems the opposite of upset.
Weirdly calm. Maybe you should go up and talk to her,' he added, unhappily. 'Girl talk.'
Ginny shook her head. 'She'd be much more likely to talk to you.'
Ron sighed. 'I guess you're right,' he said, stood up, and made his way towards the stairs, where he was stopped in his tracks by the sight of Hermione, who was coming towards him carrying her small overnight bag. She walked right past him down the stairs and into the kitchen. Ron hurried after her.
'Hermione,' he said, fighting a growing feeling of alarm, 'are you sure you're all right?'
'I'm fine,' said Hermione, who was walking across the kitchen now.
'I've just decided to spend a few days with Viktor, that's all.'
'What?' exclaimed Ron and Ginny together.
'Hermione, you're not serious,' said Ginny.
Hermione turned and looked at them. She looked small, pale and determined. Stray wisps of hair were coming out of her bun and curling around her face. 'I am serious,' she said. 'Why shouldn't I go? Why shouldn't I do what I like?'
'Have you lost your mind?' said Ron.
'What about Harry?' protested Ginny.
Hermione shrugged. 'He'll understand.'
'He most decidedly will NOT understand,' said Ron. 'Hermione, sit down, please. Are you angry with Harry? Did he do something? Are you trying to get back at him? In which case, I beg you to get back at him some other way. Ginny, help me out.'
'You could have an affair with Ron,' suggested Ginny helpfully.
'That'd upset Harry.'
'Thanks, Gin,' said Ron, shooting her a look of death.
Hermione shook her head, looking at Ron with wide, slightly glassy brown eyes. 'This has nothing to do with him,' she said. 'This is just something I have to do. Will you two calm down? I'll be back in a few days.'
'A few…days?' said Ron faintly.
'Well, if you're just going to overreact like this, maybe I won't come back at all!' snapped Hermione, turned on her heel, and slammed open the screen door. She stalked outside. Ron and Ginny looked at each other in horror, then Ron leaped to his feet and followed Hermione out into the garden.
'Hermione!' he called. She was walking across the grass towards a tall, dark figure sitting astride a broomstick. With a feeling of intense foreboding, Ron broke into a run. 'Hermione!' he called again, but without a backward glance, she climbed onto the broomstick, locked her arms around Krum's waist, Krum kicked off, and they were away, soaring into the air high above the Burrow. Ron threw his head back and watched as they shrank to a tiny speck over the treetops, and vanished.
'But Hermione hates to fly,' he said numbly, still staring after them.
'She won't even fly with Harry.'
