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Chapter 10
"Jeez, this weather is freaking cold," Weasley sniffs and shivers.
"So where are we meeting up? The Three Broomsticks?" Harry asks once we've reached Hogsmeade.
"Of course not," Granger says. "Too many students and teachers. No, we'll be meeting in the Hog's Head."
"What's that?" I wonder out loud.
"It a pub as well but no students venture there so there won't be a chance of our conversation being overheard."
The moment we enter the pub, I can see why no students come here. I can't see why anyone would come here. It's definitely a shady place. The man behind the counter looks kind of creepy and I'm sure no one has cleaned this place in a very, very long time.
"Cosy," I say sarcastically with a pointed look at Granger.
"It's not so bad," She tries to pretend she isn't feeling disgusted and dirty because of this place as well.
She is the first one to enter the place and order four butterbeers from the bartender.
"I think I just saw a rat," I scoff once the man is out of hearing range.
When he comes back to bring us our drinks, I use a cleaning spell on my glass three times just to make sure I won't catch some dodgy illness from drinking it.
"So who's coming?" Harry asks once we've all dared to take a sip of our drinks.
"Well,-" Granger starts but never gets to finish the sentence.
The door of the Hog's head opens and in walk more people than I think fit in this place. The first one to enter is Neville, followed by Dean and Lavender. Of course wherever Lavender goes, the Patil twins follow so they're here as well. Two girls I don't know who are clearly from Ravenclaw enter the pub as well. Even though I don't know them, Harry seems to know at least one of them because he stares at the beautiful girl with big eyes. Wait, I think I do know that girl. Isn't that Cho Chang?
More people just keeping coming in. Luna Lovegood, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, the Creevey brothers, Kellah and Fay, Wayne who smiles at me and appears to have brought two boys and two girls with him, three Ravenclaw boys I don't know who tag along after Ginny Weasley, some other guy no one seems to know and finally Lee and the Weasley twins.
"I thought you said there were going to be a few people?" Harry turns his head annoyed in Granger's direction.
"The idea seemed quite popular," She smiles.
"27 butterbeers, please," Fred immediately walks up to the bartender who looks at all the people who've entered his pub with big eyes. I don't think he's ever seen so many people in here.
"Why are these people here?" Harry asks Granger while everyone's busy with finding themselves a seat.
"They're here for you. They want to hear what you have to say."
"But I don't have anything to say," He grumbles.
She isn't listening to him anymore. She gets up and is trying to figure out how to talk to this many people.
"Euhm... Hi."
She isn't very good at it.
"So... well... you're obviously here for the same reason. We thought... I mean... I mean, I had the idea... that, maybe, with a small chance, there could be, if not..."
Oh, God. She sucks at this.
I could see all the people's expressions turn into confusion while she's tripping on her own words.
"What Hermione is trying to say," I butt in because honestly I think I'll do a better job at this than Granger. "That the reason you are all here is because you want to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts and Umbridge isn't teaching us. So she," I point at Granger. "had the idea to take matters into our own hands."
"Yeah, that's what I meant," She says softly while nodding her head at my words.
"To pass your OWLs?" One of the people whose name I don't know asks.
"While that's important as well, the main reason for learning about Defence is because we should be able to protect ourselves now that Voldemort has returned."
Once I say his name everyone stares at me with big eyes and they all wear a sort of frightened expression on their face due to the mere mentioning of his name. If they want to be able to defend themselves against him, they really all should learn to simply say the name.
"How can you say that so easily and sudden?" Weasley sighs and shakes his head at my antics.
"Danny is right," Granger stands up again with new found bravery. "We need to prepare ourselves now that V-Voldemort's back."
Well, she seems like she's in control of herself again. I sit down next to Harry who doesn't seem at ease.
"Where's the proof?" One of the guys whose name I do not know addresses Granger.
"Dumbledore says-"
"I know what Dumbledore says," The boy sneers. "Dumbledore says what he says."
The guy points at Harry with an almost accusing finger. I don't like this guy.
"And who the hell are you?!" I cross my arms over my chest and try to stare the guy down.
"Zacharius Smith, and I think we'd all like to know why we should believe him."
"Listen, you little punk -" I snap at him.
"It's okay," Harry puts a calming hand on my shoulder. He stands up as well now and addresses that stupid Zacharius Smith. "I saw him. If you don't believe that, it's fine. I'm not going to waste any time trying to convince you of something you don't want to believe."
Harry casts what I can only describe as an angry look at Granger. I guess he's not too happy right now that she set this up. He doesn't want to talk about that night. I don't want him to either. I had to witness it once, I don't want to hear it again.
"So..." Granger continues, nervous once again. "If you want to learn-"
"Is it true that you can produce a patronus?" One of the Hufflepuff girls interrupts and asks Harry the question.
"Yeah," He says as though that's not impressive at all.
Some of the people in this place look at him in awe.
"And did you kill the Basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?" Someone else pipes in.
"Euhm... Yes, I did."
"And he saved that stone in our first year," Neville joins the excitement that is now sizzling in the room.
"And don't forget about the tasks he had to go through last year," The girl of who I think might be Cho Chang says.
The fact that Harry blushes slightly at the mention of what he's done, convinces my suspicion that she is indeed Cho Chang, the girl he had a crush on last year. It appears that crush hasn't really gone away.
"But I had a lot of help-" Harry falls into a repeat of the conversation he had with his two friends that night in the tower.
"Not with the dragon, you didn't."
"Or the dementors."
Pff, I helped with the dragons!
"The point I'm trying to make -"
"You're just trying to weasel out of showing us any of that stuff," Zacharius huffs.
God, I hate this guy already.
"We've all turned up to learn from him and now he's saying he can't really do anything."
"That's not what he said," Fred takes the words out of my mouth before I can hiss them at the guy.
"Would you like us to clean out your ears for you?" George stares at him with a kind of dangerous look in his eyes and pulls a strange but probably lethal stick out of his bag.
"Or any part of your body, really, we're not fussy where we stick this."
I really wouldn't mind if they attempted such a thing.
"Moving on," Granger tries to calm things. "Who wants to take lessons from Harry?"
Despite grumbling Zacharius, everyone seems to be quite on board with the idea.
"Well then, we should decide how often we meet up."
"Once a week?" Lee proposes.
Everyone seemed to agree on that.
"And now the matter of where."
"We can't exactly use an empty classroom," I voice my own thoughts.
"Then what do you propose?" Weasley sighs.
How the hell should I know a good place to do this thing? I've only been going to school here for a few weeks.
"Well, we'll come up with something later," Granger suddenly pulls out a piece of parchment and a quill out of her bag. "I think everyone should write down their name so we know who was here but more importantly, if you sign this, you are agreeing not to tell Umbridge or anyone else about this."
Even though the twins happily put their names at the top of the list, some others seemed rather hesitant about this new development.
"Euhm... I can just hear from the others when the meeting is," The boy named Ernie says hesitantly.
"Coward," I hiss loudly under my breath when I take the quill from Ginny and sign my own name on the list.
"It's just that I'm a prefect and if that list is found-"
"Nobody is going to find it. Hermione is going to protect it with her life," I say.
Even though he still seemed nervous about it, he accepted the quill I offered him and signed the paper.
Eventually everyone signed it, some more reluctant than others. All were very quiet afterwards, as if they just signed a death wish.
"Well, we'll be going. Devious plans and all that," Fred grins. "Wanna join, Danny?"
I do. But I feel like I might still be needed here so I nicely decline.
People start leaving the place now that all the official business is over. I say a quick goodbye to Fay, Kellah and Wayne before sitting back down next to Harry.
"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" I smile at him.
"I guess not."
"That Zacharius bloke is a douche," Wealsey grumbles, still annoyed by the other guy's words. "What was he doing here anyway?"
"I think he came here with Wayne," Granger wonders out loud.
"So it's your fault he was here," Weasley narrows his eyes at me.
"What do you mean my fault?! You were the ones who told me we had to get a lot of people interested."
"Exactly, and it was a success. I mean, Michael Corner and his friends wouldn't have come either of he wasn't dating Ginny."
Oh, the look on Weasley's face is priceless. I'm so glad I stayed.
"Wait.. what?! My sister is... He's... What?!"
"He's your sister's boyfriend," I explain to him as though he's an idiot. "That means they're a couple, they hold hands, peck each other's lips, make out passionately and if you're sister puts out it means they have a lot of action in-"
"Okay!" He screams with an angry blush on his cheeks. "I got it. But I thought Ginny fancied Harry."
"She gave up on that."
So that's why I hadn't caught her staring at my brother anymore lately and why she was finally able to open her mouth around him and pronounce something other than a sigh.
"Well, something good definitely came out of this," Granger suddenly smiles secretively.
"What's that?" Harry asks.
"Cho couldn't keep her eyes off you."
So the girl was Cho. She's really pretty, maybe a little bit out of Harry's reach. But Granger was right, she had been staring non-stop at him.
Harry seemes a little uncomfortable by the subject but I can tell he's actually really pleased by Cho's attention for him. Good, it's about time that guy gets his first kiss.
"I don't know about you guys," I get up and put my coat back on. "But Harry and I are going to Zonko's Joke Shop."
"We are?" He frowns.
"I just sat through an entire hour of hearing people boast about your accomplishments. You owe me," I give him a pointed look.
He seems to agree because he gets up as well. Unfortunately his friends do the same.
"Good idea, I need some new Sugar Quills anyway," Weasley says.
I should have know those two would join us as well. It's like you can't have Harry without them.
"Must those two always tag along?" I grumble to Harry once we leave the Hog's Head.
"Hate to break it to you, but you're the tag-along," Weasley snaps at me.
"Don't act so scorned, princess."
His face turns red once again when Harry interrupts us and asks to get along. Get along? With him? Yeah, right!
I've never been to Hogsmeade before so right now I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning, running from one store to another excitedly while Harry and the two others are forced to run after me.
"Could you maybe stay in one place for longer than five seconds?" Granger eventually asks with an annoyed and tired expression on her face.
"Fine. This is the last store anyway."
Honeydukes is candy paradise and since I am just as much a sweet tooth for chocolate as any girl, I don't mind spending a lot of time in the shop. They have so many different kinds that it's impossible to make a choice. Do I go for the Chocolate Frogs or the Choco-Locos? The Fizzing Whizzbees or the Tooth-Splintering Strongmints?
"Having a bit of a dilemma?" A voice I know all too well comes from my right.
"I do. How do you make a choice when there are so many things you want to enjoy?" I sigh dramatically.
"Why don't you just have it all?"
"And raid the entire shop? I don't think the other students would like that," I grin.
"As long as you leave some for me, I'm fine with it," He smiles.
I actually pick several things and drop the great pile of sweets on the counter. After I pay, I wait in front of the shop for Harry with the Hufflepuff.
"So... I was wondering..." He starts nervously.
"Yeah?" I say while munching on some of my Jelly Slugs.
"I know the next Hogsmeade trip isn't for a while yet, but would you like to go on a date with me next time?" Wayne asks.
Oh... Honestly, I hadn't really thought about going out with anyone. But why wouldn't I? It's not like I'm still pining over the last guy. Jonathan has been history for a while now. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to go out with Wayne Hopkins. I certainly like the guy enough for it.
"Sure, why not?"
"Oh, okay. Well, I'll give you the details later then."
"Works for me. See you later," I say when I see the three I had been waiting for leave the store.
"Bye," He smiles at me before leaving.
"What did Wayne want?" Granger asks me friendly.
"A date," I grin while Harry chokes on his Chocolate Frog.
"What?" Harry asks me the same time Weasley says "Why?".
"Because I'm very charming when I want to be," I grin.
"But aren't you already... occupied?" Harry asks me.
"Occupied? The date for the next Hogsmeade trip isn't even set yet. How would I know that I'm not available that day?" I frown.
"Not like that. I mean... aren't you already seeing someone else?"
"Not that I know of. Why would you think that?"
"Because you knew Robert Hilliard was on patrol the other night and when I asked you about it, you acted really weird and uncomfortable."
The conclusions that guy jumps to. Isn't he supposed to have great instincts?
"I don't even know Robert Hilliard."
I really don't.
"Then how did you know he was on patrol that night?"
"... Because I ... had seen his name on the map earlier."
I think Granger knows I'm lying. Harry probably does too but he eventually nods his head.
"Still doesn't answer why he would want to go out with you," Weasley mutters.
"Is someone a little jealous? Wayne likes me, Harry and Cho like each other and your sister and Michael Corner are all over each other. Seems like you're the one who isn't very likeable," I grin while mockingly slapping his cheek softly.
"Shut up!"
But the expression on his face tells me that maybe he is feeling a little jealous over the fact that he doesn't have anyone. Well, all he has to do to remedy that is snog the life out of Granger but he doesn't have the balls to do it.
Time passes way too fast and soon it's already time to return to the castle.
The next morning I almost fall out of my seat because the unthinkable has happened. Noa wrote me a letter.
Even though I'm in the house of bravery, I have to admit I am too scared to open the envelope. But the good news is, it isn't a howler.
"Aren't you going to open that?" Harry who is sitting next to me asks.
"No, I'll read it later," I force a reassuring smile before slipping the letter in my bag. "I'll start with the Daily Prophet."
I am eating a lovely toast when I notice something strange happening next to me.
"Are you going through my bag?!" I shout while grabbing it out of Harry's greedy hands. "What the hell are you doing?!"
I don't mind Harry loaning a quill or ink from me but I draw the line at going through my stuff.
"Nothing," He says innocently but that doesn't really work when I caught him with his hands in my bag.
His desperation for finding out what I've been doing the entire time I was sneaking out has reached a whole new level.
"Stay out of my stuff, Harry. That's my last warning to you," I huff angrily before grabbing one more toast and leaving the Great Hall with my bag clutched closely to my side.
I'm entitled to a little privacy. I'm allowed to keep some things for myself. I don't have to share everything with him, I already had to share a uterus with him once.
I was planning on already heading to the Charms class room when I see a lot of people gathering. What's going on? A large sign is attached to the wall and I have to give a lot of elbow punches to make it far enough to the front so I can read what's on it.
By order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
That's already a really, really bad beginning.
All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded.
An organisation, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.
Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).
No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
I look to my right to see Granger read the notice as well.
"There's no way it's a coincidence," I tell her.
"How would she know?" She frowns.
"We weren't the only ones in that pub and I for one don't really trust everyone who was present there with us. One of them might have spilled the beans."
"That's not possible."
"Are you really that naive that you can't-"
"No, they really couldn't have done it because I jinxed the paper they signed. If someone told Umbridge we would know and that person would most definitely regret it."
"Really?" I ask her in wonder. "That's kind of smart. What will happen to them?"
"Let's just say it completely redefines acne."
I kind of want to see that even though that would mean someone blabbed. On second thought, let's just never see it.
When me and Granger arrive at our class room, she sits down next to Harry while I eye the seat next to Neville. It is the moment of truth.
"Hi, Neville," I smile brightly at him once I slip into the seat.
"Hi," He smiles back.
That doesn't really mean anything. Neville's really nice. He always smiles at everyone.
"So how are you feeling?" I smile.
"Euhm... good," Neville says, a little unnerved by my sudden interest in his health.
"So no dizziness or stomach ache? Feel like throwing up? Heavy eye lids?" I think of some possible side effects of the potion.
"What? No."
"Any other weird sensations in your body?"
"W-why are you asking me that?" He blushes awkwardly.
"I'm just worried about the health of all my fellow class mates," I shrug casually. "So you don't have like a weird taste in your mouth since, euhm... let's say last night?"
"No," Neville looks at me with suspicion.
I guess I wasn't being subtle but how else was I supposed to find out the effect of the potion? And it's not like my weird questions are going to make him realise I slipped an equivalent of a love potion in his cough syrup.
"Do you think I'm pretty?" I ask him sweetly.
It is still a sort of love potion but weaker. The person who takes it wouldn't become in love with me, he would just really, really like me, a lot, and find himself unable to refuse me anything. The effect would also only be noticeable in my presence.
"Y-yes," He stutters out with an even darker blush than before.
"The prettiest girl you've ever seen?"
He can't answer that question because he starts stuttering heavily and in his awkward situation spills his ink over the desk.
I let him clean up the mess he created all though I might have had something to do with it as well. I pretend to listen to professor Flitwick while I'm actually thinking about the potion. Neville doesn't seem to be basking in my presence the way he should be. Instead he's just really awkward and stutters. Maybe the potion reacts differently, depending on the person's character. Or maybe the potion isn't strong enough. It couldn't or at least shouldn't have worked out by now. That potion was designed to have an effect for three weeks.
"Psst, Neville," I try to grab his attention again while he's trying to write down what the professor is saying.
"Yes?"
"I would like for you to yell through the entire class that Charms sucks," I whisper to him.
"W-what? I can't do that," He looks alarmed at me.
"Please? It would make me very happy," I smile sweetly at him.
"N-no."
I lean back in my chair frowning. He shouldn't have been able to deny me that. It seems to me like the potion isn't strong enough by a long shot or maybe it isn't even working at all. That's a bummer.
I leave Neville alone for the rest of the hour. It's clear to me that he's not having the desired effect. I guess I still have some work to do on my creation. And in the meantime I have no idea how to control the prefects in this castle.
I'm still occupied in my head with what changes I will have to make to the potion while I walk to my next class with Harry, Weasley and Granger.
"Are you okay?"
I turn to my right expecting to see Harry but instead it's Weasley who's looking at me with concern.
"Euhm... yeah," I frown.
"Are you sure? You seem kind of troubled. Maybe I can help you with whatever is bothering you?"
"Why on earth would you want to help me?"
"Look, Danny, I know I'm usually really rude to you but you're right. I am jealous because I could never compete with how awesome you are."
My mouth literally fell open at his words. What was he saying?! I turn to my left to see Harry and Granger staring at him as well.
"Did he just say I'm awesome?" I ask them and they nod in disbelief.
I shake my head and try to put some distance between me and Weasley. His nice behaviour is kind of freaking me out. But when we enter the Transfiguration class room he quickly calls dibs on the seat next to me and slides in happily. Harry and Granger sit in front of us.
"What did he have for breakfast?" I ask Harry while trying to stop Weasley from touching my hair.
"Just the usual. He can't have eaten something weird."
"Then why is he acting weird?" I sigh annoyed at the guy next to me who's actually pouting at me because I'm trying to ignore him.
"I don't know. Maybe someone jinxed him," Granger thinks out loud. "Could be a Confundus Charm and he doesn't realise anymore that you two don't get along."
"You think so?" I frown disbelievingly.
Normally a charm like that would make him really freaked out because he doesn't know what's going on. Instead he just seems to believe he and I are best friends. That doesn't really seem like the work of the Confundus charm.
"Maybe he's sick and he's delusional from the fever?" Harry suggests.
He doesn't really look feverish to me. But let's check. I put my hand on his forehead to check his temperature but it seems normal to me.
"He doesn't have a fever," I shake my head.
When I want to take my hand off his forehead, he quickly grabs it again and puts it on his cheek with a content smile and sigh.
"Wha-what are you doing?" I quickly pull my hand away though he's still trying to reach for it.
"You're so soft," He smiles with a dazed look on his face.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"You sure he doesn't have a fever? He acts pretty delusional if you ask me," Harry mutters.
"Why would he have a fever?" I snap at Harry, annoyed that he doesn't seem to take my word for it. "He was fine yesterday and you think he'd get a fever high enough to lose grip on reality out of the blue?"
"He didn't feel too well last night. He was snivelling and coughing but after he took Neville's syrup he was fine."
"W-what?!" I stutter out.
"He wasn't feeling too well last night?" Harry frowns.
"No, about Neville's syrup!" I yell at him frantically.
"Oh, Neville has this really good cough syrup that does wonders when you have a cold. He doesn't have one anymore and therefore hasn't had to take it for a while but he let Ron have some since he was coughing and all."
Oh. My. God. Weasley isn't acting like this because of a jinx or a fever. He's under the influence of my potion! My love potion!
I stare at Weasley with big eyes and a look of horror on my face while he just smiles back at me as if my attention is the most wonderful thing in the world. He probably thinks so now. This wasn't supposed to happen!
"What's wrong, Danny?" Harry takes in my horrified expression. "Did you figure out what might be wrong with him?"
"No!" I shout. "Why - why would I know what's wrong with him?!"
Don't panic! Don't panic! It will only make them suspicious of me and they'll think I have something to do with Weasley's behaviour. Well, I do but it was Neville who was supposed to adore me now.
"Because you suddenly got that look of enlightenment on your face?"
"I just figured out how to do the spell we were supposed to master last week."
"Didn't you already get it then?"
"No, it wasn't perfect yet," I say quickly.
Harry seems to buy my load of crap and he turns around to listen to professor McGonagall like Granger was already doing.
"Hey, Weasley?" I turn towards the guy who looks at me with adoration in his eyes.
"Please call me Ron, Danny," He begs me.
"Fine, ...Ron," I try the name that's foreign to my tongue.
But he seems to absolutely beam because I called him by his first name. He once again tries to snatch my hand but I keep it out of his reach. It's already bad enough I have to be nice to him, have him being completely infatuated with me, but I'm not going to let him touch me.
"I would like for you to tell me how you're feeling."
"I feel great," He smiles brightly. "I'm so glad I get to sit next to you."
"That's not really what I meant," I sigh. "How are you feeling health wise?"
"Good, I think."
"No dizziness or something like that? Do you have a head ache?"
He just shakes his head. Well, he did seem alright to me.
"What about last night? Did something happen when you drank Neville's cough syrup?"
He thinks for a moment before opening his mouth. That's a first.
"I felt all warm and tingly inside," He laughs. "And then I had to think of you."
Huh? So the potion made him think of me right after he drank it. Does that mean the potion still has an effect even though I'm not around?
"Why do you ask?" He suddenly frowns.
"No reason," I quickly say. "But how about for fun, we keep this conversation between us?"
His face immediately lights up with the thought of sharing some kind of secret with me and he eagerly nods his head.
"Hey," I suddenly think of something. "You know what I would really like?"
"No, what?" He asks me as though he'd give me anything I want.
"I would like for you to go up to McGonagall and tell her Dumbledore wants to snog her senseless and ask her if she too has the hots for him."
"I don't think that's a good idea," He hesitates.
"It would mean the world to me," I smile sweetly at him like I had done an hour earlier at Neville.
But it has a different effect on Weasley. Instead of once again shaking his head, he nervously gets to his feet and walks to the front of the class.
"Mister Weasley, is there a reason why you are no longer in your seat and are disrupting my class?" She cocks an impressive eyebrow at him.
"Yes, professor. I came to tell you that Dumbledore wants to snog you senseless."
The woman and the entire class are gaping at the words that just left Weasley's mouth. I find it very hard not to burst out in laughter.
"And he was wondering if you too had the hots for him."
It's too much. The expression on McGonagall's face is too hilarious and I can no longer contain my laughter. The rest of the class soon joins.
"Detention, Mr Weasley!" McGonagall yells at an uncomfortable Weasley once she has regained her voice.
This whole thing with Weasley could either turn out to be really fun or really tragic.
So what was the moment you realised Ron took the potion instead of Neville? I was trying to make it clear without making it too obvious.