Just when you thought it was safe to read stories I go and write another chapter to this one. Ok, I know there are some of you that do enjoy this story and I truly am so very sorry that I have taken so long to update. I have just about been overwhelmed with guilt and so have decided that regardless of my other obligations I have to write this chapter. It has been so long since I've written what I want to write so I'm glad I'm doing this. Some of you asked where my other stories that I am writing are. One is under a different name on this site called 'Shattered Souls'. The story there was co-authored with another writer who has stopped writing some time ago, so I have carried on writing the story on my own. The other story is at under this name 'Lost in A World of Pain' and is called 'For Duty or Love'. If anybody wants to take a look I would more than welcome it. At any rate, on to the kind people that read and reviewed the last chapter!
Bledding black rose: Thank you for reviewing. In the preceding paragraph you can see where all of my other stories I am currently working on are. You are correct in assuming that I am soon going to reveal all, very soon actually. At the end of this chapter I'm going to make an announcement that is rather big regarding this story. Thanks again!
Melissa89: Great review. I really do try and keep the characters in character and I must be honest I feel that Hermione is tricky because her characters personality has changed a lot with JK Rowlings books. My finger has long since healed, making me feel really bad because I realise just how long it has been updated. Thanks for the review.
Foolishangel87: Thanks for your review. I am so relieved that you thought it was good, especially when you said it was one of my best. When writing over such long periods between chapters it is often difficult to keep the flow of the story going smoothly. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Nobodyhead: Hey, welcome to a new reviewer! I'm glad that you've enjoyed the story and happy that a new reader has enjoyed the story. I hope you continue to read and enjoy the future chapters as much as the previous chapters.
Right, that's it for the reviews of the last chapter. This next chapter has not has nearly as much planning in it as the previous chapters have had. But I'm going to do my best and try to get the story going once more.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. is owned and trademarks of JK Rowling and Warner Bros. Inc. I own only the attempt at a plot and characters that I have created (eg. Reace Myrn and the people of his time).
II
Hermione's heart was racing as she quickly made her way out of professor Snape's office. She made doubly sure that everything was as in place and as it was before she had entered professor Snape's office. Once safely outside of his office she picked up her pace and started a brisk walk away from the direction of the office. Hermione wanted to run, but knew that if she did then the other people milling about the castle corridors would be suspicious. Taking a few deep breaths and allowing them to slowly pass out she managed to regain her composure.
Her heart was still beating hard against her chest but her flight had slowed down to a normal walk. Hermione was now very near the portrait that led to the Gryffindor common room. She found herself smiling a little in relief as the portrait had now come into view. Then suddenly a voice shouted out at her and she tried to ignore it while once more picking up her pace.
"Ooooh! What has the long brown haired one done!" the cackling voice of Peeves called out at Hermione.
"What do you want Peeves?" Hermione asked him in an irritated voice.
"Oh my oh my! She snaps at Peeves like a rat trapped in a corner!" Peeves continued in his cackling voice.
"Stop bothering me Peeves, I'm a prefect and I'm sure that Mr. Filch would love to know that you've been misbehaving." Hermione angrily snapped back at Peeves while she did not miss the emphasis that Peeves had made on a certain word.
"Whiny Hermione has done something bad! And what it is, is oh so sad! Whiny Hermione has done something bad! And what it is, is oh so sad!" Peeves sang in his most grating voice before blowing a raspberry at Hermione and flying off.
Hermione stood rooted to the spot watching the irritating poltergeist fly away singing his irritating rhyme that he had just made up. An involuntary shiver went through her body causing goose bumps to rise. What had Peeves meant by her acting like a trapped rat? Surely he didn't know about what she had discovered. Or had he? She was so busy looking around making sure that there were no people about that she had not considered the fact that the Hogwarts ghosts might be around or in this case Peeves which was definitely the worst case scenario. She hoped with all her heart that this was not what had happened because spreading rumors and blabbing secrets was a feat that Peeves was especially good at doing.
II
The rest of the day had passed by without any further incident. Ginny. Harry, Hermione and Ron were currently sitting at the Gryffindor table eating dinner. As always the elves had outdone themselves with the delicious spread in front of them.
"Ish funny…." Ron said with a mouthful of mashed potatoes and gravy.
"Please Ron! That is so disgusting! Please swallow your food if you want to speak." Hermione snapped at him and he quickly swallowed his food.
"What did you want to say Ron?" Harry asked as he dished himself some more lamb chops.
"Well, before I was so rudely interrupted." Ron began before Hermione cut him off.
"I rudely interrupted you? Excuse me but I seriously doubt that everybody wanted to see your half chewed food in your mouth or particles on their clothes as you spoke." She said.
"Fine, then I won't say what I wanted to say or otherwise I might just accidentally spit on everybody." Ron replied in heated tones.
"Oh come off it you two! This is no time to be squabbling like a couple of two year olds! These are dark times we're living in and we need to be working with each other, not against each other." Ginny sternly said at both Ron and Hermione.
Harry nearly choked on a piece of lamb chop he was currently chewing on as he tried to suppress a fit of laughter at the shocked looks on both Ron and Hermione's faces. This was truly a moment that he did not want to forget. It was also something to keep in mind, to not cross Ginny.
Hermione stared daggers at Ginny, which she returned, while Ron stared down at his lap. Finally Hermione sighed and dropped her gaze and Ginny grinned.
"Fine, I'm sorry Ron, what did you want to say?" Hermione said in a very formal and controlled voice.
"Nothing much. It's just that Peeves has been singing a strange song all day long. And it's about you Hermione." Ron said.
This statement caused all attention to focus on Ron. There was a notable change in Hermione as she lost her formal look and a worried one replaced it.
"Er, what was he singing Ron?" Hermione nervously asked.
"I can't exactly remember what he said but it had to do with you having done something that was bad and sad." Ron said and suddenly looked up at her with a worried and questioning look in his eyes.
"No Ron, it's nothing to do with another boy. Thank you for your confidence in me." Hermione said and Ron stared at his lap again muttering something about him not saying anything and she shouldn't be so suspicious.
"Well, what was he on about then Hermione?" Harry asked with his fork in mid air with a piece of pork chop speared on it.
"I don't think it's safe to talk here. We'll talk more in the common room." Hermione said and returned her attention to her food.
All understood and continued with their meal as if nothing about the subject had been mentioned. Soon they all filed out of the great hall with the other students and made their way to the Gryffindor common room. Once they had entered the common room they made their way to four comfy chairs that was in front of the fire. A few first years had been milling about those chairs, eyeing them in hope of getting to sit on them, but quickly scattered once they had seen the four sixth year Gryffindor students approach.
They sat and discussed things in general, talking about their loathing for Snape and other topics so as not to attract any unnecessary attention to them. Finally, when most people were absorbed in their own conversations or busy doing homework Ron decided to start their conversation from earlier again.
"So Hermione, care to tell us why Peeves was singing that song about you?"
"Well, you all know what we had planned to do earlier today?" She said.
"Yes, and it went over rather well I must say." Harry said beaming at the group before him.
"It was brilliant mate! We should've gotten an award for such a show!" Ron said smiling.
"Your timing with Professor McGonogall was perfect Ginny." Harry said giving Ginny a pat on her shoulder along with a wink.
"Thanks, but we all did our bit." Ginny said blushing a little from Harry's wink and praise.
"Plus we got Snape to deduct points from his own house to boot!" Ron said nearly jumping up with his excitement and restraining himself just in time.
"Speaking of doing our parts, how did you fare with your task Hermione?" Harry asked once more returning everybody's attention to her.
"That's just what Peeves was singing about! As planned nobody was around and I didn't find much to be honest. I did however manage to find a hair which I kept on my person." Hermione said.
"So the hair's on your body?" Ron asked trying to be humorous and failing miserably as everybody gave him a reproachful glare.
"That was weak Ron, rather don't open your mouth at all." Ginny said.
"Sorry." He muttered.
"I have the hair with me Ron. I'm not sure but I believe that this hair belongs to an animal, a rat to be precise." Hermione said.
"A rat hair? But, are you sure?" Harry asked voicing a question that was everybody's mind.
"Unfortunately yes Harry, or at least I'm pretty sure. You see, Crookshanks has the habit of killing rats at home and sometimes he leaves their corpses lying around which I have to clean up. This hair looks a lot like theirs. But I want to run a test on it to be sure." Hermione explained.
"A potion?" Harry ventured.
"Very good Harry, so you have been listening in potions." Hermione said smiling at Harry.
"What sort of potion will you use?" Ginny asked.
"It's a rather complex potion that we've only just been showed how to do in potions. The reason that the creators of this potion made it so complex is because of the harm it can do in the wrong hands. This potion requires a piece of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acids) to form an image of the person who's DNA is placed in the potion. It is a potion that many Auror's use when they are hunting dangerous killers and especially used by them when Voldemort was at the height of his power." Hermione said almost stuttering at the use of Voldemorts name.
"How long will this take?" Harry asked thinking about how long it took to prepare the polyjuice potion in their second year.
"About a week if I do it correctly. Then we can confirm if I am right or not and if this hair belongs to who I believe we all might be thinking of at this moment." She said this time in a serious tone.
"Just a second! Do we have the ingredients we need for this potion?" Ron asked.
"Very good Ron, I'm impressed. Well, because we are sixth years and will be allowed access to most potion ingredients we should be able to make use of those in Snape's store cupboard." Hermione said.
"By we you mean me right?" Ron asked his smile from the earlier compliment disappearing.
"Well Ron, you are the only one that can. Harry and I have our own ingredients because……." Hermione finished off not really knowing what to say.
"Because I'm poor, yes I know it." Ron said his mood suddenly dropping and his face taking on a truly miserable appearance.
Hermione's heart wanted to break at seeing the poor sight which was Ron sitting before her. Harry was speechless because out there was nothing he could say that could lift Ron's spirits at the present. This was never good when Ron considered his family's poor financial situation. Even Ginny didn't say anything, but it was evident that she didn't like her family's monetary situation being brought up either. Then Harry had a stroke of genius as he thought of something that would bring Ron out of his bad mood.
"It's damned lucky for us that you have access to the store cupboard Ron." Harry said.
"What? Now you're saying that it's good that I'm poor? Thanks mate, thanks a lot!" Ron darkly said and seemed to become even more miserable than before.
"I'm not saying that you, what I'm saying is that we can't make the potion without you!" Harry said and he caught Ginny's eye as she started to smile.
"What do you mean?" Ron said looking at Harry his mood seeming to stable a little.
"This is something very important Ron. All of this is resting on you. Without you being able to get those ingredients all of our planning will be for nothing. We need you to pull through for us!" Harry said and a smile was now creeping on Ron's face.
"All up to me? But, what if I'm caught?" Ron asked his mood having now taken a remarkable turn.
"You might 'accidentally' take too many ingredients when you need to prepare your potions in class. We're all counting on you Ron." Hermione said laying it on really thick as she picked up from Harry's cue.
"Counting on me eh? I can do this. Yeah! Don't you worry guys, you can count on me, I won't let you down." Ron said as he was now positively beaming at the prospect that he had the opportunity to play the hero and where people really needed him.
"Thanks Ron, I knew we could count on you." Harry said.
The group then began discussing what ingredients would be needed fro the potion after Hermione had gone and returned with a book on advanced potion making (she had taken it from the library for some light reading). Soon Ron went to bed (he needed his strength if he was going to start pinching ingredients out from under Snape's nose) and Hermione, feeling left out while Harry and Ginny sat holding hands, also left.
"That was really great of you Harry." Ginny said to him once Hermione had left.
"What was?" Harry asked having been in the process of thinking of quidditch for some reason (his mind had began wondering due to the late hour and lack of conversation).
"What you did for Ron. I really appreciate it Harry. Our situation with our family has always been a really hard thing for Ron to accept. I don't like it much myself, but it seems to have affected Ron the worst. Ron also likes it when the spotlight is on him. It's something that I think he has secretly always wanted. He has after all always been in the shadow of his brothers." Ginny said giving Harry a peck on the cheek.
"It was nothing. I understand what you mean. But Ron really is an integral part of our plan. I don't feel like stealing from Snape again. I'm sure he still suspects me of stealing from him in our second year." Harry said feeling a warm spot form on his cheek where her lips had just moments again been.
"You're really great, you know that?" Ginny said moving closer to him.
"Oh well now, I wouldn't say that. The thing is we're living in dark times Ginny. They're probably only going to get darker." Harry said and then he started thinking.
"You're too modest Harry, but that's one of the many reasons that I really like you." Ginny said as she began standing up.
"Where're you going?" Harry asked forgetting his train of thought that had just begun.
"It's after two in the morning silly, I'm going to bed. We have class later today, so I would advise you also go to bed soon." Ginny said.
"Two in the morning? Wow, the time sure flew, but I guess it was on account of my wonderful company. Sleep tight Ginny." Harry said standing up and hugging her.
"You too Harry." Ginny said embracing him before going off to the girls' dorm.
"Dark times only going to get darker." Harry muttered to himself regaining his train of thought that had been interrupted by Ginny leaving.
Harry cared for Ginny more than anything in the world and knew that he would not live with himself if anything happened to him. Already somebody had made an attempt on his life numerous times throughout the year. What if something happened to her? Those that would want to hurt Harry would do the most damage if they hurt Ginny. That was something that he could not allow to happen. What should he do?
'You know what you have to do.' A small voice in his head said to him.
'But I don't want to.' Harry answered back.
'You're just being selfish. It's the right thing. You know what you have to do.' The voice said and fell silent.
'If it's the right thing then why does it feel so wrong?' Harry asked himself and no voice answered him.
II
A/N Gah! I am so sorry that took so long to update. I am struggling to finish this story and believe that it will soon take place with the recent release of the sixth Harry Potter book. I don't know if anybody will miss this story, but I feel that it has run its course. Soon it will end. But don't worry, I will write a follow up based on this story and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. That way JK's original ideas can be in the story while elements that people enjoyed in this story is also in. Thank you to all those that have reviewed over the years and also those that are recent reviewers. This story will be concluded in the next few chapters. I'll try to make it a worthy read.
Cheers
Lost in A World of Pain