Stuck Like Glue
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"Harry, I really don't like this."
"Come on Hermione, we haven't even started yet."
"Harry, I don't think this was such a good idea."
"Please Hermione, please?" said Harry, giving Hermione the best puppy eyes he could muster.
"Al... alright Harry. Promise you won't laugh at me" she said, making a face that made Harry take her into a tight embrace.
"I promise Hermione" he said, kissing her softly.
Harry stepped back, then laid his Firebolt on the ground. "Hermione, before we begin, I want you to summon it."
"You know I can't Harry!"
"Please Hermione, try, for me?"
Hermione stuck her hand out, giving Harry an eye-roll. "Up!"
Nothing happened.
"See! I told you!"
"Try it again."
"Prat."
"Hermione, it is very important to me that you can do this."
Hermione gave him another look, one of defeat, and then tried again.
"UP!"
Nothing happened.
"Harry, I can't do this. I'm a failure-"
"Let me help" said Harry, coming from behind her and holding her around her waist. He wrapped his free hand around her extended on, linking their fingers.
"Relax, Hermione, relax. Focus on the broom. Feel it."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione, looking at the broom.
"I'm not explaining this right…..when I think about it, I don't use logic. I use emotion….I will the broom into my hand…if that makes any sense" said Harry sheepishly. It was very hard to explain.
Hermione went quiet for a moment, shutting her eyes. "Up" she said softly.
The broom rose into her hand.
Hermione whirled around excitedly, beaming at Harry. "I did it!"
"See, I told you that you could do it" said Harry, kissing her nose. "Now, let's ride!"
Hermione immediately looked nervous.
"Hermione, I promise we will be fine."
"I know that Harry…I just really don't like flying."
Harry took the broom and mounted it. He looked at Hermione expectantly. She sighed, then mounted behind. The bracelet unchained slightly, letting Harry have a free hand to hold the broom. Hermione used her free hand to wrap around Harry, holding him tight.
"I'm ready" she said quietly, burying her face into his back.
Harry kicked off softly, hovering about five feet off the ground.
"See, it's not bad at all."
Hermione's head rose and she looked around. "I guess so."
"Want to move around a bit?"
"We have to, I suppose."
Harry slowly began moving around, flying steadily around the empty Quidditch Pitch.
At first he felt Hermione tense, but she slowly relaxed and gave Harry permission to move faster.
After twenty minutes, Harry and Hermione were zooming around the pitch at the speed he normally pursues a Snitch.
"Okay Hermione, let's start practicing!" yelled Harry over his shoulder.
"Okay!" she replied, pulling out her wand with her other hand. She took aim at the targets she had conjured, both on the hoops and on the grass. Harry began to perform evasive maneuvers, making it difficult for Hermione to keep her aim true.
Her first shots were off target, causing her to growl. She hated failure. She tightened her hold on Harry, and began to adjust her aim to Harry's sudden course changes. Her next fifteen spells were dead on target.
When Harry and Hermione landed, Hermione immediately collapsed. She was not accustomed to flying so long at that speed.
Harry fell down beside her, with a bright smile. As they contemplated cloudy November sky, Hermione rolled to her side and cuddled into Harry.
"That was fun" she said with a grudging voice.
"I don't want to say I told you so….." trailed off Harry, a bright smile threatening his face.
"It was much better than riding Buckbeak" said Hermione, swatting her boyfriend.
"Well we aren't flying as fast as we can to save Sirius this time."
"No…but we are going to be flying as fast as we can to avoid being eaten by a dragon."
Harry rose his head as far as he could. "Hermione…if there was some way to get you out of this tournament, I would. I hate that you're in danger because of me-"
Hermione rolled on top of him, kissing him deeply. "Harry stop it. I've been in danger before. Remember the troll, the basilisk, and Professor Lupin? You saved me when you could Harry. I will never forget the troll. I thought for sure that I was going to die. If it wasn't for you…." She trailed off, tears in her eyes. Harry kissed her again.
"I don't blame you for the basilisk Harry. I went alone…I knew I had to get to the library, to help you. I remembered reading something…"
"I remember" said Harry with a smile. Even when she was petrified, she was still able to help him and…Ron…
"Yes, and then there was Professor Lupin. When we saw him in the woods, as a werewolf…..I thought for sure that it was over. I never got the chance to properly thank you Harry….when you held me like that…."
She broke off, tears falling. She had never told him that he was the first person to hold her like that. That she fell in love with him, right there. Even when a werewolf was coming for them, he still put himself between them, trying to protect her to the very last.
Harry kissed her again, feeling so foolish. He had felt something for her that night….when he held her, it felt like the most right thing in the world. Later, when flying on Buckbeak, the way that she had held onto him had made him blush. But, of course, he hadn't said a word, and acted like nothing was different. By the time he was back at the Dursley's for summer, he had convinced himself that Hermione was nothing more than his best friend; a sister. If only he knew then how wrong he was.
Hermione didn't need to say anything more; he could see it in her eyes. They lay on the pitch for another hour, simply talking more and more about their lives. Little did they know that they were being watched.
(A few days later)
Breakfast was a pleasant affair, this morning. Harry and Hermione were currently talking to Neville about the Summoning charms that they had learned. He was having difficulty with it, and Hermione was gladly explaining the finer points, while Harry was giving input. The Great Hall began to quiet as Professor Dumbledore stood to give a speech.
"At breakfast?" Harry asked Hermione incredulously.
"Good morning, dear students and friends. I hope you all are well" said Dumbledore, looking around the Great Hall. "I know it is not normally our custom to have morning announcements, but I have several bits of information that you need to hear. Firstly, we have a Hogsmeade visit this weekend, if you didn't already know (cheering, particularly from the twins), and secondly, I am sure that many of you know of the letter that was sent to Ms. Granger a few days ago."
The Great Hall broke into murmuring. Nearly every student had read the article that Rita Skeeter had written. The few that were present when Hermione had opened the letter had quickly told the rest of the school.
"I feel that it is prudent to remind you all that all of the champions are protected by several international laws. The letter received by Ms. Granger was intended to do harm, and as such, it violated this statute. Appropriate action has been taken by the ministry, and I tell you this as a warning: Ignorance is no excuse when you break the law*. The champions from all three schools are protected from harm. Please do not attempt any violence with any of them. Thank you."
And with that, Professor Dumbledore sat down, conversing with Professor McGonagall. Harry and Hermione were looking at each other, completely shocked, while the rest of the Great Hall was filled with furious talking.
"Does he mean….Mrs. Weasley…." started Harry, looking at Hermione.
"I…I think so" she said, her expression unreadable.
"Hermione, this isn't your fault. I can't believe that she tried to permanently harm you!" said Harry, looking a little peeved and a little proud of her. Even though Mrs. Weasley had sent that letter to her, intending to do harm, Hermione still didn't hate her.
"I know Harry, but I hate to see her get into trouble ov-"
"Hermione, I think it is terrible that she has gotten into trouble. But I am not going to exchange that for you being safe!" said Harry, putting his hand to her cheek.
"I love you Harry" said Hermione, leaning forward to kiss Harry. "At first I was hurt, and I still am. You know I hate to see people suffering. I still don't excuse what she tried to do to me" she finished strongly, understanding what Harry was trying to say.
Harry and Hermione looked down towards the Weasley's. Ginny looked horrified, and was talking to Fred and George quietly, who looked very pensieve. Ron, however, was glaring directly at Harry and Hermione.
"I don't know what we ever did to him" commented Hermione sadly.
Before Harry could respond, the owl post arrived. Harry was surprised to see two owls land in front of him. One was a very regal looking Great Horned. The other was a tiny black owl that looked far too small to be carrying letters. The first letter turned out to be addressed to Hermione. It was from the Ministry.
Dear Hermione Granger,
We at the Ministry of Magic wish to extend our well-wishes to you and Mr. Potter of your bonding. We also extend our deepest condolences over the incident that occurred during breakfast last Friday. We want you to know that the person of interest is indeed Mrs. Molly Weasley. She has been arrested by the DMLE, and will await trial. We have also received the medical report, along with eye-witness testimony from Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
No further action is required from you, as the charged has confessed. We wish you well, and good luck in the tournament.
Good day,
Amelia Bones, Head of DMLE
Harry held Hermione close, kissing her temple. Harry did not hate the woman; she had always treated Harry like her own son. But when she sent that to Hermione, obviously intending for it to do permanent harm, Harry felt something in him change towards her.
Harry then opened his letter. It was from Sirius!
Meet at midnight, Sunday.
Snuffles
Harry felt a rush of excitement and of panic. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand, and then stood up. Harry stood up with her, and the two headed to class. The bracelet seemed to glow lightly when the two passed by Ron, but he did not even turn around.
The next few days went by quickly, as Harry and Hermione spent most of their days either in class, or in their room practicing several spells.
Harry was working on his summoning spell, as summoning his Firebolt would require a lot of concentration. He couldn't bring it with him, which meant it had to stay in their living room, with the window open. Harry wasn't sure how far away the arena was to be, but he didn't feel confident in hoping for a miracle. Not when Hermione's life was in danger.
So far, he had managed to summon several items from upstairs (creating a blushing Hermione who chased Harry all over their small apartment), and even managed to summon a log from outside Hagrid's hut. Hermione was working on her transfiguration spell; so far she had managed to turn a pebble into a bawling sheep. At first she had felt bad, because the sheep was mainly to be used as a decoy. Harry was quick to point out that he preferred the transfigured sheep being eaten to her.
It had been two and a half weeks since Fred and George had bonded Harry and Hermione. Two and a half weeks since Harry had slept alone, nearly friendless. It had been two and a half weeks since Hermione had fallen asleep, worrying about her best friend. It had been two and a half weeks since Harry and Hermione had felt alone in the world.
As Harry kissed Hermione good night, he silently thanked Fred and George for their 'prank'
He still didn't know what they had meant by it.
(Somewhere else in the castle)
"Damn it Fred!" yelled George, nearly punching a wall.
"I know George! How could he?!" said Fred, a murderous glint in his eye. "I knew Ron was something of a prat, but this is beyond even Percy!"
"I can only wonder what he told mother. Probably that Harry charmed him to a wall and forced him to watch him shag Hermione!" yelled George.
"Brother, we need to alter our plans. Forget Harry and Hermione for now. Ickle Ronnikens is about to find out what happens when you seriously piss off the twins."
"I like the way you think, dear brother. Shall we pay a visit to Zonko's to gather the supplies?"
"By Merlin George, it's almost like you're in my head or something."
"Brother, you need your head examined. That was horrendous."
"Shut it, your jealous that my girl likes me."
"Is she sure which of us is you?"
"Bugger!"
* I am Pre-Law Major in my undergrad and I felt the need to include a real law, haha!
(A/N) – Well, another one down! Work has been hell recently, but I am making mandatory writing time. I sincerely thank you all for the amazing support :) We are getting closer to the First Task! Please review!
HarmoniousHerdFan