Harry Potter and the Fifth House
Chapter 50: The Calm Before The Storm
"Hagrid sent me a letter today telling me that Buckbeak lost his trial."
Hermione bit her lip immediately after her declaration, waiting to see how everyone would react. The rest of the house was sprawled out on the furniture in front of her. Everyone's back seemed to straighten but no one said anything.
After several minutes the silence was broken by Draco letting out a sharp curse. Everyone's head's turned to look at him as he murmured, "I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I'm so so sorry."
"Draco, this isn't-" Neville tried to protest.
"It is my fault!" Draco repeated, shouting this time. Neville flinched at the harsh tone in his voice. "If I had just backed off when Harry and Hagrid told me too then Buckbeak never could have scratched me and my father never would have done this. If I just-"
His words stuck in his throat as Hermione's open hand met his cheek and his head was whipped right. Luna let out a sharp gasp but before anyone could move to do anything, Hermione was hissing, "Don't you dare apologize to us for something your father did! You are not your father despite the fact that you've been a...a bloody prick to Harry! If you want to apologize for what you did, then you should apologize to Hagrid and use that brain of yours to help us win the appeal!"
Draco floundered for a minute before glancing down at his hands. He bit his lip before saying, "I know I've been a prick okay? Blaise and Theo, of all people, already called me out on my bullshit. And I am sorry Harry, I've just been dealing with things lately."
"Oh um...it's fine, Draco," Harry answered, shocked to hear the blonde actually apologizing. "I know things have been difficult for you with your parents. I'm sorry for whatever I did to make you so uncomfortable around me."
"You didn't do anything, I promise." Draco turned his attention back to Hermione, "I'll go to the owlery first thing in the morning and send letters to my father and the ministry both. Maybe I can help change someones mind since I'm the victim."
There was a moment before Blaise stood up, stretching, "Okay then. I'm going to go to sleep, I'm exhausted from helping Theo all day." There was a murmur of agreement as people began to stand.
"I'll stay up and help you look through this stuff," Draco declared, gesturing to the pile of magic law books Hermione had spread across the table. "Maybe we can come up with something. Two minds are better then one, right?"
"That's true," she agreed with a smile. She was about to lower down to sit on the floor again when she felt a hand clap her shoulder.
She looked up just in time to watch as Ron, his hand still on her shoulder, murmured, "I'm sorry for being such a prick myself," before walking up the stairs after Harry.
"Huh," Draco drawled, "that's surprising."
Hermione couldn't come up with anything to say, her shock leaving her mind blank.
Hermione stretched up on her toes, getting a grip on the book she wanted and tugging it out when a little bit of effort. She flipped it open as she started walking towards the end of the aisle, scanning the table of contents for the subject she wanted.
"Hermione." She looked up just in time for her face to smack against the chest of the speaker.
"Oops," Hermione murmured, wincing as she reached for her nose.
"Sorry," Michael apologized with a brief smile as he looked down at her. "I should have come up behind you, huh?"
"That might have been better," Hermione agreed with a laugh.
"Join Padma and I?" Michael jammed his thumb in the direction of the study tables. Hermione just nodded, folding the book shut and holding it against her chest as she followed him. They walked down the row in silence for a minute before he asked, "So why are you looking at a book about famous wizarding court cases?"
"Hagrid lost his case against Draco's father," Hermione admitted.
"Ah," Michael hummed. "I don't take Care of Magical Creatures but I've spoke to Hagrid before. He really loves the things in the forest, he must not be taking it well huh?"
"No," Hermione agreed. "Luna isn't either for that matter."
They walked the rest of the way in silence.
As they reached the table, Michael slid a book across the table to the sitting girl and drawled, "Padma, look who I brought from the history section."
She glanced up, her mouth already opening to say something. Her smile brightened when she saw Hermione and she stood up, reaching across and pulling Hermione into a hug, "Hermione! I'm so happy to see you outside of class finally!"
"Sorry Padma," Hermione apologized as she returned the hug before flopping down into the seat across from the other. Michael fell into the chair next to Hermione. "I've had a lot of homework and I'm helping Hagrid with something."
"I heard about the thing with the Malfoy's," Padma drawled. Hermione was about to say something in reply when the other locked her fingers together, resting her chin on top of her joined hands, and added, "I also heard about you storming out of Divination."
Hermione felt herself blush at the memory. "I could have handled that a lot better admittedly."
Michael shook his head, "I think you handled it just find. Professor Trelawney has been telling one of your closest friends that he was going to die since classes started and you've never really liked the class. I'm not surprised you quit."
Padma nodded in agreement, "I agree but that's not why I brought it up obviously. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, it's strange for you to get upset like that."
"I'm fine," Hermione assured her. When Padma didn't let up, still looking at her with the same intense gaze, she added, "Really Padma. I'm fine, a bit stressed since I have so much homework but otherwise I'm fine."
"If your stressed then the library is the last place you need to be," Padma argued.
Michael hummed, "Now that I think about it, every-time I've seen you lately you've been in here doing homework or going to class or in class."
Padma pursed her lips before nodding, "It's official then. Hermione let's go check your book out."
"What? Why?" Hermione questioned.
"You need to relax so we're going outside. Come on."
Hermione tried to put up a fight but when Padma grabbed one of her hands and Michael gave her shoulders a lazy shove with one hand, she sighed and let herself be pulled to the check out counter.
It wouldn't hurt to hang out with her friends for a few minutes.
Blaise was heading towards the stairs to the dormitories, an arm full of books to use on the pile of homework he had to finish before Easter Break was done, when he spotted Neville.
The other was sitting on the floor with books surrounding him and several pieces of paper spread across the coffee table. His head was buried in his hands.
"Hey," Blaise spoke softly. Neville didn't look up, just made a soft sound. Blaise watched him for another moment before dropping his books down on the table, grinning when he saw Neville jump.
"What was that for?" Neville questioned.
He plopped down next to him, "I needed to do something with them. Do you want to work together?"
"I'll only hold you back. You understand everything a lot easier then I do," Neville murmured.
Blaise shrugged and bumped their shoulders together, "I don't really care if it takes longer to do my homework."
"Liar," Neville shot at him. "You're always complaining."
"Yeah but that's because I just want to spend some time with you," Blaise answered. He reached for one of Neville's hand and laced their fingers together, "It's okay as long as we're doing it together. Now come on, I'll help you with your potions essay and then you can help with my Herbology one.
Neville gave a small smile before squeezing Blaise's hand, "Okay."
Blaise grinned. He leaned over Neville's side of the table to grab the others potions book, stopping midway to press a kiss to his lips.
Neville's cheeks were still red when Blaise flipped to page fifteen and started explaining.
"This is ridiculous," Harry sighed as he followed Seamus down the hall on their way to their next class. Seamus didn't look at him, glaring at a group of Slytherins passing them with a look that practically begged them to say something.
When they passed with nothing but a scoff, Seamus clicked his tongue. He ran a hand through his hair before replying, "It's not ridiculous. Oliver was smart to tell us to watch you, the Slytherins have been horrible. Someone even pushed Katie off the wall in the courtyard."
"I'm sure it's not helping that you guys keep getting in fights with them," Harry answered. Seeing the way Seamus clenched his teeth, he added, "You got that bruise on your cheek from fighting with one of them, didn't you?"
Seamus chuckled, scratching the back of his neck, "I guess you know me too well."
"Mhm." Harry turned to him after a moment, questioning, "Did you win at least?"
Seamus looked shocked for a moment before laughing, "No, that's why I got the bruise idiot! The jerk hit me with a knock back spell and ran away when he saw McGonagall come around the corner." He sighed afterward. "That really shocked me though. I didn't expect to be asked if I'd won. I'm so used to being scolded by Dean when I want to start a fight."
"Are you two still not speaking?"
"Well...no."
"You don't sound very happy about that. Dean made it sound like it was your decision."
"It was in a way," Seamus answered. He sighed before explaining, "Dean said something to me and I got upset with him. I suppose he's waiting for me to talk to him first."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "What'd you get mad at him about? I've seen you guys fight before but usually he goes after you or calms you down before you storm off."
Seamus was quiet for a moment before answering, "Dean told me that he liked me."
"Of course Dean likes you."
"No Harry like-" Seamus let out a frustrated sound. "He told me he had a crush on me, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened and he let out a soft, "Oh."
"Yeah oh." Seamus sighed again then added, "That's why we aren't talking. I got mad at him, well I wasn't really mad. I was confused because I thought he had a crush on Susan, that's why I helped him get a date with her, but then he got back from the date and said that and I didn't know how to react. I lashed out at him without really thinking about it."
"You should probably apologize to him for that."
"I know that Harry," Seamus exclaimed. "But how am I supposed to talk to him when I don't have an answer for him?"
"You don't really need an answer do you?" Harry questioned. "Dean and you are best friends, you're practically inseparable even when you're screaming at each other, and I'm sure he cares more about keeping that then dating you. I'm sure he's fine with you taking time to think about things as long as you stay by his side the way you had."
Seamus looked out at the courtyard as they passed, a few upper classmen lingering around it, and murmured, "Is it really that simple?"
"Harry!" Oliver exclaimed, his hands thumping down on Harry's shoulders. "It's time to head out to the pitch."
Luna leaned over the table and pressed a kiss to both. She pulled away saying, "Good luck kisses."
He glanced around to find Blaise giving him to thumbs up, half a cinnamon bun sticking out of his mouth, and each of his other friends gave him a smile when he looked at them.
When he stood up, Oliver pulling him to the front of the great hall where the rest of the team was waiting, there was a sudden roar of noise. Around them, the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws had stood up and were clapping as they screamed good luck at him.
He could see Anthony hanging off Cedric, two fingers in his mouth as he whistled and Cedric trying to shrug him off while clapping and cheering, at the Hufflepuff table and Colin was jumping up and down as he clapped, his mouth moving in a string of 'Good luck!' and 'You can do its!'
"Good luck!" Cho Chang shouted, her voice ringing over everything.
Harry couldn't stop smiling as he was grabbed by the twins and Oliver shoved them all out of the Great Hall.
At the Tigerlily table, Blaise swallowed hard and ate the rest of the bun in his mouth before questioning Draco, "Are you fine with this? He seems happy that Cho's cheering for him."
"I don't really have a choice now do I? I decided not to say anything to him about how I felt so I have to live with that decision," Draco answered. He reached for a plate in front of them, grabbing another cinnamon bun and shoving it into Blaise's mouth. "Now hurry up and eat you idiot. I want to get good seats in the stands."
E/n: Hey guys. Sorry it's been so long - unbeta because Emma is busy with school and life and you guys were guilt tripping me via messaging and reviews to get this up.
So wow, Chapter Fifty. It's hard to imagine that I got this far when normally I have trouble taking a full story to five chapters, much less fifty. I've improved so much since chapter one and a big part of that is you guys because you're always helping me with research and giving me a huge amount of feedback.
So thank you guys and I hope you'll continue to be here for the next fifty chapters, and past that.
Next Time: Exams turn out better then usual for one of our boys and another complains just like he always does.
