Disclaimer: Seriously, how many times do I have to do this? I don't own Harry Potter. JK does. I don't own Lord of the Rings either.
AN: Okay, I want to apologize to you guys. I wasn't able to update yesterday. Sorry. I wasn't able to because I did a different thing yesterday. I edited the Big Assault chapter because one of the reviewers pointed out something to me. And I admit he's got a huge point so I changed it. The plot and the point of the chapter weren't affected. I just added some details and minimized some other details. But you guys are free to check it out if you want.
Bob: I have no other ways of contacting you so I'm gonna talk to you in here. Thank you for pointing that out in your review. I already changed it. I hope it made a difference and I hope the chapter's not over the territory of possibility now. Thanks again. And about your opinion on Draco… About the back story, honestly I don't have one. My only basis was the epilogue of the DH where Draco gave Harry a curt nod which means he regarded him. If we were to put the old self-conceited Draco in that scene instead of the mature one, I think Malfoy would have snorted at him and not regard him. And also when the trio were kidnapped and were brought to Malfoy Manor, Draco refused reveal the trio's disguise. I think that's a first step to changing. I think he's got potential. That's what I'm counting on. I won't divulge too much on Draco's reason on changing. But don't you worry. I won't change him that much. I won't put him in this story as a complete goodie goodie. I'll be sure to keep the original character of Malfoy but I'll turn it into a minimum. I'll make sure that's he's more mature now and he'll be able to distinguish what's the difference between good and bad. I hope you won't hate me for putting Draco here. Lastly, I wasn't planning on making this a DraMione fic. Thanks again.
pawsrule: Thank you for constantly reviewing. : DD You know it makes my day. Huge thanks!
pixies114: Thanks! What Hermione needs the most during the moment is a friend to lean on. Since Harry's out of the scene, it should be Ron's job. Thanks again.
miyakosaku: Ohhh. I'm sorry to say this but this won't be a DraMione fic. Hermione is for Harry and for Harry only in this one. I'm planning a different role for Draco to play. That's why I put him in here. He's got a different purpose. I hope you won't hate me for that. Anyway, thanks for the review.
proudtobeatheatrekid: Awwwe. I didn't receive any. I wonder what happened to that review of yours. Too bad. But, you reviewed on the last one and also now. Thanks a lot about that. I also promise to update as often as I can. Thanks!
TwiTrek23: The story's driving you mad? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? You wanna kill Cho? Oh believe me, everybody does. LOL! Thanks.
: Wow. I actually counted your sevens. There are 27 of them. Anyway, thanks for reviewing. Also, just like what I said earlier, I'm planning a different role for Draco. I'm sorry to disappoint you but Draco won't fall for her. I hope you won't stop reading because of that. Lastly, Hermione's situation won't interfere with her work. That's why she was assigned to Transfiguration. It's not too dangerous. Thanks again and sorry.
WOW. My AN took a whole page. I'm sorry about that, guys. On with the chapter. I hope you won't hate me after this.
Chapter 25:
Harry was looking through Brenn's DVD stack while Cho was preparing some popcorns. It had been a week after the assault and a few days after Brenn went back to America and entrusted his whole flat to Harry. Gabby, on the other hand, already went back to school and entrusted her flat to Cho.
FLASHBACK!
Brenn, Gabby, Harry and Cho were all gathered at Brenn's living room and watching some early muggle show on the television when Brenn suddenly spoke.
"Harry, dude. I just wanna ask you one thing." Brenn started. He was sitting at the floor and looking up at the TV before he turned and faced Harry.
Harry, who was also sitting at the floor beside Brenn and leaning against the side of the sofa, peeled his eyes off the TV screen and faced the other boy. "Well, okay. What is it?"
"Were you planning to go back to London anytime soon?" Brenn asked.
The question got Harry thinking. Was he planning to go back? Was he ready to go back? "I don't really know yet. I haven't really thought about it yet, Brenn. But I think I'll spend some more time here. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you see, I'm about to go home to America. Maybe a couple more days or maybe even tomorrow or the next day." Brenn said. "I was thinking if you weren't planning on going home yet and spending more time here in France, you know you can always stay here at my flat."
Harry looked at him with raised eyebrows. "You mean you'll let me stay here even after you go back to America?"
Brenn leaned his head against Gabby's leg who was sitting on the sofa. "Yeah, why not? At least the flat won't be empty and that'll save you the effort and expense of looking for another place to stay." Then he turned to Gabby. "Gabby, you did the same, right?" Gabby nodded her head gently.
Harry looked up at Cho who was sitting beside Gabby on the couch. "Cho, you agreed?"
"Actually, I haven't decided yet. I was actually going to ask you." Cho reached out and fiddled with a strand of Harry's hair that was sticking up at the center of his head. "Since I don't have anything else to do back in London, if you're staying here, I'll be staying too. What do you think?"
"I don't know yet. I'll think about it." Harry faced Brenn and clapped him in the back. "Anyways, thank you, Brenn." Then he turned to Gabby. "And also to you, Gab. Thanks a lot to both you."
"Nah! Don't mention it. As long as you two get to enjoy your stay here, that's all that matters." Brenn answered.
END OF FLASHBACK!
In the end, Harry decided to spend a couple more weeks at France before he goes back to London. So now, he's living alone at Brenn's huge flat while Cho was staying at Gabby's.
"So, you found a good one?" Cho emerged from the kitchen with huge bowl filled with cheese flavored popcorn. She sat at the sofa and popped a popcorn in her mouth.
"Yeah. I think so." Harry took one DVD case out of the cabinet and showed it to Cho. "LORD OF THE RINGS. What do you think?"
Before Cho can even answer, the fireplace blazed with green flame and it spit out a mysterious package.
"What the?" Harry stood up from his spot in front of the DVD cabinet and sauntered in front of the grate. The blaze had already died down when Harry peeked at the hearth. He cautiously picked up the package and went to sit with Cho at the sofa.
"What's that?" Cho asked curiously. Harry shook his head and laid it down on the table.
"I don't know. It came out of the grate. I didn't even know you can also send packages and mails through the floo network. Did you know this?" Harry turned to Cho.
"Yeah. Of course. There are other ways of sending mail besides using owls. But look at the package, Harry. It has a note." Cho said as she reached out and pulled the note attached to the package and handed it to Harry. Harry took it and flipped it open. He began reading and his eyes grew wide after a few moments.
"Oh my wizard god! It's my birthday?" He inquired loudly.
Cho answered him with a raised eyebrow. "Don't tell me you forgot? Who sent that, anyway?" She looked pointedly at the box in the table.
"Ron wrote the letter." Harry reached for the box and ripped its wrappings. He opened the box and he saw quite a number of gifts inside. He looked a the letter once again and found a note near the edge of the paper. It said PS: The gifts were from me, mum and dad, Fred and George, Bill and Fleur, Percy and Ginny. I reckon you'd know which is from whom, mate. Happy Birthday! Harry smiled. They all remembered his birthday while he completely forgot.
Forgetting his own birthday had been a long time sickness of Harry. Back when he was still staying at Privet Drive, he'll only remember that it was his birthday when an owl arrives, carrying a gift from Ron and when a mailman delivers a gift from Hermione. Hermione… Harry wondered if Hermione remembered his birthday. Usually, she's the first one who remembers and the first who sends a gift. Just then, Harry heard low ticking form outside the window. He threw a glance outside and saw a handsome barn owl clicking its beak against the window. He stood up from the couch and went to the window. He opened it with one swift move. Once the window was open, the owl flew hastily past him towards the couch.
The owl dropped the package that it was clutching and it fell harmlessly on the couch beside Cho. The girl gave him a questioning look but he just shrugged his shoulders. After delivering the package, the said owl flew away without another hoot.
Harry walked cautiously to the couch and picked up the package. Must be another gift, he thought. Its shape was oddly familiar. It was long and slender but it grew plump near the end. A short piece of parchment was attached to it and he carefully snatched it. It only said on sentence in a very familiar handwriting. Happy Birthday, Harry.
Even without a name, Harry can recognize the neat, slim handwriting anywhere. It was Hermione's. I knew she wouldn't forget it, he thought to himself. He smiled fondly at the piece of parchment and pocketed it.
"What's funny? Who's it from?" Cho asked.
"Hermione." Was his answer. He quickly picked up the package and sat down on the couch. Unseen by Harry, Cho's eyes twitched in panic. Harry unwrapped the item rather excitedly. In one rip, the whole wrapping came of. Harry's eyes fell down to a beautiful and shiny new broomstick.
"Wow." Harry's eyes widened as he gazed at the gorgeous broomstick in front of him. It was a new firebolt. Thinking back, Harry lost his old broomstick while fleeing from Voldemort more than a year ago. It was a waste because the broom was from his beloved godfather, Sirius. But this was a gift from Hermione, the girl he loved. Even though it's not his first one, this would certainly be as valuable as the first.
"Wow, indeed. That's a great gift." Cho murmured softly. She reached inside her pocket and took out a small black box with a red ribbon around it. "Speaking of gifts, here's mine." She handed the box to Harry. "It's not as expensive as that one but it's personalized, so I guess, it's still worthy to be given to the Boy Who Lived."
Harry momentarily peeled his eyes off the firebolt and looked at the black box in Cho's hand. He took it with a smile and opened it. Inside was a glinting golden pocket watch with a golden chain. Harry could tell it was purchased from a muggle shop because the style was muggle-like, dissimilar to the hour glass style of pocket watches that are more commonly used in the wizarding world. Harry wondered how Cho got it. The watch had the image of a lion on the front. Harry pushed the lock and it flipped open. The interior of the clock was marvelous. The watch had golden digits and golden hands. But engraved on the interior of the watch's cover were Harry's name in glinting red ink.
"Wow. Very Gryffindorish." Harry said with a smile. Cho smiled back but Harry didn't miss the slight tinge of loneliness in her eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just think that next to those numerous gifts from the Weasleys and the gorgeous gift from Hermione, this would be nothing." She said as she bowed her head. Harry cupped her chin and pulled her face up to level his.
"Hey, don't say that. You remembered my birthday. That alone is enough considering I forgot about it. But gave me this and its personalized. It only means you've prepared for this. Thank you, Cho." He said as his green eyes gazed at her blue ones.
"You're welcome." She replied with a smile. It almost took all her might not to kiss his soft cherry lips. Harry pulled his hand away and then he put the chain of the pocket watch around his neck.
"Now, how do I send a letter through the floo network?" Harry inquired as he picked up the parchment with Ron's letter.
"Just do what you would if you were trying to make a floo call. Just shout out the address and instead of enclosing your face in the flame, just throw the letter in and then it'll arrive." Cho answered.
Harry pulled his wand from his pocket and summoned a piece of parchment and his quill and ink. The summoned objects flew to Harry's hands and then he laid them all on the table. He wrote his thanks letter to Ron and all the Weasleys. He didn't include his message for Hermione, thinking that Hermione couldn't be at The Burrow at that moment because if she was, she would've just included it with Ron's package. He thought she could be back at Grimmauld Place at the moment and she didn't know Harry's address that's why she sent the parcel via owl. He just has to floo her later, then. After writing the letter for Ron, he went to the grate and then grabbed a fistful of floo powder and then he threw it into the fireplace. "THE BURROW!" He shouted and the green flames blazed. He threw his letter and it vanished in an instant along with the flames.
"There. Now where were we?" Harry asked Cho as he hoisted the firebolt and laid it down gently on the other sofa. He turned his back on Cho and went to the cabinet again to lift up the DVD. He put it in the DVD Player and hit play.
He sat back on the couch as the film started. Unknown to him, Cho's heart was thumping with panic and her face was etched with worry. Harry sent a letter back to London, he might have mentioned something to Hermione. Something that might make him discover about her past lies and bad deeds…
The afternoon passed by in haste, maybe because Harry was so excited to be alone in the flat so that he can floo back to Grimmauld Place. Actually, it was all that occupied Harry's mind while they were watching the movie. So when Cho left his flat late in the afternoon, it was safe to say that Harry was jumping with excitement.
He was already clutching a handful of floo powder in his hand as he faced the fireplace after closing the door behind Cho. With a smile etched in his lips, he threw it in the grate and shouted "NUMBER 12 GRIMMAULD PLACE!" Emerald flames blazed in the hearth. He enclosed his head slowly in its warmth and soon, he found himself staring at his late godfather's old living room.
The room was dark and eerie and it looked like it had never seen sunlight in a whole decade. Harry felt his forehead crunch in confusion. He looked around the room and found no sign of life amongst its corners. "Hello? Hermione? Yoohoo?" He silently called out to the darkness. The only answer he got was the low swish of the cold night breeze.
With complete confusion etched in his handsome features, he retreat his head from the blaze and found himself staring once again in Brenn's fireplace. The green blaze died after a few seconds but his confusion never ceased. He stared at it for a few more seconds before he made up his mind. He stood up once again and dug up another fistful of floo powder. He ducked low and stepped into the fireplace. He threw the floo powder forcefully down the grate and shouted the address once again. The green flame engulfed his whole body and he found himself swirling and swirling and swirling past different fireplaces.
After the dizzying floo travel, Number 12 Grimmauld Place's grate spit him out together with a mountain of soot. He tripped on his feet and fell down on the carpeted floor. He stood up, dusted himself and coughed up the ashes that managed to enter his mouth. "Hello?" He called out once again. Nobody answered him just like before.
"Hello?" Calling out one more time - he doesn't get tired of calling out, does he – he heard a pop from the corner of the room. Out of surprise, he managed to point his wand at the mysterious elfin figure slowly approaching him.
"Who are you?" He asked. His voice was rather loud and intending to scare whoever the bloody short man was. He succeeded for the petite silhouette shuddered and walked shakily towards him. Harry lighted his wand and saw none other than Kreacher walking shakily towards him. "Oh, Kreacher. It was you. I'm sorry. I thought it was…never mind. Why is it so dark in here?"
"Welcome home, Master Harry. Kreacher thought you would never come back. It had been so long, master." Kreacher bowed at his master and Harry gave a regarding nod.
"Yeah, it had been quite long. So what happened? Where's Hermione? Is she with Ron?" Harry sat at the couch and invited Kreacher over.
The house elf proceeded to a cross-sitting position near Harry's feet. "Kreacher does not know, Master. All Kreacher knows is that she left and never came back."
"She left?" Harry inquired. He was shocked. Although he knew that she left to go to Viktor, he thought she would think of going back. "She never came back after she left that day I went to France?"
"Oh, she came back, Master. It was near dinner after Mister Ron came back. But she immediately went to her room. Kreacher was preparing dinner back then." The house-elf explained slowly. Harry waited patiently for the house-elf to finish what he was saying. But Harry can't deny his thumping heart as he waited. He felt as if a dreading feeling is soon to overwhelm him. "Kreacher remembered Mister Ron coming to get Miss Hermione. It took Mister and Miss a long time before coming down. Miss was already clutching all her belongings and then Mister told Kreacher that He and Miss will be leaving. Since then, she never came back."
"Never?" Harry asked, his chest heaving slowly with deep and strained breaths. "Do you know why she decided to leave?"
"All Kreacher heard was that Miss is going to look for another home. Saying that it is impossible for Miss to stay here longer. Mister Ron accompanied Miss as she left. That's all Kreacher knows, Master." Kreacher finished.
"Oh. O-okay. T-thanks, Kreacher. Can you fetch me a piece of parchment and ink and a quill?" Harry asked. After bowing again, Kreacher left with a pop to fetch what he needed.
She left, eh? He thought. Looking back, he was still confused about what happened that day. After waking up, he went to McGonagall to ask the details about his mission so that he can tell her, and then when he came back, he found out that she went running to Krum? How it broke his heart that day. For him, it only meant one thing… She was sorry for what happened between them the past night. Now that he thought of it, it really looks like she regretted every bit of it. She came running to Viktor, maybe to say sorry to him about what happened. Then she came back to Grimmauld Place to pack her things. She regretted everything, which means that she no longer wanted to be reminded of it. And Grimmauld place was doing the exact opposite to her. It was shouting what had happened between them and it meant nothing good for her. So she decided to leave. That was the most possible reason Harry could think about.
He reached into his pocket and retrieved the letter attached to the firebolt. Only one sentence. Now it made sense to him. Normally, she would have sent him a letter saying how much she misses him. How she wishes to see him soon. But the letter said nothing of sorts. It only held one sentence. One freaking sentence. Probably, she still doesn't know how they stand with each other. She didn't know if it was appropriate to tell him all those things she used to tell her when they were still friends. Now it's inappropriate to tell those after what happened to them that night. It wasn't appropriate for two best friends. Best Friends… Harry thought to himself. It was probably the farthest they can go without hurting each other. Just like before, she remembered his birthday just like how a best friend would. It's only fitting to thank her just like how a best friend would.
A pop echoed loudly through the corners of the dimly lit room. Kreacher appeared out of thin air and then he laid all the things that his Master asked at the table. Harry said his thanks and began writing a message to his best friend. Thank you for the awesome gift. You really know what would make me happy for my birthday. Thanks, Hermione. You're the best... –Harry He folded the parchment in half and scribbled Hermione's name in it. He stared at it for a few more moments. A message of a best friend to a best friend. That should be it. That's all they can ever be. It's for the best. Harry would rather be just a best friend than hurt her. And as much as he hates to admit it, being best friends is the farthest they can both go.
"Kreacher, can you do me a favor? Please send this via owl to Hermione. Thanks a lot for the help, Kreacher." Harry gave the letter to Kreacher and then patted his shoulder. "I'm going away again, Kreacher. But I'll be back. I just don't know when. Can you promise me that you'll take care of the house until I get back?"
The house elf nodded and bowed at his Master. "Of course, Master. But in return, Kreacher wants Master to be safe."
"I will be, I promise, Kreacher." Harry assured him. The house elf bowed once more and then disappeared with a pop.
Harry sighed loudly and closed his eyes as soon as he was alone in the room. Now, a long time of vacation and stay in France sounds like what I perfectly needed. A time away from all of this…
AN: There. I really hope you guys aren't virtually killing me at the moment. Please don't hate me because of what happened to the chapter and because of not updating yesterday. Please don't hate me and don't refrain from sending me reviews. Feel free to tell me what you think. You know it'll make my day. Please send me reviews, okay? I feel like I've lost some of my reviewers along the way and it's not good. So please send me one. But no flames please. THANKS!