Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Hermione does.
Thanks to the Beta of Awesomeness Karma.
9 thousand hits in a week, wow, Thanks to everyone who's favorited and/or alerted the story. And had some corruption in the file, so reposted.
/
Just as he asked, the entire Ravenclaw table transformed into giant Canaries. The entire table, except for Fluer DelaCour. Whom true to her Veela heritage, transformed into a flame handed half-bird. A very angry half bird.
"Bugger me" Harry breathed. "Oh this is gonna end in tears, I just know it." he finished.
"Harry this isn't your fault." Hermione said in a low voice, trying to keep from being overheard.
"Yeah it kind of is 'Mione, or if not my fault, my responsibility. I'm the one that caused this to happen" Harry replied. The Ravenclaws squeaked in panic and fled the room, followed shortly by most of Slytherin house. The Durmstrang students, just sat frozen, along with a number of the Hufflepuffs.
Harry stood up and started to walk towards the very pissed off Veela. "Fleur, look at me" said Harry. "Calm yourself, you're starting to worry the staff, and scare the students. Including those that are, or would be, your friends." he continued.
Fleur turned to Harry and let out a screech of rage, before raising one of her flame filled hands and launching a fireball at Harry's feet.
"Fleur, put the fire away, I'm not going to hurt you. No one here will hurt you, just calm down, and lets go out to your carriage." Harry said trying not to let his fear show. Harry slowly approached the Veela, and held out a hand saying "Let go of your anger Fleur, this will wear off, and things will be fine. Lets go alright".
With a nervous look, the Veela girl released the fire in her hands, and took Harry's extended hand. Harry sighed in relief, then nodding to Hermione and Luna, gesturing for them to join him, they headed out of the Great Hall. As Hermione and Luna approached, Hermione took Harry's other hand, and Luna took Fleurs.
Together the four left the castle, and went to the Beauxbatons carriage.
As they reached the carriage, Harry turned to Fleur, and releasing her hand, said "The potion that triggered the change should wear off in about an hour or so. You weren't one of the intended targets, and I'm sorry you were effected by it. I'm not the one that gave you the potion, so please don't be upset with me. I hope that this won't affect the way that others see you, but if it does, please talk with me. I know how it feels to be an outcast." Harry said concern in his voice. With a nod of her avian head, the french girl entered her school carriage.
As Fleur entered the carriage Harry turned back to his two friends, and again taking their hands, headed back to the school. As they approached the Hall, the girls released Harry's hands, not wanting more rumors to be started.
Sitting back down at the table, the trio finished their meal to the hushed sound of the remaining students whispering amongst themselves. Predictably, the only one that hadn't seen much was Ron as he had been focusing on stuffing his face as usual, and he had been seated facing away from the main event. Glancing at their friend, Hermione thought she heard Harry's voice saying "Typical Ron, nothing's more important than food to that boy." But that was plainly impossible as Harry's own mouth was currently full of roast chicken.
Her eyes widening, Hermione thought "Harry can you hear me?" Harry looked over at his bushy-haired girl and said, "Yeah I can hear you fine 'Mione, why?"
Taking a bite of food, mostly to prove her point, Hermione thought to him "Because I didn't say anything Harry, I thought it to you."
His own eyes widening, Harry replied "You think this is what Mum meant when she said we'd be able to know what the other was thinking and feeling?"
"Yes Harry, I do. This will make things a little more interesting. I wonder what kind of range we have with this." Hermione thought to him.
"Only one way to find out I suppose, though this will make studying and sneaking about a lot easier" Harry's thought returned.
After they finished dinner, Harry and Hermione escorted Luna back to the Ravenclaw tower. As they reached the door, Harry turned to Luna and said "Now remember, if they give you any trouble, you've got the password to our dorms, just come and stay with us. If anyone gives you problems, let Hermione or myself know, we'll take care of it okay?"
Luna nodded, her throat too full to speak, then hugged them both, and entered her dorms, so she could finish her homework assignments.
As Harry and Hermione headed back to their tower, Harry's hand found Hermione's and interlacing his fingers with hers, they walked on in silence. Reaching the tower, Harry started to remove his hand not wanting Hermione to deal with the questions and rumors that would be started if they entered the common room as they were. Hermione however, just tightened her grip on Harry and shook her head. "You're mine Potter, I don't mind if our housemates find out before everyone else." she thought to him.
Harry turned to face her, and looking into her eyes, showing her the love he felt for her returned her thought "Hermione my love, are you sure. You know how both Ron and Ginny will act. Ron'll pull the prat, and well I'm a little afraid of just how badly Ginny will explode. I'm not ashamed of you, nor of how we feel for each other, I just don't want you to suffer. Lets just continue with our plan, and announce things at the ball."
Feeling the love and concern her boyfriend had, a single tear fell from her eye. Harry leaned forward and kissed it away. "No crying 'Mione, I love you and will do everything in my power to keep you safe and unharmed.". "Happy tears Harry, happy tears" Hermione said in a quite voice.
Suddenly Harry had a wicked grin on his face, and Hermione felt a shield go up across his thoughts. "Will you be fine for a little bit Hermione?" he asked. "I just remembered I need to talk to McGonagall about something."
With a slighted puzzled look, she nodded before Harry darted back towards Professor McGonagall's office. Wondering what her sexy green-eyed boyfriend was up to now, Hermione entered the Gryffindor tower, and headed up to her dorm for some parchment and a self inking quill. Returning to the common room, Hermione sat at her favorite table, and began to write a letter to her parents, telling them about the shortened, Christmas Holiday, the reason it was shortened, and that Harry had asked her to the Ball.
/
As Hermione was writing her second letter of the day, Harry reached Professor McGonagall's office, and again knocked on the door. Hearing the invitation, he entered the room. Looking up Minerva saw Harry entering her office for the second time that day.
"Mr Potter, what a surprise. Is there something else I can help you with today?" she asked.
"I hope so Professor, a couple of things actually. First, I followed your advice, and she said yes!" Harry said with a sound of unrestrained joy in his voice.
"That's wonderful Mr. Potter, I'm very happy to hear that." Minerva said, with a small twinkle in her eyes. She knew that those two would be good for each other. Perhaps it was time to place that bet with Filius she had been meaning to. "As you said first, I'm assuming there are other things on your mind as well?" McGonagall asked.
"Um, yes ma'am, though I'm not sure how to phrase the question properly. You know what muggle video cameras are right ma'am?" Harry asked.
"I believe so, they're muggle devices, that record a scene or event so that one can watch it later if I'm not mistaken" the professor replied.
Harry's eyes widened in shock. "How'd you know that, I mean yes that's right, but..." Harry's voice trailed off.
McGonagall laughed gently. "Harry I've had to visit all the incoming muggle born students for the past decade or so, lately quite a few of their parents wanted to record my 'proof of magic' demo. We had to distroy the tapes afterward, but I have seen them in action." she replied with a grin
"Okay, well that makes this question easier I suppose. Does the wizarding world have anything like that other than a penseive?" Harry asked.
"Not that I'm aware of, though I can ask around. If I might ask, why do you wish to know?" McGonagall asked.
"Well I figure going to the Yule Ball is something very special, and I'd like my girlfriend's parents to be able to see it. Or at least as much of it as I can arrange. Which leads to my second question really, Can a muggle use a pensieve, or just a magical?" Harry asked.
"Unfortunately, a Muggle can't use a regular pensieve Harry, the magic that would allow a witch or wizard to view it, could seriously harm a muggles mind. That being said, there is a similar device called a Memory Ball, that will act somewhat like a pensieve, except this device can project a vision of the memory so that a number of people can view the event, and before you ask. Yes muggles can see the projections." replied the professor with a smile.
"That's great professor, do you know where I could find something like that?" Harry asked.
McGonagall wrote down the name of the store that sold the devices, and handed the scrap of parchment to him. "Try here Harry, I've found use for them a few times myself. The memory balls will hold about 4 hours worth of memory in each one. And yes, you can emplace multiple strands, so long as it doesn't exceed 4 hours total."
Looking down at the parchment in his hands, Harry saw the name of the store, "Sweet Memories, Hogsmeade" "That's brilliant ma'am. Speaking of this when's the next Hogsmeade weekend?" Harry said.
With a small laugh, she replied "Next weekend Harry, they also have a store in Diagon in case you want to get more when you're not at school."
McGonagall's voice got a little more serious. "I'm actually glad you came back to see me Harry. I had Amelia Bones here earlier, and I showed her what you left for me. She'd like to set up a meeting with Sirius. She's willing to meet in a neutral location, and she told me that if he'd submit to VeritaSerum, she's fairly sure she can get a pardon for him.
A look of shock passed over Harry's eyes for a moment, then he replied "I'm fairly sure I can arrange for something like that Professor. As a matter of fact, why don't you have her meet us at the Shrieking Shack next Saturday afternoon, I'll have to owl him, but I'm certain Sirius will do this." Harry replied his voice firm. "Thank you Professor, I appreciate all the help you've been. Now I've still got some homework for Potions that I need to finish, so I'll leave you alone now. Again thank you very much." Harry said as he left her office.
Reaching the Gryffindor common room, Harry spotted his beautiful girlfriend at her favorite table, eyes focused on a book, nibbling on her lower lip. "Dear Merlin she looks so cute like that" Harry thought to himself. As he completed that thought, Hermione squeaked and blushed for a moment, then shot a look at Harry. Harry started blushing as well, "Aw bugger you heard that didn't you" he thought back to her. Hermione just nodded, and Harry's blush went deeper. Harry darted up to his dorm room and grabbed his backpack and a roll of parchment. "I'm just getting my homework 'Mione I'm not running" Harry thought in response to a sense of worry and anxiety.
"So what'd you need to talk with McGonagall about Harry" Hermione's thought asked him.
"It's a secret, it kind of involves a Christmas present, so please don't go peaking around in here okay love." Harry replied "Though she did have some good news,there's a Hogsmeade weekend next week, and we might be able to get Sirius off. I've an appointment with Madam Bones on Saturday. Just need to owl Sirius and let him know." Harry continued as he headed back down the stairs
Flopping onto the couch next to his girlfriend, Harry quickly wrote a letter to Sirius explaining about the meeting with Madam Bones on Saturday at the Shrieking Shack, then stuffed it in his back pack for when Hedwig returned, not wanting to trust something this secret to a school owl.
Harry then bent to his potions essay, with a little mental assistance from Hermione while she continued to read her novel curled up on the couch next to him. Hearing the portrait hole open, Harry saw Neville enter the common room. After a glance flashed between Harry and Hermione, Hermione spoke up.
"Neville, can I ask you something?" she said.
"Um, sure Hermione, I guess so, what's up?" Neville replied somewhat nervously.
"Well, I've got an extra credit assignment from Professor Sprout, and I need to find out what plants would let a person breath underwater" Hermione replied.
"Why, why would you ask me that Hermione?" Neville asked a little confused "I mean you're the smartest person in our year" he continued
"Because Professor Sprout recommended you, she said you're one of her best Herbology students, probably one of the best she's seen in years" Hermione answered.
Neville blushed, then thought for a moment. "I think I might know, I'll be right back" he said before heading to the boys dorm room. Returning a few moments later with the book he had gotten from Professor Moody earlier that year, Neville muttered "I thought I saw something in here." Flipping through the book. "Here it is, Gillyweed can do that Hermione. According to this, Gillyweed grows in small clusters about the size of a golf ball sprouting off of the main plant. It looks like a mass of rat tails, but it can help a person breath underwater for about an hour." Neville continued.
"Thanks Neville that's a great help. Now I can finish that essay for the professor." Hermione said, pulling a small scroll from her bag and writing down the information.
"No problem Hermione, I'm just glad I could return some of the help you've given me" Neville replied with a blush.
Thinking quickly, Harry said, "Hey Nev, come over here for a second." As the young man approached, Harry waved for him to lean down, then whispered. "Look this is supposed to be a secret until McGonagall announces it this week, but there's gonna be a ball just before Christmas Holidays, if you've got someone you'd be interested in taking, you might want to snap her up as soon as the announcement is made. And don't tell anyone but I've already asked Hermione, so she's off the market" Harry said with a grin.
Neville shook his head in amazement. "Good for you two, and don't worry I'll not say anything I promise." he said with a grin of his own before heading back to the dorm room.