Harry x Hermione: It started early

59

Chapter 59 : Veiled Shadows

The Hogwarts Express rumbled through the countryside, its rhythmic motion a familiar lull that echoed with the memories of countless journeys. As Harry and Hermione settled into their compartment, the scars of recent events lingered, hidden beneath the surface of casual conversation.

Harry, his gaze a sharp contrast to the gentle swaying of the train, observed the passing landscape with a vigilant intensity. The scars on his chest, both seen and unseen, seemed to resonate with the echoes of the recent Death Eater attack on the Burrow.

In the midst of the journey, Harry's attention shifted to the Slytherin compartment. The familiar faces of Draco Malfoy and his cohorts were conspicuously absent. The absence of Malfoy, a figure who had become synonymous with tension and animosity, piqued Harry's curiosity.

Hermione, her eyes reflecting the shared weariness of recent events, noticed Harry's distraction. "What's on your mind, Harry?"

Harry's gaze remained fixed on the Slytherin compartment. "Draco's not with them. It's strange. You'd think he'd be reveling in the chaos."

Hermione nodded, her mind undoubtedly echoing with similar thoughts. The scars on her chest, hidden beneath layers of fabric, seemed to pulse with the unspoken questions that lingered between them.

As the train journey continued, the whispers of uncertainty hung in the air. The scars, both physical and emotional, seemed to weave themselves into the very fabric of the Hogwarts Express.

Later, as the students disembarked onto the platform, Harry's attention remained fixed on the Slytherins. A figure emerged from their midst, a face from Gryffindor that sent a chill down Harry's spine.

Dean Thomas, once a trusted friend, now wore an expression of defiance that seemed out of place. The scars of recent events seemed to manifest in the shadows that flickered across his face.

As Harry surreptitiously observed, Dean's eyes met his, and an unsettling realization struck. Dean had noticed Harry spying on him. The scars of betrayal, both given and received, seemed to deepen in the silence that hung between them.

In a sudden surge of aggression, Dean approached Harry with a calculated intent. The scars on his chest, hidden beneath his robes, seemed to resonate with a bitterness that had festered in the shadows.

Without warning, Dean lashed out, a swift kick connecting with Harry's face. The force of the blow sent Harry sprawling backward, his nose gushing blood. The scars, both physical and emotional, pulsed with the fresh wound inflicted in the aftermath of the Burrow's attack.

Hermione, her eyes widening in shock, rushed to Harry's side. "What in the world—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Dean shot her a venomous look. "Stay out of this, Hermione. You don't know what's going on."

The scars of recent events seemed to carve deep furrows on Hermione's face. The unspoken questions, the lingering shadows of betrayal, hung heavy in the air.

As Dean retreated, leaving behind a disoriented and bleeding Harry, Hermione helped him to his feet. The scars on his face mirrored the internal turmoil that churned beneath the surface.

"What was that about?" Hermione demanded, her voice a mixture of concern and frustration.

Harry touched the blood dripping from his nose. "I don't know. Something's not right, Hermione. I need to find out what's going on."

As they navigated the bustling platform, Harry's gaze searched for any sign of Dean. The scars on his face, both from the physical assault and the unspoken wounds of betrayal, seemed to pulse with a renewed determination.

Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the platform, Hermione found herself drawn to Ginny Weasley. The scars of recent events seemed to converge in the shared gaze between the two friends.

"Hermione, what happened to Harry?" Ginny asked, her eyes narrowing with concern.

Hermione sighed, the weight of recent events pressing upon her. "It's complicated, Ginny. There's something going on, and I'm not sure how to untangle it. But there's something else I need to tell you."

Ginny, her curiosity piqued, leaned in. "What is it, Hermione?"

The scars on Hermione's chest, both physical and hidden beneath layers of concealment charms, seemed to throb with the weight of an unspoken truth. "I'm pregnant, Ginny. And I don't know who the father is."

Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. "Pregnant? Hermione, I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Hermione explained, her voice tinged with guilt. "I used concealment charms. I didn't want anyone to know until we were ready to share the news. But now... with everything that's happening, I don't know if it was the right decision."

Ginny's gaze softened, a silent understanding passing between them. The scars of recent events seemed to fade in the face of the shared vulnerability that defined their friendship.

"You should tell Harry," Ginny suggested. "He has a right to know, especially with everything going on. Secrets have a way of unraveling, Hermione."

Hermione nodded, a conflicted expression on her face. "I know. But right now, I can't find him. He went off to figure out what's happening with Dean, and I can't reach him."

Ginny placed a reassuring hand on Hermione's shoulder. "We'll find him, Hermione. And then you can talk to him. It's better to face these things together."

As the platform buzzed with the excitement of students reuniting with their families, Hermione felt the weight of unspoken decisions pressing upon her. The scars, both visible and concealed, seemed to pulse with the cadence of a journey that had taken an unexpected turn.

The search for Harry continued, each passing minute deepening the shadows of uncertainty. The scars on Hermione's chest, hidden beneath layers of fabric and concealing charms, seemed to carry the weight of the unspoken truth.

In the encroaching dusk, as the train pulled away from the platform, the echoes of recent events lingered. The scars, both seen and hidden, bore witness to the intricacies of a world that seemed to unravel with each passing moment. The future, veiled in shadows, awaited them—a future where the scars of betrayal and the unspoken truths would demand to be confronted.