Harry Potter Alternate Universe: Year Three
A/N: There is a Luke-Steph moment in here that will be a bit important for the next story. Also, there wont be a break-up, I promise and I'm glad you like Steph and Luke. The reason why Luke sighed and was looking at the ring is because, as you'll see in the next chapter or so, things in his relationship with Steph is progressing really fast and he was also getting his feelings straight. Now, there isnt much Harry-Hermione moments in this but we're getting to the action-y part.
A few days later, Harry and Becca went into the library looking for Hermione. Ron, Luke and Steph was down by the lake with a picnic basket. They made their way to the back of the library, to Hermione's favorite table, and saw her scribbling frantically on several pieces of parchment. Harry traded looks with Becca when they saw the twins sitting at the edge of her table with smiles.
"Hermione…" Harry started but was stopped by Fred.
"Hermione's a bit busy right now Harry." Fred said with a smile, Hermione gave him a small smile.
"She's coming with us." Becca said, George stepped forward.
"No time for fun Beccs, Hermione has to finish her homework." George said with a smile, telling them he and Fred found this highly amusing.
"I am not scheduling time to spend with my best friend and if she doesn't come willingly I know some spells." Becca said, Hermione's head shot up.
"Will you teach me them?" Hermione asked, Becca narrowed her eyes.
"No." Becca said, Hermione mouth dropped and Harry smiled. "I'll teach you one, if you come take a break." Hermione looked at Becca and Harry then back down at her work before standing up and getting all her stuff.
"That's my girl." Harry said taking her bag, the twins grinned.
As everyone settled themselves in the classroom, the teacher came out. Luke looked out the window before standing up.
"Luke, you okay?" Steph asked, Luke shook his head before sitting back down.
"I just thought I saw…never mind." Luke said, Hermione was scribbling on a parchment under the table.
"Today we're starting on seeing crystals." Trelawney said waving her hands about. "So open your inner eyes and broaden your mind- cast yourself into the crystal and see what the future holds for you!" She moved over to Harry and Ron's table. "What can you see?"
"Something dark." Harry said as he squinted to see what it was.
"Yes? What is it?" Trelawney asked moving closer, Harry looked quite uncomfortable. Hermione simply rolled her eyes.
"Can I?" Hermione asked causing Trelawney to move away from Harry slightly. "The Grim, possibly?" Trelawney's lips pinched together.
"Ever since you stepped into my class, I've sensed you didn't have the correct aura around you, my dear." Trelawney said as she took Hermione's hand. "Your hands tell me that you will grow up to be a bitter spinster woman because your soul is as dry and dusty as the pages of the books you like to absorb yourself in." Hermione glared at her as she yanked her hand away before standing up, grabbing her things and walked out. She either didn't care or noticed she had knocked the crystal ball off the table.
"Hermione!" A couple people yelled while others were just in shock.
"Was it something I said?" Trelawney asked, Luke grabbed his bag and walked down to face her.
"At least she isn't some loony like you." Luke said before walking out, leaving even more shock.
"Well look at that, Black and Granger. What about you, Blane? I thought he was your boyfriend." Pansy said, Becca glared at her as Steph looked down at the ring on her hand.
Three weeks later, Hermione's abrupt departure from Divination was turning into a legend. The twins were congratulating her everywhere but everyone else stayed away from her, she had a huge temper. Rumors had started that Luke was dating Hermione or liked her but the two shrugged them off like pros. Steph had been quiet around the group and Becca walked over to her.
"Hey." Becca said, Steph smiled at her. "Are you alright? I haven't see you around Luke very often."
"He's been busy." Steph said sadly, Becca sat down next to her.
"Steph, Luke likes you. Hermione is like a sister to him. You have nothing to worry about, I promise." Becca said kindly, Steph looked over at her.
"Becca, it means a lot you took the time to talk to me but I need to hear it from Luke. And, right now, Hermione means more to him then I do." Steph said before walking off.
Harry was flying around the pitch, determined to get the snitch first. Gryffindor was playing the final match against Slytherin.
"You know what's up with Granger yet?" Draco yelled as both boys looked around for the snitch. Once Harry saw it, he went after it, laying down flat against the handle and urging it faster. Draco, once he figured out what was happening, chased after him as they both fought to get the snitch first. Harry's hand clenched tight around the snitch as he pulled out of the dive and flew down to the middle of the pitch. He lifted his hand into the air, showing everyone that he had finished the game and that he had just won the Quidditch Cup.
Before they knew it, the term was nearly over and exams were on top of them. The six friends came out of their transfiguration class exam.
"This is crazy." Ron muttered before smiling at Becca, who had just grabbed his hand.
Harry was sitting on the floor next to the ladder leading up to the trapdoor as he waited to be called. The students were being called one-by-one to take a personal test with Trelawney. Ron, Steph and Becca had already had their test and went to spend the rest of the day outside.
"Harry Potter." Trelawney's voice sounded, Harry started up the ladder with a sigh. He walked over to the table with a crystal ball sitting on it and sat down. "Good day dear…take a look into the crystal ball and tell me what you see." Harry looked into the ball and decided to make something up and get out of there.
"There's a dark shape in the middle of the ball." Harry said, Trelawney leaned closer to him.
"Yes? What is it?" Trelawney asked, Harry tried to think of something quick when the fog in the ball cleared and he saw an image. He smiled as he saw Luke and Steph wrapped up in each other's arms in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Its Luke and Steph. They're happy." Harry said, Trelawney smiled softly.
"Yes, you've witnessed love. I'm sure you did your best." Trelawney said, Harry nodded before grabbing his bag and standing up. Just as he was about to leave, something stopped him. "It will happen tonight," A loud cold voice spoke behind him, Harry spun around to see Trelawney's eyes were unfocused. "The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight, the servant will break free and ser out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever before. Tonight…before midnight…the servant…will set out…to rejoin…his master…" Her head suddenly fell forward then snapped back up. Her eyes were clear and she looked at Harry with a concerned look on her face. "Oh, sorry, I fell asleep. Are you okay, dear?" Harry nodded, shakily.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Harry said before hurrying out of the classroom.
Luke saw Steph sitting with Ron, Becca and Hermione by the lake. He stuffed his hands in his pockets before walking over. She looked up at him.
"Steph, you have nothing to worry about. I'm really sorry that I ignored you but Hermione needed me. I promise that I'll try and include you next time." Luke said, Steph pulled him down to sit next to him.
"Thank you." Steph said, Becca smiled at the pair.
"Guys, you're never gunna believe this." Harry said sliding down, Ron raised an eyebrow at them. "Trelawney made a prediction – she told me Voldemort's" Ron grimaced at this and Luke put a protective arm around Steph. "Servant is going to go back to him before midnight and that Voldemort will rise again only this time, greater and more terrible than before." Steph smiled softly.
"Harry, your owl is beautiful." Steph said, Harry looked at her curiously before Hedwig flew down and landed on the soft grass. Harry grabbed the envelope and Steph fed her a part of her sandwich.
"Hey girl, whose this from?" Harry asked as he opened it. he scanned the letter before glancing at Steph. "Oh, Merlin."
"What?" Steph asked, Harry looked at her before handing it to Becca.
"Lost appeal. Executing at sunset. Nothing you can do, don't come. I don't want you to see it. – Hagrid." Becca said, Steph stood up before walking away.
"Steph!" Luke called before jumping up and going after her. "Steph." She stopped and he saw her shoulders shake, he turned her around before pulling her into his arms. "It wasn't your fault. You did brilliant, babe."
"Yeah, Steph. Its my dad. He probably paid off the Ministry to win. My mum was telling me that dad was raving on about how much he had to pay to sway them. You did great." Draco said, Steph pulled away.
"Really?" Steph asked, Luke's heart broke at the tears in her voice.
"Yeah." Draco said before walking away. Luke wiped her tears before kissing her lightly.
The six made their way to Hagrid's hut, along the way, they spotted the executioner. He was dressed in all black and had a black mask over his face, he was sharpening his axe. As they were making their way past the stone circle, they saw Pansy leaning against one of the stones next to two other Slytherin girls.
"Its pathetic really," Pansy told her friends, not noticing the others. "And to think that stupid mudblood actually thought she would win the case." The other two laughed, Luke tightened his grip on his wand. Steph took his arm to stop him.
"She would've won if Malfoy hadn't paid off the Ministry off." Pansy turned around to see Becca advancing on her.
"Doesn't matter anyway, does it?" Pansy asked with a smirk. "I won." She turned to Steph, smirk still in place. "Would you like the Hippogriff's head? I mean you did try and save it after all." Steph buried her head in Luke's jacket, he wrapped his arms around her and glared at Pansy.
"You foul, loathsome, evil, little coach roach!" Hermione exclaimed as she ran in front of the group and pointed her wand in Pansy's face.
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed as they all went after her.
"She's not worth it!" Ron called out, Hermione pulled her wand away and stuck it back into her pocket. Pansy let out a sigh of relief before she started to laugh. Hermione turned her back slowly before quickly spinning around and punching Pansy. Pansy held her noise and whimpered as her friends grabbed her by the arms and led her up to the castle.
"That felt good." Hermione admitted, Becca smirked.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed, Hermione smiled lightly at them.
"Come on, Hagrid's waiting for us." Harry said as they all walked back up to Steph and Luke.
"Look, she's really upset. I'm gunna get her back up to her room." Luke said, the others nodded.
"Make sure Hagrid's alright." Steph said, Becca nodded and pulled her into a hug. Luke smiled at them before putting an arm around Steph and leading her back up to the castle.
"Come on, guys." Harry said, they all walked down to the hut and Ron knocked. They waited a minute before Hagrid opened the door.
"What're you four doing here?" Hagrid demanded, the four stared at him.
"We got your note. You didn't really think we weren't going to be here for you, did you?" Becca asked pushing her way into the hut. "I cant believe Lucius won, Steph was devastated." Hagrid's face soften at the mention of Steph.
"Poor girl, how is she?" Hagrid asked sitting down, the four exchanged looks.
"Too devastated to come down to visit you." Harry said, Ron grinned slightly.
"I think she brightened up when Hermione punched Pansy." Ron said, Hagrid's eyes widened as he turned to the girl in question.
"Well, she deserved it." Hermione said, Hagrid rolled his eyes. "Cant you just set Buckbeak free?"
"Not unless I wanna get arrested." Hagrid said sadly, Hermione sighed before walking over to the kettle.
"Anyone want some tea?" Hermione asked with a sigh, she picked up the kettle. She gasped as she saw a rat. "Ron," She turned to the table and dropped the rat onto the table.
"Scabbers!" Ron exclaimed as he grabbed his pet. "How do you get down here?"
"I think you owe someone an apology." Hermione said, Ron stood up and nodded.
"Right, when I see Crookshanks I'll apologize." Ron said, Hermione's eyes flashed with anger.
"I meant me!" She yelled, Hagrid looked out the window.
"Out the back, all of you!" Hagrid hissed, they all hurried to the back, no questions asked. They slipped out the door but paused when they saw Fudge, the executioner and Dumbledore. Dumbledore turned and pointed away from them so they hurried to the pumpkin patch. They peered over the pumpkins and waited for the three to go inside. Hermione whipped around when she heard a twig snap. Harry touch her arm.
"I thought I just saw…never mind." Hermione said before turning back.
"Go!" Harry hissed, he grabbed Hermione's hand before they all hurried up the hill towards the stone circle. At the top, they stopped. There was a swish of metal through the air then a dull crack before a sickening thud came with it. Hermione turned and buried her head in Harry's shirt while his arms went around her. Becca threw her arms around Ron's neck while he held her back. Then Ron pulled away and let out a yelp.
"He bit me!" Ron exclaimed disbelievingly. "Scabbers bit me!" He started to chase after the rat, who had fallen to the ground and ran off.
"Ron!" Harry yelled before pulling away from Hermione and going after Ron. Hermione and Becca shared a look before going after them. Harry stopped as Ron drove to the ground, grabbing a squealing Scabbers in his hands.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron demanded, Hermione and Becca stopped.
"Isn't that…" Hermione asked, Harry nodded.
"Yeah." Harry replied, the branches were beginning to move. "Ron, run!" Harry yelled, Ron looked up before his eyes widened.
"Harry! Look out!" Ron yelled, the three spun around to see a black dog. Becca smiled before she was flung in one direction by a branch and Harry and Hermione were flung in the opposite direction. Harry and Becca landed on their backs while Hermione landed on her front. Becca looked up to see the black dog leap into the air and land by Ron's side. Ron screamed in agony as the dog's mouth clamped down on his leg before dragging him to the entrance in the tree. "Harry!" Ron shouted, Becca charged over before tripping. She grabbed his hand and was dragged with them.
"Becca!" Harry yelled and rushed forward, only to get hit by the tree. Just as a branch came at Hermione, she jumped up and grabbed a hold of it. Harry grabbed his glasses and put them on before standing up. Before he had time to think, Hermione had grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him along with her. She mentally counted to three and then let him go, throwing him into the hole. Harry landed on his back with a thud and a groan. He was getting up when another body collided with his, knocking him back to the ground.
"Sorry." Hermione said as she got off of him. Harry nodded and stood up, he grabbed her hand and led her down the tunnel. He climbed through the trapdoor before helping Hermione through. "Where are we?"
"I have a guess." Harry said looking around at the dusty floors and the creaking walls. "But I hope I'm wrong." He quickly grabbed Hermione's hand and walked up the stairs.