When I reached the common room, Hermione immediately flew to my side.
"Is that blood? Jenny- what happened?"
"Bloody hell! Not you, too!" Ron appeared at my side, "Did you and Harry get in some sort of fight? Or did you have a go at the whomping willow?"
"Of course they weren't in a fight, Ronald! How plausible would that be?"
"Not ten minutes ago, Harry comes running in here and takes my potions book, drenched in blood. Now, Jenny comes sulking in covered in blood, too? What am I supposed to think, Hermione? That they were studying potions under the whomping willow?"
"Of course, not, that would be ridiculous-"
"It's Draco" I cut in.
"Malfoy? I swear, if he hurt you, I'll-"
"He didn't hurt me"
"Harry?"
"No"
"Come on, we should get you washed up," Hermione said, motioning toward our dorm. I stood up, following her in the same manner I did Snape's directions: lethargically.
/
Hermione took me to our dorm; she even started the shower for me when she saw I was in no mood to do it myself. She left the bathroom; I could hear her feet pad against the floor as she walked away.
I had no idea how good the water would feel against my skin. The blood that had painted my skin red now washed off with the water, taking tears with it.
What would have happened if Draco had finished his curse? I would have had to watch Harry go through that pain. I don't think I could bear it.
No.
I've seen that pain before. Last year. Before that, even.
He's always in pain. He's suffered more than most could fathom. The difference is, I've suffered too. I share pain on a level much closer to him than Ron or Hermione ever could. One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is love.
/
Harry's POV
"Well I can't say I didn't see this coming-" Hermione began, not bothering to hide her self-righteousness.
"Give it a rest, Hermione!" Jenny said, alerting us to her presence as she came down the stairs. Her hair was still damp, leaving her hair to curl and cling to her skin. She didn't seem to care, as she walked toward us with a determined face. I was so relieved, so amazed, and so grateful that I nearly ran from my seat to hug her. "Draco was going to use an Unforgiveable Curse on him. Just be glad he's alright"
"Well, of course I'm glad Harry wasn't cursed!" Hermione defended, stung by Jenny's words. Ron and I gaped at them; Jenny and Hermione who had been best friends from the start were actually arguing. Ron looked nervously at me before snatching up a book at random and hiding behind it.
"Harry," Jenny said firmly, and I turned back to her, "where is the book?"
"The room of requirement," I dared not tell her it was because I thought Snape would be looking for it, but I could imagine she came across the possibility already. From her expression, I could tell she didn't want me to go back for it later.
The next day, Slytherins had already heard word of what had happened and were taunting mercilessly. Not to mention the anger from my fellow Gryffindors, who were furious that I had gotten myself banned from the final match of the season. I assured them that Jenny would be a fine seeker, she'd led them to a win before, but that didn't seem to help. Compared to Snape's dreadful detentions, I'd give all of the felix felicis in the world to be on the quidditch pitch instead.
Detention was, as I had anticipated, useless, boring work with the occasional jolt in the stomach from sorting through files of my father or Sirius' names, usually coupled together for various petty misdeeds. I looked up at the clock, which seemed to be ticking much slower than usual. Perhaps Snape had enchanted it for extra torment.
"I think that will do for today. Mark your place, you will continue next week"
Without a word, I hurried out of the room before he could change his mind. The game would be over by now, surely. All that I could do was go to the common room and hope that I would find a celebration and not an angry mob with broomsticks and heavy bats.
The Fat Lady swung aside, revealing a roar of celebration. Several hands pulled me into the room, and people began screaming when they saw me. My eyes searched the crowd, looking for one particular person. She made it easy to find her, as she was blazing toward me.
"We won!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. Without a second thought, without thinking about the fact that fifty people were watching, without worrying about Ron, I kissed her. It was like the first rays of sun in the morning, lighting up the starry skies. In that moment, nothing mattered except me and her and that we were together.
/
Harry's POV
"You still got detention with Snape this Saturday?" Ron asked casually. Nothing had changed since the kiss- Ron was still my best mate and I was still with Jenny.
"Yeah, and the Saturday after that… and the Saturday after that," I sighed, "and he's hinting that if I don't finish sorting all of those files by the end of the term, we'll continue next year"
I could tell that Jenny wasn't happy at the news. I wondered if she was starting to see Snape for whom he really is. Maybe Snape was drawing out detentions to limit the time I get to spend with Jenny, making pointed asides about me having to miss the good weather and the various opportunities that it offered.
I was drawn back to reality when I realized Peakes standing before me with a bit of parchment in hand. "Thanks Jimmy…" I opened the paper with earnest, reading it quickly, letting the words sink in.
Harry,
Come to my office immediately. I can only take one- and it will be dangerous.
"What is it? Is it from Dumbledore?" Jenny asked, about to try to read over my shoulder.
"Ah- I have to go" I crumpled up the paper, tossed it into the fireplace, and hurried out of the common room.
/
Jenny's POV
"What was that rubbish?" Ron asked, obviously baffled at Harry's sudden leave.
"I don't know," I said, tearing my eyes from the portrait hole and turning to the fire. I watched as the bit of parchment cracked and curled under the oppressive flames, burning it until it was nothing but ash.
Not twenty minutes later, Harry returned in a rushed pace. We all stood from our seats, sensing his urgency.
"What did Dumbledore want?" Hermione asked, taking a shot at who sent the letter. Of course, who else would send it? The real question being; why was Harry so secretive about the letter? What did it say?
"Harry, are you ok?" I asked anxiously. Something was wrong.
"I'm fine," he blurted, racing past us and running up the stairs to his dorm. We all took one look at each other, exchanging the same questioning looks. A moment later, Harry flew down the stairs, skidding to a halt before us.
"I haven't got the time to explain," he panted, "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my invisibility cloak. Listen…"
He told us how Dumbledore thinks he found another horcrux, how he's going with him to try to get it, and how we can't come along.
"…so you see what this means? Dumbledore won't be here, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's trying to get at. No- listen to me!" he hissed angrily, sensing we were going to interrupt. His words stung like arctic waters splashing against me in heavy waves. "Here-" he shoved the Marauder's Map into Hermione's hands. "You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too. Use anyone you can rustle up from the DA. Dumbledore says he's used extra protection for the school, but Snape's got to know how to avoid it- but he won't be expecting you lot to be on watch, will he?"
"Harry-" why did he sound so grave?
"Take it," he said, handing me the vial of felix felicis, some of the elixir still remaining from its previous use.
"Harry, this is-" the last of his luck… "Harry, you have to take it"
"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore. Besides, I can't leave unless I know you'll be safe." Why was he looking at me like that? It was as if this was the last time we ever saw each other.
"I have to go"
And he was gone.
"What do we do? Jenny!" for once, Hermione looked frightened. She must have seen how Harry and I had looked at each other.
"We fight," I said, my voice surprisingly even and calm. I took a sip of the Felix Felicis and handed it to Hermione. "Drink this- both of you," I watched, making sure they both took enough.
"Ron, make sure everyone in the DA knows something's up. Tell them not to go to bed until I give them word. Hermione, keep your eyes glued to that map. Do as Harry said. Let me know if anything changes. Do you know how to send messages with your patronus?"
She nodded, both of them looking at me grimly.
"And what about you, Jenny?" Hermione asked carefully.
"I'm going to find him," I didn't need to tell them who I was talking about. The manner of which I said it let them know I was going after Draco Malfoy. There was nothing left to lose, no reason to hide it anymore. Something disastrous was on the horizon, and there was no doubt that Draco Malfoy was the catalyst.
Hermione opened up the Marauder's Map, smoothing out on the table while Ron ran off. She searched the grounds, looking for Draco Malfoy. I stood over her, spotting his name.
"There," I declared, turning to leave the common room. I strode as quickly as I could without looking too out of place. I soon gave up being discreet and bolted down the halls.
"Miss Bennett!" Professor McGonnogal barked as I ran past her. I stopped, catching my breath, and looked up at her.
"Make sure all of the students are in their houses, Professor," I warned gravely, watching her face turn to an expression of understanding.
"Get to your houses- no doddling!" she ordered, sweeping the halls for wandering students. I continued my run, hoping he hadn't moved far from his initial position. If my hunch was correct, I knew exactly where he was going.
The Room of Requirement.