Chapter Four
Defence against the Dark Arts went well as usual for Harry. It really was his best class. He was even more of a natural than Hermione. Harry, Ron and Hermione were all shuffling down the hall slowly heading towards the Head Common Room. But on their way, something peculiar caught their eye. Harry stopped walking causing the others to bump into him slightly. He cocked his head slightly to get a better look.
Draco Malfoy was leaning in and whispering to a girl. A girl wearing Gryffindor colours. A girl with raven hair and long legs. Katie. Harry's Katie. Draco was smiling at her and she giggled at whatever he whispered. Harry clenched his fist and felt Ron's hand on his shoulder.
"I heard that over the summer they became mates. They were training at the same pitch over the summer." Ron explained. Hermione looked at Harry with concerned eyes.
"Harry. It's nothing. Don't over think this." Hermione advised. Ron nodded and blocked Harry's view of Draco and Katie.
"Hermione's right. Katie's mad about you. But that doesn't mean your rivals are her rivals." Ron said placing both hands on both Harry's shoulders. Harry nudged quickly to remove Ron's hands from his shoulders and to get a better look.
"Yeah? Well I just don't trust Malfoy around her is all." Harry said biting his lip. Ron laughed and stepped in front of him again.
"Well you have nothing to worry about. Katie would never go for a guy like Malfoy." Ron said smiling. Harry broke free of Ron's person and started strutting over to Draco and Katie.
"Leave her alone git. I think its best if you go back to the cave you crawled out of." Said Harry gritting his teeth. Malfoy glared at him and scoffed.
"You should learn some manners Potter." Draco said equally as menacingly. Katie elbowed Harry and glared back at him.
"Are you serious? You're seriously talking to him like I am not even here? I can take care of myself Harry. Besides, you look like an ass. Draco and I were just talking about Hufflepuff's new training curriculum. It's pretty horrible." Katie said angrily.
"Well sorry for thinking that "Draco" could ever have a civil conversation with anyone." Yelled Harry. He stormed away from them and towards the staircases. Ron and Hermione ran to catch up with him.
"Harry! Harry, wait up!" Hermione said attempting to pull at Harry's robes as she caught up with him. Harry turned quickly and without thinking shoved Hermione hard. She fell backwards and hit the floor.
"HEY. That is NOT ok." Ron shouted. Harry looked apologetically at Hermione who was now getting up.
"Hermione… I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." Harry said slowly bowing his head.
"It's fine Harry. But you are correct. You weren't thinking." Hermione said curtly.
"What the hell?! Why the hell did you blow up out of nowhere?" Ron asked Harry with a heavily furrowed brow. Harry looked away from Ron and looked at the floor before answering.
"I just didn't like the way he was looking at her. It makes me crazy." Harry said shamefully.
"Well like we told you. You have nothing to worry about. You're making something out of nothing." Hermione lectured.
Katie had now caught up with them. Her face was angry and hurt at the same time. She grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him lightly to the next corridor.
"Harry what the fuck was that?!" Katie shouted softly – so that no one could hear. Harry blushed and mumbled something under his breath before looking straight at her.
"I don't know Katie! Anything involving him sets something off in me. Why the hell are you even talking to him anyways? You've never had an interest in him before." Harry said nonsensically.
"I don't think you can have a say in who I am friends with. Besides, he helped me with my flying this summer." Katie explained.
"Your flying was fine before." Harry said annoyed. Katie rolled her eyes.
"If you're going to be like this then I don't really want anything to do with you until you calm down. Until you turn back into the sweet boyfriend that I know then don't bother speaking to me." Katie said furiously. She stomped off and headed for the Gryffindor common room.
Harry's mood only got worse. How could she even stand up for him? She knew how Harry and Draco hated each other. How could she not see that he only talks to her to get a rise out of him? Harry walked purposefully towards the staircases and towards his common room.
When he reached the door, Hermione was already waiting for him at the concealed entrance.
"Ron left to give you some space. But I remembered that I had to teach you how to get in the room." Hermione said with a stone face. Hermione quickly explained how to open the door and when Harry finally managed to open the door Hermione rushed past him.
Harry felt horrible for pushing Hermione. His anger subsided at the thought of him doing more damage to her than he did.
"I'm sorry Hermione." Harry pleaded. Hermione wasn't one to give the silent treatment. She would do something worse. She would talk to him but give him very short answers. She would also pretend everything was fine. Hermione shot him a glance.
"I know." Hermione answered and then closed her bedroom door behind her.
Harry was now very hungry. He wanted to ask Hermione to come with him to the great hall for dinner. But then he heard a knock on the door. Harry went and answered the door.
"Hungry?" Ron asked Harry smiling. Harry smiled back and followed Ron out of the room.
"Hermione will be fine. She will come down when she's finished punishing you." Ron said laughing. Harry forced a smile back but was still very worried. He never liked when she wasn't pleased with him. It made him sad and annoyed at the same time. Her opinion of him was very important to him and it bothered him that it was.
Harry glanced down the Gryffindor table and saw Katie with Leanne and Angelina. She looked happy and she was smiling. He now felt horrible for the way he acted earlier. Katie was right. Harry had no right to tell her who she could and could not talk to. Harry cringed at the thought of Katie and Malfoy hanging out. Ron noticed Harry's expression.
"What's got you all bothered now?" Ron asked amused. Harry did not smile back.
"Just the thought of Malfoy and Katie…being friends." Harry shuddered at the thought and Ron laughed. Harry continued playing with his food. His mood was curbing his appetite. Apparently his mood had no effect on Ron who was still shoving food into his mouth as fast as possible. Harry only just notice Hermione floating into the hall with Ginny beside her. Ginny made a point to angrily stare at Harry. Great, thought Harry, now she's mad at me too.
When Harry and Ron had their fill, Ron invited him to join him in the Gryffindor common room.
"If you just look really sorry, Katie won't be mad anymore." Suggested Ron while they were walking back to the common room. Harry shrugged and muttered "Yeah…". As they walked through the portrait hole a great sense of home and familiarity filled Harry. He definitely didn't realize how much he missed being in this common room. He liked the noise. The noise distracted him. Harry and Ron joined a table where Seamus and Dean were sitting.
"Oh look Dean! Potter has decided to grace us with his presence!" joked Seamus. Harry, who was not in the mood, just sat down next to Dean.
"Hey Harry! Good summer?" Dean asked.
"Oh yeah! It was great. America was definitely interesting." Harry said almost like it was rehearsed. Seamus leaned in.
"So I hear you had a bit of a row with your girlfriend before dinner. Its only the first day and you've already screwed it up." Taunted Seamus. Ron and Dean laughed but stopped when Harry did not join them.
"Was only joking Potter. Lighten up!" Seamus demanded punching Harry in the shoulder playfully.
"Sorry. I guess I don't find it all that funny." Said Harry quietly.
"Tell me about it. He shoved Hermione when she tried to help. Talk about hormones." Said a female voice from behind them. It was Ginny. Ginny had her long red hair tied up in a ponytail. Harry never noticed how pretty her brown eyes were. They were a light brown that were also very bright. Harry never really noticed just how pretty Ginny had become. He spent a lot of time over at the Weasley's but only really saw Ginny as Ron's sister and much like a sister of his own. It pained him also when she disapproved of him.
"Oh is that right? Hitting women are we now Potter?" Seamus jested. This time Ron didn't laugh. He looked at Harry, worried that Seamus maybe took it a bit too far.
"Leave him be Seamus. He's had a rough day." Lavender said also joining him. Ron relaxed a bit.
"Harry really needs to learn to just take a joke. Why are you so serious all the time?" Seamus responded. Ginny laughed.
"Come off him now. He might explode at you next!" Ginny warned playfully. Lavender shot Ginny a glare. Harry had stopped listening. All he was thinking about was if Katie and Hermione were going to forgive him.
"Piss off Ginny. You don't need to rub his nose in it." Ron said angrily. Dean glared at Ron.
"I don't think that is called for Ron." Dean said in defence of Ginny. Ginny laughed and put her hands up in defence. Ron was about to get up angrily but Ginny stopped him.
"Fine Fine. I will retreat." Ginny said playfully. Harry finally started listening again.
"What?" That's all Harry could think of saying. He had a feeling he missed more than he thought.
"See? He wasn't even listening!" Ginny said in protest to Ron. Ron looked at Harry and smiled.
"I guess you lot aren't worth his time eh Harry?" Ron asked. Harry faked a laugh.
"Sorry. Got Quidditch tryouts tomorrow. Got a lot on my mind." Harry explained. Ginny's face lit up.
"Great! I'm trying out for the team this year Harry." Ginny announced. Harry smiled at her.
"You'll do great. Ginny's a one to watch out for." Harry said to everyone. Ginny went scarlet. Ginny put a lot of work into training this past summer just so she could be on the team. She loved Quidditch as much as anyone. This was something Harry really liked about her. Also a reason why he's dating Katie. Harry definitely couldn't see himself getting on with a girl who didn't also like Quidditch. Well… except Hermione. She always supported Ron and him at the games. That's all he really wanted from her anyways. It meant a lot if Hermione took time out of her day to do something that wasn't homework.
"Thanks…" mumbled Ginny – still blushing. Dean looked at her looking at Harry. Dean suddenly looked very discouraged.
"I'll be at all the games! Cheering you on!" Dean told Ginny. Ron laughed and gave Ginny a haughty look.
"She's got to make the team first." Ron pointed out. Seamus scoffed.
"Harry'll just put her on the team because she's good looking." Seamus said. No one really found this funny. Ron looked confused. But then Ginny cleared her throat.
"We'll see about that. Why don't you and I have a go on a broom and see whose making jokes then?" Ginny snapped. She turned on her heels and headed upstairs. Harry looked at the time. It was 7:58. He had to meet Hermione to do their first watch with the prefects.
Harry excused himself and Dean followed him. Dean and Ginny were made Gryffindor prefects this year instead of Harry and Hermione. Harry led Dean out of the portrait hole.
"Do you think I should go get Ginny?" Dean asked Harry. Harry shrugged his shoulders and nodded. He had to find Hermione anyways. He figured she'd be waiting for them in the spare classroom they booked for the meeting. Harry decided not to wait and left without Dean and Ginny. Harry saw brown curly hair walking away from him with a great sense of purpose. Hermione. Harry thought. He ran to catch up with her.
"Hey! Wait up!" Harry yelled. Hermione turned around and rolled her eyes.
"Running late are we Potter?" Hermione said smirking. It appears seeing him pant like a dog was amusing to her.
"Yeah. You know. Seamus talked our ears off." Harry said trying to catch his breath. Hermione smiled looking at how out of breath he was. When they reached the classroom, Harry noticed Hermione had several sheets of parchment in her hands. She must have conjured them from her bag. Harry really needed to learn those spells.
"What are those?" Harry asked her while taking a seat on top one of the desks. Hermione rolled her eyes again at him.
"Schedules. For our rounds. We don't need all 8 prefects every night. That would be ineffective. I propose that we have two a night and one night where it is just me and you. I also made these." Hermione conjured ten round pieces of metal, "These are to alert us to any situation where any prefects or we need any extra help. They will burn in your pocket and glow red when they are activated." Hermione explained. Harry took one of the coins and put it in his pocket.
"Brilliant Hermione." said Harry grinning at her. But before Hermine could respond in walked in the eight prefects. Hermione took charge and handed out the schedules and the coins to everyone and Harry just watched her and occasionally nodding at the orders Hermione was barking out. The first shift was for Slytherin's prefects. The two Slytherin students groaned while they took their coins and they ushered out to monitor the corridors. While the other prefects were fanning out of the room. Harry thought it best, while he had Hermione alone, to apologize again.
"Hermione…" Harry began but Hermione put her finger to his mouth.
"I know Harry. Your apology is accepted. Can we move on now?" Hermione explained. She exited out the room leaving Harry alone. Harry was getting very annoyed. He apologized three times now. How can she accept his apology and still freeze him out?
Harry took a deep breath and left the classroom as well.
When Hermione was walking she heard voices from around the corner. It was two females. It sounded like Katie and Angelina. They were talking very harshly only a bit louder than a whisper.
"When are you going to finally tell him Katie? After today you know he will be extra suspicious!" Angelina asked. It sounded like Katie was crying.
"I just can't. If he found out, it would be over for sure. It was just one night. I just missed him." Katie said through sobs. Angelina sighed.
"Well, let's hope he doesn't find out about you and Draco. You know it will break him if he hears it from someone else." Angelina said softly. Hermione froze. What the hell did she just hear? No. It must be a mistake. She must have heard them out of context. Her mind was racing. This was one bit of information that she did not want to retain. She froze even more when she saw Katie and Angelina turning the corner.
Katie's face went as white as Hermione's.
[AN: I know Angelina is supposed to be graduated by now as she is the same age as Fred and George but in this story she is the same age as Katie (which is one year older than Harry)]