What- right now?! Are you mental?! She hates me! Not to mention it is like 3 in the morning! What am I going to do? Waltz into the bloody Dungeons and tell the portrait that I want to talk to the new girl who I practically chased away from our common room?! What is it I'm supposed to be talking about anyway?"
Harry had expected Ron's reaction but he didn't wish for Hope to be alone right now and he couldn't risk going to her- Ron could always use the excuse of feeling bad as a valid reason to approach her!
"I know it sounds crazy- but please trust me. I wouldn't ask if it weren't important! We can go under my cloak so no one sees us" despite his protests, Ron was already putting his slippers on "bloody hell …how do we always end up doing this kind of thing!"
A large grin surfaced on Harry's face in gratitude. Were their roles reversed, Harry would have been just as understandably sceptical. Just like Ron however, Harry was his faithful friend and would follow him to the centre of the earth and back it he needed him to!
"Thanks…I owe you!" he dragged the cloak out of his trunk and threw it over the both of them- taking amusement from the roll of eyes he had earnt "yeah, yeah!"
"Harry? Aren't the dungeons this way?" A head of bright red hair was momentarily visible before Ron scrambled quickly to get back under the cloak, after he and Harry had walked in different directions - they had both grown a considerable amount since their first year!
"We're not going to the Dungeons- just trust me!" When it became apparent that they were heading into the grounds, there was a groan of exasperation "haven't we had enough moonlit adventures over the years Harry? What if one of Aragog's bloody, giant, baby spiders comes out to get us?!"
Failing to supress his snigger as he recalled Ron's immense fear of spiders, he shook his head reassuringly "we aren't going into the forest- don't worry".
They turned off towards the steps and began descending the stairs to the boat house, however upon reaching the bottom instead of going in Harry peeked through a gap before stepping back "she's in there- you go in I will wait here!"
Stepping back with his arms folded angrily, Ron fiercely shook his head "I am not going in there! You knew she was there! That means you saw it through you know who's eyes!"
It was hard to not find his friend amusing sometimes especially now that he was digging his heels in whilst been nudged slightly as Harry grinned playfully "Mr Weasley…do you honestly think I would send you in there if I really believed Voldemort was in there? Would I have come here if he was….wait, don't answer that last part!"
Even Harry knew that trouble followed him closely- and that try as he might, he couldn't stay away from it! "Just trust me ok!"
Ignoring the guilt he felt from forcing his best friend into another annoying situation, Harry watched apprehensively while he waited for Ron's resistance to crumble- which didn't take long!
"Ugh…fine!" With red ears and a burning face, he stomped his foot in defeat.
Returning his eyes to the gap, Harry waited to observe the undoubtedly awkward exchange of words between them.
"Hope…ummm have you been crying?" The tearful girl sniffed loudly before snapping in his direction "What do you think!"
Evidently, he hadn't expected the hostility as he quickly backed away with his hands held up in defence "Sorry! I…I hope it isn't because of what I said. I know I have no tact…"
It was surprising to see Ron trying to make peace, he always admitted wen he was in the wrong but it often took him a while to come round.
Hope however did not warm up despite his attempts "just leave me alone! I know you don't want to be involved with me and your sister certainly doesn't!" Sweat was starting to form in Harry's hands- things were not going to plan!
With Characteristically burning ears, he growled back "What about Ginny? What does my sister have to do with anything! Gah…serves me right for trying to check on you!" Turning away from him with her nose in the air she huffed in response "I never asked you to!"
Ron faced the gap and threw his arms in the air clearly now at a loss as to what he should do next "See Harry! This was a stupid idea after all!" Strangely enough all of the anger faded away from Hope's face as her head snapped back round "Harry? Harry is here?!"
A quiet groan slipped from his mouth- Ron was really slow sometimes! Unable to save the situation, Harry removed his cloak and approached them "I'm going back! You can talk to her!"
Passing his cloak to Ron he nodded with a weak smile. He could not be blamed - he had tried his best! "Here, you take this- at least you won't risk getting caught"
As the cloak dangled from his arms he considered that he might give peace one more try, and so he looked back at Hope a final time with a softer expression "I'm sorry again…I was out of order earlier- I shouldn't have said those things"
Silence remained as Ron walked away feeling that his efforts were still futile. Hope's expression however did not improve! How many more times would Harry have to see her looking so solemn?
"Want to talk about it?" Sat beside her once more as he had done at the Lake, he hoped he could offer her some comfort once again "about what?"
The words were muffled by her arm as her head sank into it, while her knees rose to her chin and smiling kindly; he nudged her with his shoulder. He hoped that the repeat of his playful gesture would win her over again- and not entice her hostility as Ron had done "about why you're sat in the boat house alone at…"
She watched from the corner of her eyes as he checked his watch and grinned at her "…precisely 3.34 in the morning?" Laughing a little in response, she raised her head slightly and turned it towards him "how come you always know where to find me Harry? When ever I am troubled you turn up like a little old fairy-godmother"
With a small chuckle he placed his arm around her gently- relieved that she was now calm "at least call me something a little less insulting!" He had expected her to try and retreat from his embrace as she did with Malfoy but instead she buried her head into him with new tears falling down.
"Draco used to hold me like this- like a sister. I wonder why I feel so at ease with you…he told me- he told me his family were death eaters. I didn't mean to be so rude to your friend…it simply occurred to me that he was most likely right- it very well could have been Master Lucius out there with the others who attacked the train…"
Hope's speech was becoming slurred and disconnected through her sleepiness. Harry watched her intently as her eyes drooped, stroking her head gently as he whispered "please don't call Lucius Malfoy master! Please don't call Draco or any of them Master! You're not their servant…"
His eyes closed against the tightening of his chest as he planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Knowing she had already fallen asleep, he exhaled silently before adding quietly "...you're my Twin".
His voice cracked as a lump formed in his throat; whether she knew it or not she was a part of him! He watched over her protectively as her chest fell and rose slowly as she slept soundly on his shoulder.
Having her nearby was like having a special kind of Patronus; one which protected Harry from the misery of the world- rather than the kiss of a Dementor. Dumbledore had told Harry to distance himself from her…how hard could that be? He snorted at the thought- apparently it was going to be rather difficult!
Listening to her quiet breathing along with the gentle sloshing of the water against the boats, Harry could no longer fight his tiredness and so he too entered into a sound slumber- for the first time in a long while; Harry felt at peace.
"Harry! Harry, please wake up!" Pain seared his eyes as he opened them against the sun reflecting on the water. Hope was still in his arms despite having also stirred as Hermione bent over them snapping her fingers impatiently.
Stood in the entrance way was Ron- and Ginny! Quickly, Harry jumped to his feet with a racing heart- even he knew this did not look good "wait! Ginny- I…" Ginny had already darted off- with her confused brother in tow.
Hermione was still snapping her fingers impatiently as though oblivious to Harry's dilemma "honestly! First period is over! I don't know what you are both doing here but you need to hurry up and get dressed in time for transfiguration!"
Also scrambling to her feet in an unsteady fashion; Hope wiped her eyes and looked at Harry guiltily "I'm sorry Harry! I didn't mean to make you late- I need to go but can we talk later?"
He could feel Hermione's angry glare burning a hole through his skin as he answered Hope "I'm not so sure that's…uh, ok meet me at the lake at lunch?"
Hope nodded and ran off whilst Harry turned to Hermione defensively- he needed to set them all straight! "Please don't look at me that way Hermione! I know how it looks but it's honestly not what you all think!"
She remained silent for a while as they walked back before turning towards Harry abruptly "Ron said you were crying last night in your sleep? He also said that when you woke up you had an intense desire to check on Hope but wanted Ron to do it for you? You also knew where she was at gone 3 in the morning and she was also crying?"
It still amazed him how she could talk that long without air! Though Harry believed that surely even Hermione can't have heard of Intersolecular Twins- there was no way even her overly impressive deductive skills could piece it all together!
Harry shrugged indifferently- what could he even possibly tell her? "What's your point?" Sighing slightly before shaking her head, she too walked away apparently sensing it was something she shouldn't try to delve into "nothing…just make sure you talk to Ginny okay? Hurry up and get changed- I will make an excuse for you to Professor McGonagall"
Harry watched her disappear around the corner feeling strangely relieved- had he escape one of Hermione's scolding's? This hugely surprised him- even he knew he had messed up!
