The Chamber Of Secrets - Hermione Granger x OC

Petrified

Madam Pomfrey was not wrong when she said Oliver was in for a rough night. His arm had been throbbing ever since he drank that healing potion, the pressure of bones reforming causing him both discomfort and a glimmer of hope for the restoration of his strength.

Lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile white walls of the wing, Oliver couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. A certain restlessness hung in the air, augmenting the pain in his arm. As he closed his eyes, trying to find solace in the darkness, he suddenly heard a voice, distinctly calling out his name.

"Oliver."

Startled, Oliver's eyes shot open, darting around the  empty wing. There was no one to be seen, the silence broken only by the faint hum of medical equipment. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, a chill running down his spine.

"Oh good, now I'm going crazy," Oliver whispered to himself.

Just then, Hermione revealed herself from under the invisibility cloak, causing Oliver to gasp in surprise.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. You almost gave me a heart attack," Oliver exclaimed,

"I'm sorry, Oliver. I just wanted to come and see how you were doing," Hermione said earnestly, making her way to the edge of his bed where she took a seat.

"I still can't move my arm at all, but I can feel tiny bones forming in it. Hopefully, my bones will be fully grown by tomorrow."

Hermione placed a comforting hand on Oliver's uninjured arm. "Hang in there, Oliver. Madam Pomfrey is an amazing healer. I'm sure you'll be back on your feet in no time," she encouraged.

"Here's hoping," Oliver said with a wistful tone, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

Hermione's reassuring smile quickly faded, replaced by a worried expression. "Now, what's been going on with you? Something's not right," she asked.

Oliver shifted uncomfortably, unable to keep eye contact."What do you mean?" he replied, attempting to deflect the inquiry.

Hermione's voice grew more insistent as she leaned closer. "For starters, you've barely talked to me at all since the summer, and when we have interacted, you've been acting so strange," she pointed out with a tinge of frustration.

Feeling the weight of her observation, Oliver turned away, facing the hospital room's wall. "My arm is really hurting, so I'm gonna try and get some rest," he mumbled, hoping to avoid the difficult conversation brewing between them.

The tension in the room intensified as Hermione's expression shifted from concern to determination. "No," she exclaimed, her voice rising slightly. "You can't keep icing me out."

Oliver remained silent, his emotions running wild within him.

Hermione slowly rose from her seat, a knot of worry tightening in her chest. She circled the bed and positioned herself in front of Oliver, determined to break through his guarded exterior.

Kneeling down, Hermione reached out to hold Oliver's trembling hands, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did I do something wrong?" Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill onto her cheeks.

Oliver's heart ached at the sight of Hermione's tears, realizing the toll his silence was taking on her. He took a deep breath, summoning the courage to open up. "It's not you, Hermione," he finally admitted, his voice filled with regret. "It's me. Something happened over the summer, something... I don't know how to explain it."

Hermione's grip on Oliver's hands tightened, her voice trembling with emotion. "You don't have to explain everything right now," she said softly. "But please, let me be there for you. Share your burden with me."

"Okay," Oliver said, his voice choked with emotion, tears welling up in his eyes. "I promise I'll tell you everything when I feel ready."

Hermione's heart swelled with both relief and respect for Oliver's vulnerability. She squeezed his hands gently, reassuring him. "I'll wait, however long it takes," she replied.

Just as a moment of solace settled between them, their attention was abruptly diverted by approaching voices. Panic flickered across Oliver's face, and he quickly scanned the room for a solution.

"The cloak!" Oliver exclaimed.

With a sense of urgency, Hermione darted towards the invisibility cloak, unfurling it and quickly sliding underneath its protective fabric. Almost instantly, she disappeared from sight.

In a split second decision, Oliver rolled over onto his side, simulating a peaceful slumber, allowing his breathing to deepen as he pretended to be asleep.

The closer they got, the more Oliver recognized the voices. It was Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Madam Pomfrey.

"Put him here," Madam Pomfrey said urgently.

"What happened?" she asked.

"There's been another attack," Dumbledore replied.

Oliver's eyes widened in shock as he realized the severity of the situation. He strained his ears to catch every word spoken.

"I think... I think he's been petrified," Professor McGonagall's voice quivered with a mix of alarm and disbelief.

Oliver's mind spun with confusion and fear. How could he have been petrified? And by whom?

"Perhaps he managed to take a picture of his attacker," Dumbledore suggested.

A moment of silence followed, making Oliver aware of the tension in the room. Then, he heard the team of professors fumbling with something. A tiny explosion soon followed.

"What can this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"It means the students are in great danger," Dumbledore stated gravely.

A chill ran down Oliver's spine as he absorbed the magnitude of Dumbledore's words.

Professor McGonagall's voice trembled with concern as she questioned her next course of action. "What should I tell the staff?" she asked, seeking guidance from her wise and trusted mentor.

"The truth. Tell them Hogwarts is no longer safe," he replied firmly. "It is as we feared, Minerva. The Chamber of Secrets has indeed been opened again."