Ahem, here's the amended version... sorry this one was so full of errors!
(Also I have realised another major error further back in the story,
concerning how Ron came to be in Potions when I explicitly said he failed
to make Potions. Too late really, I will probably change that when the
story is fully complete.)
New Marauders
That day, and indeed the rest of the week, proved to be hard work, although Snape's detention was not for two weeks as he was "busy", something which Ron had enjoyed speculating on. Currently however, he was moaning.
"Surely there isn't going to be this much work over the next two years!" groaned Ron exasperatedly the next Friday lunchtime, the day of Harry's detention. "I've got an essay for each subject!" Harry, who was hunched over rolls of parchment struggling to keep up with the alarming work rate, looked up as Hermione replied.
"Oh it's the same for everyone Ron," she snapped, "and everyone wants you to stop whinging!" She had started talking to Harry again, and was almost normal with him since the Quidditch tryouts, but was still talking far more to Ron, and Harry could often see them having their own private conversations, which they quickly abandoned when ever he drew close. Harry didn't know if he was just being paranoid, but he was sure that he heard his name mentioned more than once.
Ron quietened down after Hermione's verbal assault. It was lunchtime and they were in the library, a regular haunt of Hermione's. The library was a large, uninteresting room with few features that drew the eye. The only place of reasonable interest was the forbidden section, a place of books only available in exchange for a note from a specific teacher. The librarian, Madame Pince, circled the library like a hawk, swooping on her unsuspecting prey for the merest of crimes, such as spilling a drop of ink on one of the library desks.
Harry finished his Potions essay as quickly as possible, the thought of the detention he had later that evening was dampening his day, but soon he was to get some news that would cheer him up.
A thin boy Harry recognised as Henry Peters, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain walked up to their table, an excited look on his face. He extended a hand as he spoke, which Harry shook.
"Hi Harry, I'm Henry Peters." Harry nodded his understanding, concealing his amusement at the slightly eager boy in front of him. He was like a cross between Colin Creevey and Ernie Macmillan. "I'm Ravenclaw Quidditch captain. Professor McGonagall sent me to tell you, its Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor on the 30th October, one week from today."
"Oh Great!" said Harry, meaning it. "I look forward to it." The boy left, and Harry looked across the table, grinning at Ron, who grinned back.
They both stopped quickly however at the look on Hermione's face. She looked as though she was desperately trying not to look angry, or sad, or rejected, but she couldn't pull it off. A small tear in her eye, she grabbed her books and ran out of the door, tears spilling down her face.
Harry and Ron sat totally in shock for a second, the speed of the previous event surprising them.
"I'll go and check on her." Harry said as he rose, but Ron put out an arm.
"No, I'll do it," he said, "she may still be angry at you personally for not picking her."
Harry watched Ron go. He would have been surprised at Ron's emotional tact, had he not been in shock. Hermione seemed to be getting more detached from Harry by the day, what with Quidditch tryouts having put a deep rift in their relationship. With a wistful glance at where Ron and Hermione had been minutes before, Harry gathered his books to head for Charms.
Upon arriving in Charms, Harry took his usual seat and awaited the arrival of Ron and Hermione. They came in together, Hermione avoiding Harry's gaze and blushing.
"I'm s-s-sorry," she stammered out. "I've been... I've been..."
Harry interrupted softly. "You don't have to apologise! I don't blame you for being upset with me, and I hated making that decision..." Harry looked past Hermione, as behind her Ron was gesticulating at Harry to stop talking. Harry quickly gave Hermione a reassuring smile and started to take notes on a complicated charm, the Protean charm. Hermione had used this charm the previous year, much to the awe of some of the members of the DA. Hermione, who Harry assumed would be relaxing in this particular charms lesson, was sitting up and listening with rapt attention to Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice. Inwardly marvelling at Hermione, Harry glanced over at Ron, who was also writing.
But on second glance, Harry noticed that Ron was not making notes on the Protean charm. Harry could not read what it was, but Ron was writing on a small piece of parchment. Before Harry could read it, he saw Ron slip it into Hermione's bag. Harry frowned, but said nothing about it.
Waiting until later in the lesson, Harry tried to find an opportunity to read the parchment and was rewarded when Hermione had gone to the toilet and Ron had gone to ask Professor Flitwick about the charm (having missed the notes). He knew it was deceitful, but Harry's curiosity got the better of him, and he delved quickly into Hermione's bag and extracted the note.
"Outside while Harry's in detention, if it's a clear night. If not then in the room of requirement at the same time. Love Ron."
Harry's eyes widened. He quickly replaced the parchment in Hermione's bag before trying to consider what. He knew very well what he thought it meant, but was it possible? Were Ron and Hermione now more than just friends? As Ron sat down next to him, Harry plotted what he would do to find out what was going on.
*
Harry arrived at his detention with Snape with his bag on his back and a plan in his head. Inside it were several important items to his night's escapades: his invisibility cloak and his marauders map.
He sat down and started depickling the rat brains that Snape had set in front of him on the desk. It was an onerous task, but the monotony gave Harry chance to think more on his plans. Were Ron and Hermione seeing each other? And what would he think if they were? Harry didn't know, but he knew he had never thought about Hermione that way, so he wouldn't feel jealous of Ron.
After just 20 minutes, Harry glanced up at Snape. He was writing a letter, and the very end of his parchment was bent around over the edge of the table, so that if Harry twisted his head around a bit, he could just about make out some of the writing. He read two initials at the top, and felt his stomach go icy cold. "L.V." Harry knew exactly what name sprang to mind at that, but before he had a chance to read on Snape looked up, and saw what Harry was gaping at.
"Potter!" he said, furiously glaring at Harry. "This letter is not for you! Get out!"
Harry didn't need telling twice. He crammed his wand in his pocket, scooped up his bag and sped out of the dungeon.
Harry slowed to a halt one corridor from the Entrance Hall, where he pulled out his invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map. Checking it quickly, he established that Ron was about to walk through the Entrance Hall. Jamming the Invisibility cloak over his head, he tiptoed down the corridor to the Entrance Hall. Harry watched as Ron walked quickly passed, his eyes shifting quickly from left to right, as if knowing that someone was watching. Harry watched him go down the hall and out of the front steps, before quickly following.
Harry stepped out into the warm mid autumn air, and followed Ron quickly, who was now walking, not towards the edge of the Forest that Harry had suspected, but around towards the Herbology greenhouses. Harry started as they rounded a corner as he spotted Hermione.
Harry watched as though from afar as Hermione ran to Ron, and threw her arms about him, as though she hadn't seen him in months. Then, (Harry had to cover his mouth to stop sounds of surprise emitting from it), Ron and Hermione kissed. Harry had been expecting this, but he found it to be a nasty shock anyway, and the fact that Harry hated what he was watching made him feel another emotion: guilt. Was he going to stop his friends new found happiness, just because he was jealous? Harry had expected not to be jealous, but upon seeing them he was, instantly jealous. He looked at them as Hermione drew back, looking upset.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked cautiously.
"It's nothing." she said, obviously lying, but at the look on Ron's face, she admitted what was wrong. "It's Harry," she sighed, and Harry jumped at the sound of his name. "What will he think Ron? Won't he feel lonely?" Ron shook his head at this.
"Harry won't mind, he'll be good about it." Said Ron, calmly trying to reassure Hermione. "Lets go and tell him now shall we?"
"No!" said Hermione quickly. "I mean... let's just wait and see, and find out what he would think about it before assuming he'll be all ok about it." Ron looked rather hurt, but nodded.
"Shall we go back then?" he asked. "Harry should be done soon."
Hermione nodded and, arm in arm, they walked slowly up the steps, leaving Harry very confused about his feelings, and he didn't return to the common room until half an hour later.
New Marauders
That day, and indeed the rest of the week, proved to be hard work, although Snape's detention was not for two weeks as he was "busy", something which Ron had enjoyed speculating on. Currently however, he was moaning.
"Surely there isn't going to be this much work over the next two years!" groaned Ron exasperatedly the next Friday lunchtime, the day of Harry's detention. "I've got an essay for each subject!" Harry, who was hunched over rolls of parchment struggling to keep up with the alarming work rate, looked up as Hermione replied.
"Oh it's the same for everyone Ron," she snapped, "and everyone wants you to stop whinging!" She had started talking to Harry again, and was almost normal with him since the Quidditch tryouts, but was still talking far more to Ron, and Harry could often see them having their own private conversations, which they quickly abandoned when ever he drew close. Harry didn't know if he was just being paranoid, but he was sure that he heard his name mentioned more than once.
Ron quietened down after Hermione's verbal assault. It was lunchtime and they were in the library, a regular haunt of Hermione's. The library was a large, uninteresting room with few features that drew the eye. The only place of reasonable interest was the forbidden section, a place of books only available in exchange for a note from a specific teacher. The librarian, Madame Pince, circled the library like a hawk, swooping on her unsuspecting prey for the merest of crimes, such as spilling a drop of ink on one of the library desks.
Harry finished his Potions essay as quickly as possible, the thought of the detention he had later that evening was dampening his day, but soon he was to get some news that would cheer him up.
A thin boy Harry recognised as Henry Peters, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain walked up to their table, an excited look on his face. He extended a hand as he spoke, which Harry shook.
"Hi Harry, I'm Henry Peters." Harry nodded his understanding, concealing his amusement at the slightly eager boy in front of him. He was like a cross between Colin Creevey and Ernie Macmillan. "I'm Ravenclaw Quidditch captain. Professor McGonagall sent me to tell you, its Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor on the 30th October, one week from today."
"Oh Great!" said Harry, meaning it. "I look forward to it." The boy left, and Harry looked across the table, grinning at Ron, who grinned back.
They both stopped quickly however at the look on Hermione's face. She looked as though she was desperately trying not to look angry, or sad, or rejected, but she couldn't pull it off. A small tear in her eye, she grabbed her books and ran out of the door, tears spilling down her face.
Harry and Ron sat totally in shock for a second, the speed of the previous event surprising them.
"I'll go and check on her." Harry said as he rose, but Ron put out an arm.
"No, I'll do it," he said, "she may still be angry at you personally for not picking her."
Harry watched Ron go. He would have been surprised at Ron's emotional tact, had he not been in shock. Hermione seemed to be getting more detached from Harry by the day, what with Quidditch tryouts having put a deep rift in their relationship. With a wistful glance at where Ron and Hermione had been minutes before, Harry gathered his books to head for Charms.
Upon arriving in Charms, Harry took his usual seat and awaited the arrival of Ron and Hermione. They came in together, Hermione avoiding Harry's gaze and blushing.
"I'm s-s-sorry," she stammered out. "I've been... I've been..."
Harry interrupted softly. "You don't have to apologise! I don't blame you for being upset with me, and I hated making that decision..." Harry looked past Hermione, as behind her Ron was gesticulating at Harry to stop talking. Harry quickly gave Hermione a reassuring smile and started to take notes on a complicated charm, the Protean charm. Hermione had used this charm the previous year, much to the awe of some of the members of the DA. Hermione, who Harry assumed would be relaxing in this particular charms lesson, was sitting up and listening with rapt attention to Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice. Inwardly marvelling at Hermione, Harry glanced over at Ron, who was also writing.
But on second glance, Harry noticed that Ron was not making notes on the Protean charm. Harry could not read what it was, but Ron was writing on a small piece of parchment. Before Harry could read it, he saw Ron slip it into Hermione's bag. Harry frowned, but said nothing about it.
Waiting until later in the lesson, Harry tried to find an opportunity to read the parchment and was rewarded when Hermione had gone to the toilet and Ron had gone to ask Professor Flitwick about the charm (having missed the notes). He knew it was deceitful, but Harry's curiosity got the better of him, and he delved quickly into Hermione's bag and extracted the note.
"Outside while Harry's in detention, if it's a clear night. If not then in the room of requirement at the same time. Love Ron."
Harry's eyes widened. He quickly replaced the parchment in Hermione's bag before trying to consider what. He knew very well what he thought it meant, but was it possible? Were Ron and Hermione now more than just friends? As Ron sat down next to him, Harry plotted what he would do to find out what was going on.
*
Harry arrived at his detention with Snape with his bag on his back and a plan in his head. Inside it were several important items to his night's escapades: his invisibility cloak and his marauders map.
He sat down and started depickling the rat brains that Snape had set in front of him on the desk. It was an onerous task, but the monotony gave Harry chance to think more on his plans. Were Ron and Hermione seeing each other? And what would he think if they were? Harry didn't know, but he knew he had never thought about Hermione that way, so he wouldn't feel jealous of Ron.
After just 20 minutes, Harry glanced up at Snape. He was writing a letter, and the very end of his parchment was bent around over the edge of the table, so that if Harry twisted his head around a bit, he could just about make out some of the writing. He read two initials at the top, and felt his stomach go icy cold. "L.V." Harry knew exactly what name sprang to mind at that, but before he had a chance to read on Snape looked up, and saw what Harry was gaping at.
"Potter!" he said, furiously glaring at Harry. "This letter is not for you! Get out!"
Harry didn't need telling twice. He crammed his wand in his pocket, scooped up his bag and sped out of the dungeon.
Harry slowed to a halt one corridor from the Entrance Hall, where he pulled out his invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map. Checking it quickly, he established that Ron was about to walk through the Entrance Hall. Jamming the Invisibility cloak over his head, he tiptoed down the corridor to the Entrance Hall. Harry watched as Ron walked quickly passed, his eyes shifting quickly from left to right, as if knowing that someone was watching. Harry watched him go down the hall and out of the front steps, before quickly following.
Harry stepped out into the warm mid autumn air, and followed Ron quickly, who was now walking, not towards the edge of the Forest that Harry had suspected, but around towards the Herbology greenhouses. Harry started as they rounded a corner as he spotted Hermione.
Harry watched as though from afar as Hermione ran to Ron, and threw her arms about him, as though she hadn't seen him in months. Then, (Harry had to cover his mouth to stop sounds of surprise emitting from it), Ron and Hermione kissed. Harry had been expecting this, but he found it to be a nasty shock anyway, and the fact that Harry hated what he was watching made him feel another emotion: guilt. Was he going to stop his friends new found happiness, just because he was jealous? Harry had expected not to be jealous, but upon seeing them he was, instantly jealous. He looked at them as Hermione drew back, looking upset.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked cautiously.
"It's nothing." she said, obviously lying, but at the look on Ron's face, she admitted what was wrong. "It's Harry," she sighed, and Harry jumped at the sound of his name. "What will he think Ron? Won't he feel lonely?" Ron shook his head at this.
"Harry won't mind, he'll be good about it." Said Ron, calmly trying to reassure Hermione. "Lets go and tell him now shall we?"
"No!" said Hermione quickly. "I mean... let's just wait and see, and find out what he would think about it before assuming he'll be all ok about it." Ron looked rather hurt, but nodded.
"Shall we go back then?" he asked. "Harry should be done soon."
Hermione nodded and, arm in arm, they walked slowly up the steps, leaving Harry very confused about his feelings, and he didn't return to the common room until half an hour later.