Huffle Ship to Port One: Hannarry
Chapter One
Harry didn't know how it happened.
One minute, he was going from the cafeteria to Herbology, and then something slammed into him. He was dizzy and couldn't tell what it was at first. Then he saw that it was a girl.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked her, while she had her face downwards, picking up her books and papers.
"Um, sure," she said, lifting her face.
"Oh, Hannah, I didn't know it was you," Harry said. "Here, let me help. I learned a spell from Hermione." He waved his wand and exclaimed, "Brazorevenesce!"
All the books returned to Hannah's arms, and she stood up. "Thanks Harry!" she said, beaming at him.
They went toward the greenhouses together.
"I'm sorry your mother died," Harry said.
"Yeah, well, it was two years ago, and I think that time heals things like that," said Hannah, despite the fact that her face was full of sadness.
"This past war was burdensome. I hope our children don't have to experience anything as tragic as this."
Hannah looked at him, bemusedly. "Our children?"
"Er, I meant, you know…the next generation…not—"
"Relax. I'm just teasing you," Hannah said.
They arrived at the greenhouses, though, and had to listen to Professor Sprout give instructions for how to properly water a hydrophobic dragon-geranium. When the class was told to do their work, Harry and Hannah split up to join their friends.
After class, Harry and Ron had to practice Quidditch and Hermione went to study in the library. Once practice was over, they went to sit under the tree they usually studied under.
"To think how peaceful Hogwarts is, now that You-Know-Who is gone," Ron said.
"Come on, Ron, can't you get used to saying his name? He's dead now."
"It still gives me the heepie-jeepies," Ron said, shivering.
A bold fourth-year came up to them. "Ronald, um…I was wondering if you could teach me how to do the Summoning Charm."
"Shouldn't you ask Hermione?" Ron said, sweating.
"I did, but she told me to bug off. Said something about working on inventing a spell that will turn tree bark into life-saving ailments..."
"Okay, fine, Hiatsu, I'll teach you. Want to go to an empty classroom for practice? There's nothing short-range out here to summon, 'cept maybe a pinecone."
The girl blushed at the suggestion, but Ron didn't notice. "Yeah, let's do that," she said.
Harry watched Ron go off with Lavender's little sister. He, Ron, and Hermione felt sorry for her because Lavender was a werewolf now. They could not refuse any of her requests because of this pity. But they had no reason to suspect that she had designs for luring Ron away from Hermione…
Trying to make out the shapes of the clouds in the sky, one of which looked like a very miffed Blast-Ended Skrewt, Harry did not notice Hannah sitting down next to him under the tree. "Wonderful, isn't it? The fresh air, nature, everything?"
Harry was startled, but he did his best to hide it. "Oh, hello Hannah."
"You don't mind me sitting next to you here, do you?"
"Of course I don't mind, Hannah," Harry said. And he didn't. He just wanted to know why she was doing this,
"I love trees," Hannah said. "They give us oxygen and we give them carbon dioxide…lovely symbiotic relationship we have going there."
Harry couldn't believe Hannah was spouting off facts from Muggle science, especially since she was a half-blood and as far as he knew, had never been inside a Muggle school.
"Hey, isn't that a cumulus cloud?" Hannah said, pointing at one shaped like a Mimbulus Mimbletonia.
"A Cumulus Mimbulus?" Harry asked.
Hannah started laughing hard, then punched his shoulder, saying, "Oh Harry, you are a riot! You should be a professional comedian."
"I think people would cease taking me seriously if they found out that the guy who ended Voldemort's reign became someone who tells jokes in pubs for a living."
Hannah shivered at the word "Voldemort," and almost wanted to get away. But she was not ready to leave yet.
"I hear Slughorn is hosting a Christmas party," she said.
"Oh, yeah. Another fun-fest with the Slug club," Harry said, sarcastically.
"Oh come on, it can't really be that bad."
"Actually, compared to most Slug club meetings, it isn't. He always brings in famous people like the Weird Sisters or the captain of the Holyhead Harpies."
"That sounds fascinating. Too bad I can't go," Hannah said, lowering her head.
Harry didn't like to see her down like this. "Hey, would you mind going with me?"
"Really? You'd take me?"
"Of course. I wasn't going to go at all, but if you're there, it wouldn't be so difficult to endure."
"Well, guess I'll see you then," Hannah said, getting up.
"Yeah, see ya," said Harry, who felt an inexplicable ache in his heart when she disappeared from view.