Recap
"Shh...'Mione, it's okay...I'm fine" He re-assured her, while taking her hands in his, and intertwining their fingers.
They both felt tingles being sent up their arms, but didn't let go. Instead, Harry leaned foreword, moving his face closer to hers.
Hermione, in turn, began to move her tear-stained face towards his. They had inches, no, centimeters between them now. They both tilted their heads and started to close the space left between them and felt...
Present
Harry and Hermione both felt the old floorboards in the Burrow shake a little. That only meant one thing…someone was coming…and they were close.
As soon as they realized this, the door burst open. And who should it be, but Ron himself.
"Herms dinner's ready!" Ron said.
Ron was impervious to the fact that Harry and Hermione were so close, so to prevent him from getting suspicions…they quickly pulled apart.
"HARRY YOU'RE AWAKE!" Ron yelled.
"Yeah, I am, and you don't have to be so loud about it." Harry said, turning red at the sight of them almost getting caught. Ron, being as thick as he was, didn't notice the scarlet faces of his two best friends.
"Sorry, but you were out for a week" Ron apologized.
"Yeah, Hermione told me" Harry said, and she was about to do something else…until YOU interrupted! Harry thought.
"Oh, well dinners ready… so you guys better come down stairs. Everyone has been waiting for you to wake up"
"Yeah, we've been so worried, Harry" Hermione repeated for the second time that evening.
"Well, I'm hungry…so can we go?" Ron said eagerly.
"I see that my being unconscious hasn't changed Ron a bit," Harry said with a cheeky grin.
Ron quickly nodded and motioned the pair over. "Lets go, Mum will be ecstatic"
"I bet" Harry said, pulling the covers off of him. Hermione helped him out of bed, and earned a thankful smile from Harry.
"Lets get a move on shall we?" Ron said, already halfway out the door.
The trio made their way down the stairs to the kitchen and, sure enough, was welcomed by an ecstatic-looking Mrs. Weasley.
"HARRY DEAR, YOU'RE AWAKE!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley, embracing Harry in a bone-crushing hug.
She quickly let go and started asking questions on how he was feeling and what not. Harry said he was fine and, very hungry. So, Mrs. Weasley carried on with making dinner.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat at the table, engaging in civilized conversation. They talked about regular stuff…Quidditch, Hogwarts, and how their last year would be. They were soon cut off mid-sentence by the smell of roast turkey and mashed potato's coming from the stove.
"Dinner is served" Mrs. Weasley said, "Ron, would you be a dear and go get everyone for me please?"
Ron nodded and left Harry and Hermione alone, enveloped by an awkward silence. They stole quick glances at one another, blushing when they came in eye contact. Mrs. Weasley noticed this, and smiled.
Ron returned quickly with Fred, George, Ginny, Mr. Weasley, and Lupin in tow. Hermione was grateful when they came through the door, Harry…not so much. Harry was bombarded yet again with 'YOU'RE AWAKE' and 'WELCOME BACK' comments, along with questions as to how he was feeling.
He responded the same, as when he was asked before, he was fine.
"Remus, what are you doing here?" Harry questioned, when he noticed Lupin sitting down on the other side of the table.
Remus glanced at Mrs. Weasley who gave him a glare, and Mr. Weasley who simply shook his head. "Can't an old man come and visit his godson?" Lupin asked. It was true, that he was Harry's godfather, in a way, since Sirius had passed. Lupin figured that it was a good excuse, and luckily, it worked.
"Oh…yeah" Harry said, still not fully convinced. He noticed the way that Lupin looked at the Weasley's before answering…but he didn't want to bring it up now. He would ask him about it later.
Mrs. Weasley set the food on the table; it was a grand feast indeed. She had made the roast turkey and mashed potatoes that the trio had smelt earlier, along with corn, beets, lemon poppy seed muffins, stuffing, and to drink, a few gallons of pumpkin juice.
The dinner was filled with a happy vibe, now that Harry was conscious. But to Harry and Hermione, it was the most awkward of moments. They continued to glance at each other, and blush, throughout the entire dinner. Unfortunately…Ron wasn't that thick, he noticed something going on between them. But, Ron didn't want to interrupt the dinner by questioning Harry and Hermione; that would just be weird.
After dinner was done, Harry decided to follow Lupin into the living room.
"Remus" Harry stated, "Why are you really here?"
"I already told you" Lupin said, taking a seat on the couch.
"You are a really bad liar." Harry said, sitting on the couch opposite him.
Lupin smiled, "James could do that too"
"Do what?" Harry asked, interested in hearing about his father.
"Tell when I was lying" Lupin said, "Could never get anything past good old Prongs" Harry smiled; perhaps he was more like his father other than looks.
"Back to the subject, why are you here Remus?" Harry asked, leaning forward.
"Molly will kill me," Remus said, looking around the corner to see if she was there.
"She is outside in the garden, just tell me Remus." Harry said.
"Molly called me here a few days ago to come check on your current condition" Remus started, "Kingsley and Minerva were here also. We held a meeting, and concluded why you fell unconscious"
"And…" Harry asked.
"And, it appears Snape used a very high level of Legimency to transport himself into your dreams, he also used a spell to make you feel actual pain"
"What spell?" Harry asked.
"Kingsley is doing research right now" Remus said, "Harry, could tell me what your dream was about?"
Harry nodded, "I was in the Gryffindor common room, waiting for Hermione to come so that we could study. She was late and I was curious where she could be, I just thought she was in the library getting some extra books or something, so I went to the boy's dormitory to get a few extra quills. No one was in there, and it was late…about eight or so. Then I noticed a note on my bed that said 'Think About Dark' on it. I turned around, and there was a blue gas coming from outside the door. So, naturally, I went to go crack a window, but I tripped over something…or rather, someone. When I looked down, I saw Hermione lying there, she looked pale and distant, and so I checked for a pulse. When I touched her skin, it was as cold as ice, but I could feel a pulse, a small pulse. I concluded that she'd been tortured, the Cruciatus no doubt, and then I heard a voice, and my scar started to burn. He said that I couldn't save her, and then it all started to go dark. He laughed and then said something like 'you and your mudblood lover will pay soon, in blood next time'. Then it all went dark."
Lupin was listening to every word that Harry was saying, and analyzing every bit. He nodded at the right moments and looked concerned the rest of the time. "Very interesting…tell me more about the note that you found on your bed"
"Well, it was a folded piece of parchment with three words inscribed in it, 'Think About Dark', and when I set it down, a blue gas started pouring out of the doorway."
"Uh-huh," Lupin said, setting his elbows on his knees and balancing his head on them. "That is very interesting"
"What is?" Harry asked.
"That as soon as you stopped reading the note, a gas filled the room, as if the note were a key or something-"
Lupin was interrupted with a POP, "I've found the spell!" Kingsley was holding a leather-bound book and looking very pleased with himself. "Oh, sorry, did I interrupt something?"
"No, we were just talking about Harry's dream" Lupin answered, motioning to Harry.
"You're awake, good to see you lad" Kingsley said, patting Harry on the back and sitting on an armchair next to a coffee table.
"Same with you Kingsley" Harry said, at least he wasn't bombarding him with questions.
"I see you've brought some news." Lupin said, motioning towards the book.
"Yes, I have" Kingsley said, opening up the book to the marked page, "I have found the spell that Snape used"
"And…what is it?" Lupin inquired.
"It is called 'Persentio Dormito', the book says: 'The caster of persentio dorminto makes the victim feel pain in an almost painless environment.'" Kingsley said, glancing at the book.
"That would explain it, you usually don't feel pain in dreams" Lupin said.
"Except when Voldermort invaded my thoughts…but that was completely different" Harry added.
Kingsley and Lupin nodded. Just then Mrs. Weasley came in, covered in dirt.
"Just what were you two talking about?" she asked, boy were they in for it.
"Kingsley here found the spell," Lupin said.
"Oh, I'll go call Minerva." Mrs. Weasley said, making her way to the kitchen to wash up.
"We barely missed her wrath" Lupin said, earning chuckles from the others.
"Oh. Merlin." Hermione said, closing the door behind her. She was currently in her and Ginny's room.
"What happened, you and Harry were acting weird at dinner…and I think Ron saw, that means it was totally noticeable" Ginny said, making her way to her bed.
Hermione blushed and sat next to Ginny, "We had a…moment when he woke up"
"What kind of moment?" Ginny said, smirking lightly.
"A…a close call kind of moment" Hermione said, looking down at Ginny's pink sheets.
"You mean you KISSED" Ginny said, excitedly.
"Shh" Hermione said, "We almost kissed, Ron interrupted"
"That git" Ginny said.
Hermione just kept looking down at her sheets.
"Did he notice that you two were about to snog?" Ginny asked, glaring at Hermione.
"We were not about to snog" Hermione retorted, earning a knowing glare from Ginny, "No, he didn't"
"He is a thick git." Ginny said.
Hermione chuckled, looking up at Ginny.
"Did you want to snog?" Ginny asked.
"Uh…" Hermione turned a light shade of pink, "I don't know, maybe kiss…but I don't know about a snog"
"You know you wanted to, and trust me, you aren't the only one. A million girls would die to be die in your position" Ginny said knowingly.
"Huh?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Hermione…he's Harry, Harry Potter…the hottest guy in Hogwarts" Ginny said, smirking at her friend's stupidity.
"Umm…okay then…" Hermione said, "For your information I don't want to snog him senseless because he is the Harry Potter"
"Then you admit that you want to snog him?" Ginny said.
"Huh?" Hermione asked again.
"You just said 'I don't want to snog him because he is the Harry Potter', which means that you want to snog him for a different reason." Ginny smiled triumphantly.
"Boy, you do read between the lines don't you?" Hermione asked.
"I don't 'read between the lines', you are just to thick to admit that you want to snog Harry" Ginny said.
"I DON'T WANT TO SNOG HARRY!" Hermione yelled, obviously paranoid.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to keep it down?" Ginny asked cheekily.
"Uhh…you are impossible" Hermione said, throwing her arms up in frustration.
"I know, and I am so proud" Ginny said, smiling.
"KIDS, HOGWARTS LETTERS!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the kitchen. Hogwarts was indeed being opened again for the trio's seventh year.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry came running down the stairs at Mrs. Weasley's announcement. But the fastest and most eager had to be Hermione, these letters would tell her if she'd made Head Girl or not…and more importantly who the Head boy was also.
Mrs. Weasley smiled when they all piled into the kitchen, nearly knocking over a table in the process. One by one, she called them up and handed them their letters, Ginny first.
Ginny opened her letter, which also held her O.W.L results, it read:
Ms. Ginerva Molly Weasley,
Attached are your results for the Ordinary Wizarding Levels exam.
Pass GradesOutstanding (O)
Exceeds Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)
Fail GradesPoor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)
Astronomy: E
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Charms: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: D
Herbology: A
History of Magic: T
Potions: E
Transfiguration: O
Congratulations, you have gotten 7 out of a possible 9 O.W.L's, you are now allowed to choose your classes for your next year at Hogwarts. Attached, is your book list for your classes that you will need.
Yours Truly,
Minerva McGonagle
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Mrs. Weasley was looking over Ginny's shoulder while she read the list to herself. "Congratulations, Ginny!" she said, enveloping he daughter in a warm hug.
"Yeah, way to go" Ron said, giving her a warm smile.
"Congratulations, I knew you could do it." Hermione said, giving Ginny a hug when Mrs. Weasley was done.
"Yeah, way to go" Harry said, giving her a grin.
"Thanks guys, but Mum, these books are pretty expensive" Ginny said, handing her mother the list.
"We'll manage" Mrs. Weasley said, glancing over the list.
"Go on and open your list's guys" Ginny said.
"Oh yeah…right" Ron said, tearing open his letter, "Hey, I'm the seventh year prefect still!"
"Good job Ron…'Mione what does your letter say?" Harry said, glancing over at Hermione.
Hermione had yet to open her letter, she was to scared, "I can't, it's too hard" she said, glancing at the floor.
"Yes you can, just breathe" Harry said, patting her on the back. Hermione appreciated his gesture, and started to open the letter.
It took her a good five minutes to finally finish opening the letter. "OK, here it goes." she said. She took in word for word what the letter had to offer, and dropped it when she was done, only to have Harry pick it up and read it aloud.
"Ms. Hermione Jane Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have acquired the position pf Head Girl for your seventh year class. You are hereby equipped with the following responsibilities:
You will share a common room with the Head Boy; with a password you both will choose. I will show you to your common room after the feast.
You shall choose the patrol times of the other Prefects and yourself.
Your curfew will be extended to fit your patrol times, if you choose to take a late shift.
You will plan all Hogsmeade trips, and any extracurricular activities that you please.
You will have to prepare a speech to read at the end of the year graduation
You will plan all prefect meeting, starting immediately
I hope that you will take these responsibilities seriously. You are to report to the Prefect's compartment at the beginning of the train ride to Hogwarts and inform them of their duties, that you are well aware of.Yours truly,
Minerva McGonagle
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
"'Mione…you did it!"Harry said, "But where is your badge?"
Hermione showed them the golden broach with the Hogwarts crest engraved into it.
"Does it say who's Head Boy?" Ron asked in eagerness.
"No" Harry and Hermione both answered.
"Congrats Herms!" Ginny said, giving her a hug.
"Yes, a job well done dear." Mrs. Weasley said, joining in on the group hug.
"Harry, you still have to open your letter." Ron said, turning everyone's attention to Harry.
"Oh yeah," Harry said, tearing open his letter. When he did, he saw something fall onto the ground, making a CLING noise.
When that noise was made, everyone looked to the floor and saw a shiny gold badge…
"Oh," Ron said,
"My" Ginny said,
"Goodness" Mrs. Weasley finished.
