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Chapter 10 Conflicting Times

"Hermione, I really hope this works. If it doesn't, I will totally be dead. Thank you so much." Harry was pacing back and forth in front of the fire, it was almost midnight and he was still worrying about potions the next day. Ron had stayed up with them until ten, then pleaded sleep deprivation and went up to bed.

Hermione had told Harry what potion was easiest out of the ones they had to choose from and he had looked it up in his book.

It was a memory potion, which although not extremely hard to brew, was not extremely easy to make either. It had been the easiest one out of the bunch though, and Harry had given it a valiant go. He thought it had turned out alright; Hermione had given it a sniff and a nod of approval. Hopefully Snape could find nothing wrong with it, or he would have done all of it for nothing.

Hermione looked worried about turning it in but said nonetheless "Look Harry, the worst he can do is take points away from Gryffindor. You have the potion and the essay done right?"

"Yes, but knowing Snape, I might get you into a detention from Snape for helping me. He is going to be furious at me for turning in both assignments. And he is probably going to know that you helped me with the potion."

"Well, technically, all I did was help you find one. You made it by yourself. So he doesn't have a reason to give me a detention, and if he does, then I will go straight to the headmaster and try to get Snape sacked!" Hermione said forcefully, although she knew it would never be possible.

"You know Snape doesn't care about technicalities, and he would say that you were merely trying to get yourself out of trouble by lying or something like that." Harry replied dully, not even bothering to acknowledge that his potions professor was evil.

"Well, I know." Hermione admitted. "But we could always hope he has a heart couldn't we? Do you still have the vile?"

"Yep. It's in my bag in a pocket." Harry had asked her halfway through making the potion how he was supposed to get it to class. She had suggested that he take a sample of it and put it in a flask. It was so simple and in front of his face, it made Harry feel even stupider. But that was what Hermione was for, right?

Hermione tried to stifle a yawn, without much success. "You know, I'm happy to be here for you, but it's getting late. I think I'm going to go up to bed okay?"

"Okay. Goodnight." Harry watched her climb the stairs to the girl's dormitories and heard a door close. He himself couldn't sleep, although he was tired. He sat in a chair in front of the fire, staring at the flickering flames. It was nice to have Hermione as a friend. She really was brilliant, if she was a little bossy at times. Eventually, his brain ran out of fuel, and he fell asleep somewhere around one. The fire died down, and went to sleep as well, extinguishing the room into pitch black darkness.

XxXxXxXx

It wasn't until 8 that Harry woke up, silently reprimanding himself for falling asleep in the chair. His whole body was sore from sleeping in a compromised position and after stretching out some of the kinks, he ran up to the dormitory to brush his hair and get a quick shower.

Harry could hardly eat when he got into the great hall. Why was he so nervous about potions anyways? He guessed that it was because Hermione might get a detention from Snape for helping him. Hermione had said that she was fine with it but she had never suffered a detention from Snape. Harry didn't want her to have to go through that experience; after all, he was a sick and twisted man with an equally sick and twisted mind. But she had said that she was fine with it… so maybe it was best to just not stress over it. And just then, he found something to take his mind off of potions for the rest of the day.

The owls were bringing the morning mail and he saw Hedwig soaring around the tables looking for him. Once she reached Gryffindor's table, she landed gracefully and nibbled his finger affectionately while he untied the note from around her leg; she briefly dipped her beak in his water goblet, hooted sleepily and flew off to the owlery to have a good sleep. Harry unfolded the note and began to read.

Dear Harry,

Meet me down near the kitchen where the portrait of the pear is in a week. Don't tell anyone where you are going or about this note. Be there at 7:00 pm sharp. I am not going to wait for you.

Sincerely, Ginny Weasley

Harry felt joy race through his veins. Or should he be scared? The note was from Ginny but still….Ginny could be scary. Harry decided that he would go and would follow the directions of the note. He wanted to hear what she had to say. He put the note in the bottom of his bag and set off for potions, dreading what was going to happen.

XxXxXxXx

In the classroom, Snape was looking particularly nasty, but he brightened just a bit when he saw Harry. Apparently he was looking forward to this moment.

"Potter!" he barked. "Potion and essay up here, now. That is, if you have either one of those things. And if you don't, well I am afraid that I will have no choice but to give you two "T"'s. That would be such a shame wouldn't it?" Snape asked him with a sneer, looking like he would love nothing more than to give Harry the worst grade possible, twice over.

"Well professor, you won't have to worry about that, I have both of them right here." Harry couldn't help but make a smart retort, mixed in with an actual answer.

He watched as Snape's face grew into a nasty shade of purple that could beat Uncle Vernon's. It was actually kinda funny. He didn't say anything for about a full minute, and although he wouldn't admit it to himself, Harry was actually starting to get kind of scared.

"And how did you manage to do that Potter?" he spoke from nowhere. "No doubt with the help of a certain know-it-all.. Am I right Ms. Granger? Did you help your famous friend here with his potion and no doubt with his essay too?" the greasy haired hook nosed git asked, turning his attention to Hermione, who had just entered the room.

Hermione froze. She had just entered the room and now turned to face the professor, jaw set and answered him.

I don't know what you are talking about professor. Here is my essay-" she was cut off by Snape, looking venomous.

"Don't lie to me Granger. 20 points from Gryffindor and a detention for you Potter, for getting someone else to do your work for you." Snape said and sat promptly down at his desk beckoning for Hermione to bring her essay to his desk as he did so.

Hermione did as she was told, and the rest of the class passed without to much trouble.

That night, Harry and Hermione were sitting in the common room accompanied by Ron; they were telling him what had happened.

He had asked Hermione what was wrong when he entered the class; she was slamming books down and ingredients for the day's potion. She had given him a glare, and then thought better of it.

"I'll tell you tonight." she whispered, and Ron had nodded, wondering what on earth could have made Hermione that livid.

"Isn't he the foulest thing to have ever walked the planet?" Hermione finished the story.

"Aw Hermione, welcome to our world. So Harry, when is your detention?" Ron asked, grinning.

"It's a week from today; I have to meet Snape in his office. It's at 7:00." Harry said and then suddenly thought of something.

The meeting with Ginny was a week from today at 7:00! What was he going to do!

"Guys, I am really tired, I am going up now. Goodnight." Harry told them and they replied with their goodnight's.

He went up to the dormitories and after getting undressed, lay in his bed wondering what on Earth he was supposed to do. On one hand, if he missed the detention with Snape, he would be in even more trouble. But this was probably his only chance to get back in good graces with Ginny… what a dilemma. He thought sourly, and fell off into a restless sleep.

Ha ha, aren't I so evil! What do you think Harry is going to do? Stay tuned for the next chapter and review with your thoughts and constructive comments! Another update next week… oh I can't wait for the next chapter: D love from-Writerchick13