Chapter 50: Girls Just Want to Have Fun
(A/N: This chapter has been heavily re-edited from its first iteration. In case you're confused, the site had me remove the chapter rather than just replace it. Weird but we'll roll with it. Chapter 51 is finished and will be posted tomorrow. The further I got from it the more I hated it. Taking advice from a certain S.H.I.E.L.D agent, I decided the best I could do was start over.)
The next day, Draco strutted into the Great Hall with a smile on his face. He sat down, pompously. When he did, everyone picked up their plates and moved to the other end of the table.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy sneered.
"We all heard what you said to Potter, Draco," Daphne said, her blue eyes ice cold. "We don't entirely get why you keep antagonizing him but what you said was a step too far. For us, family is everything. You would know that if you listened to your mother more growing up. Hell even Potter acts with more decorum than you and he's a Gryff raised by muggles."
"You're taking Potter's side?" Draco said. "That filthy half-blood launched me off the stairs. I kept him from going to Hogsmeade."
"And you deserved it," Vinny said. "If you had said something like that about my dearly departed mother, I'd have thrown you off the Astronomy Tower."
They all turned and Draco was left alone in the middle of the table with only the simpering Pansy Parkinson left at his side. Even Nott was keeping his distance.
It didn't get better in Potions. Snape beckoned them in and assigned them the Shrinking Solution. That was when Snape did something he had never done before.
"Sloppy chopping, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said from his desk. "10 points from Slytherin."
On and on it went with Snape taking points off for every miniscule mistake Draco made until the end.
"What do you call this?" Snape asked the blonde boy
"A Shrinking Solution," Malfoy said through his fury.
"I don't think so," Snape waived his wand and vanished the potion. "Detention with me Sunday where you will learn to brew it properly."
You could hear a pin drop in the dungeon at Snape giving Draco Malfoy what everyone in Gryffindor took to calling "the Harry Potter treatment." Harry was stunned. All through class, he had even caught Snape looking at him with a look reminiscent to pity and wondered what inspired this shift for the Dungeon Bat.
Hermione woke up on Halloween and immediately wished to go back to bed. Thanks to the Dementors, the weather was a cold, grey and gloomy, perfectly matched to her mood. She wasn't excited at the prospect of going to Hogsmeade without Harry. Multiple times, she had tried to back out of going but Harry wouldn't let her.
"You've been wanting to see the town for ages," Harry said. "Don't rob yourself of the opportunity just because I can't go."
"But every minute I am there, I'll just be wishing you'll be there with me," Hermione argued. "Sounds like an awful time to me."
"It will be a good opportunity to get out of the castle for a stretch," Harry persisted. "I know you've felt cooped up the last few weeks; this will be a good opportunity. The next one won't come until Christmas. Please?"
Hermione found she couldn't say no to Harry when he gave her the puppy dog eyes.
"Fine," Hermione relented, scowling at him. She continued with mock indignation "But you better not do anything to get yourself banned from the next trip, you hear?"
That was yesterday and Hermione was still regretting agreeing to go. She finished her morning routine and descended the stairs into the common room where a beaming Ron was already waiting. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied Harry sitting in the corner saying something to Luna and Colin. He looked up, smiled and waived her onward. She moved, in spite of everything in her mind, body and soul telling her to stay.
"You ready?" Lavender asked brightly.
"Sure," Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"C'mon, the shops await," Parvati slid her hand through Hermione's arm while Lavender did the same on the other side and they exited the common room as if they were off to see the wonderful wizard of Oz.
Bundled up in a thick sweater, her warmest tights and the skirt Dobby made for her, Hermione was built to be warm, not to look fashionable. Completing the look with her thickest coat and the boots with a special warming charm on them, she was comfortable but refrained from doing anything special to her hair or makeup.
With every step away from Gryffindor tower, she began wishing she never left. Once they arrived at the Great Hall, they met up with Neville and Hannah to have a small breakfast before heading down.
"So you guys excited for your date," Lavender asked brightly, causing Neville to blush.
"Yeah," Neville said quietly. "I am."
Hannah nodded excitedly next to him.
"So Hermione," Parvati turned toward her. "What are you looking forward most to today."
"I'm just looking forward to seeing the village," Hermione said. "It's one of the few wizarding villages in Britain. I can't wait to see what it's like, the history of the village."
"Of course you'll be interested in history," Lavender elbowed her good-naturedly "I'm excited to see Madam Primpernelle's, to see what passes for makeup in the magical world. Let us see what our market value is. Oh and we have to stop at Honeydukes, they have the best chocolate."
After breakfast, they made their way down to the carriages. Lavender was positively vibrating in her seat, a ray of sunshine in the gloomy day. Hermione smiled at her friend's excitement. A wave of cold settled over her as they passed the castle gates where the Dementors were stationed.
The carriage came to a stop and Hermione threw open the door and stepped out of the carriage.
"Wow," Hermione was overwhelmed with everything there was to discover.
"Can you move so the rest of us can see?" Parvati asked from the carriage. Hermione quickly stepped to the side to allow the other friends to exit.
"This is better than I even imagined," Lavender beamed. "Let's go explore."
It didn't take long before Hermione saw a store she wanted to visit.
"Oh can we go in?" She gestured toward Tomes and Scrolls. Through its window, she saw an old copy of Hogwarts: A History.
"Okay but only a half hour," Parvati said. "We'd like to see the rest of the town.
Hermione scowled playfully at Parvati before almost sprinting to the shop. She opened the door and one of her favorite smells, the smell of books, floated through her nostrils. For a half hour, they browsed, Hermione making a note of every book she wanted to buy, hoping to narrow down the list for the next trip.
Next they visited Zonko's. It was a quick visit as none of the products held any intrigue for them. They were all incredibly banal, with no imagination. No wonder the twins want to open their own shop, Hermione said inwardly. They could put these guys out of business.
After Zonko's, Lavender dragged her into Honeydukes, a shop she swore her parents would ground her if they ever saw her inside. Licorice Wands, Ice Mice, Acid Pops and all manner of confectionary delights were arrayed through the shop. It was obviously popular, considering half the student body was crammed inside. Smiling in spite of herself, she saw a display of Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts. Giggling uncontrollably at the memory of her first ride to Hogwarts, she picked up one of each to purchase.
"That's the spirit!" Lavender clapped her on the shoulder as she brought her products to the counter. "Get some chocolate too; you won't regret it."
Hermione relented and allowed Lavender to add a bar of Honeydukes Finest Chocolate to the counter. After making her purchase and the store clerk placed them in a bag with a stasis charm that would keep the chocolate from melting, they explored the town more.
From there, they toured the village. Ron pointed out the Shrieking Shack: an old, dilapidated building that Hermione was surprised the strong winds of the day didn't just knock it over.
"The most haunted building in all of Britain, that is," Parvati said. "Apparently my papa told me he could hear ghouls screaming bloody murder during his time at school. Wonder if they're still around."
Hermione scoffed at the idea that any ghost would haunt that building when the castle was nearby but it looked interesting anyway. They toured the rest of the town, with a stop in Madam Primpernelle's where Lavender was taking note of everything within the store. They were almost back at the center of the village when Hermione found herself wishing for a break from the wind. Even Parvati's dark cheeks looked rosy so she knew hers must be the same.
"Let's head to the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeers," Lavender pointed out the cozy-looking building at the center of town. She grabbed her hand and pulled her onward. "I'm hoping to try it. During the victory celebration last year for winning the Quidditch Cup, Fred and George once gave me what they said was Butterbeer, turns out it was just regular beer they got off some bloke when dad took them into town. Tasted revolting.
Hermione snorted her first laugh of the day at the twin's antics. Hermione ordered three butterbeers and they found a seat near the window.
"The wind's really whipping out there, isn't it?" Parvati said, taking a big gulp of the honey liquid moments after Hermione set it down. Hermione daintily sipped her beverage, letting the liquid- and the memories of drinking it with Harry on her birthday- warm her. Hermione spotted Neville cozying up close to Hannah across the dining room. They were holding hands and she was laughing at something he said. Hermione smiled wistfully at the pair, wishing she had Colins camera to capture the moment.
"Aren't they just the cutest," Lavender cooed, following Hermione's gaze. Hermione inclined an eyebrow at her. "Well okay. Second cutest couple in Hogwarts."
Hermione smiled at Lavender's amended statement but at that moment, more than anything, her brain was up at the castle, with the dark-haired teenager she wished more than anything was sitting right next to her.
As Hermione sat, wishing to be with Harry, Harry was wandering the castle, hoping that a little exercise would give him a respite from the overwhelming feeling of loneliness.
"Harry?" Harry stopped abruptly at the voice that called out to him. Halted mid-step, Harry backpedaled until he spotted Professor Lupin in his office. "You doing alright?"
"I'm fine, professor," Harry shrugged.
"Would you like some tea?" Lupin asked. "I just brewed a pot."
Since he had nothing else to do, he accepted the offer, hoping the tea would drive away his misery for a while.
"How are you holding up?" Lupin asked seriously. "I've been worried about you since the boggart."
"It's a process but I'm getting there," Harry admitted. "Hermione and Luna have helped a lot and Neville has been great at being supportive. I think he still blames himself."
"I must say it's unusual to see you alone," Lupin said. "Usually where you go, Hermione's right there."
"She's in Hogsmeade with Lavender and Parvati. Better than her going with Ron," Harry spat his name. "He asked her to accompany him on the first visit."
Of all the responses Harry expected from this small vent of ire, laughter was not the one Harry expected.
"Ho ho ho," Lupin let out a loud laugh. "You're just as bad as James when someone wanted to try and date Lily. Oh I remember when Jimmy Featherton asked her to Hogsmeade. He couldn't sit comfortable for a week, Lily was so furious at James when he pranked poor Jimmy."
"So you did know them," Harry said. There was neither question nor warmth in his tone. "I was curious. The way you address me sometimes, it's like you knew me and sometimes I see you looking at me with sadness; with pity."
"Yes," Lupin sobered immediately. "I knew them. James was one of my closest friends while we were at school. And Lily… a kinder heart this school has never hosted before or since. She had a way of seeing beyond people's physical walls and seeing their true self. No judgement, just love. I can't help it when I look at you sometimes, Harry, I see them. I see the brother I got into so much mischief with and the girl whose kindness never wavered."
Harry was about to respond when the door opened and Snape walked in. Snape set down a goblet with steam pouring out of it. Harry caught a whiff of it, one element catching his nostrils particularly harshly.
"Drink that straight away," Snape said. "If you need more, I have a full batch under stasis."
"Thank you, Severus," Lupin nodded before taking the Goblet. Snape gave Harry a curt nod and departed. Lupin turned to Harry and gave him a strained smile.
"Health tonic," Lupin inclined the drink as if to toast. "It's a good thing Severus is a good brewer, not many can make this particular potion. It's a pity I can't add sugar."
"Why didn't you check in on me before now?" Harry asked, pressing the issue they were discussing before they were interrupted. "You were their friend; I would have thought you'd at least want to see their kid from time to time."
"I have a condition that," Lupin started to say. He stopped mid sentence drained the goblet, grimaced and shook his head. "It is just better that I weren't around you?"
"What? Because you're a werewolf?" Harry asked, startling Lupin.
"How did you…"
"Figure it out?" Harry said. "You've been sick before this, almost a month ago when we had a full moon. You're looking ill again and tonight's the full moon. Snape just brought you a goblet of what I'm guessing is Wolfsbane- aconite has a very distinct aroma. I don't care that you're a werewolf. You're an animal a couple days a month, at worst. Vernon was an animal every day.
"Do you know what he did to me? What they did?" Harry raised to his feet. "If it wasn't for Hermione, I'd likely be dead now. It would have been nice to have someone talk to me when I was younger, to tell me who my parents were. Instead, I got Petunia and Vernon, pissing on their graves, telling me they were layabout drunks."
Lupin gasped at all of Harry's revelations. He forgot the other side to Lily Potter until this moment. When she got filled with righteous anger, she was an unstoppable force. There was no defense and there was no bargaining. When she got this way, she also happened to be one hundred percent correct.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Lupin croaked out.
"I'm sorry too," Harry's voice was cold and lifeless. "Thank you for the tea, Professor. I'll see you in class when you're back healthy."
Harry marched from the room, leaving Lupin to stew on all the decisions and mistakes he had made. If it wasn't for the fact alcohol would counter all the benefits of Wolfsbane, he would be at least one handle deep now.
Harry never stopped walking until he reached the courtyard. He walked to a bench and sat down heavily, letting the wind blow across his face. It was Halloween, the day everyone celebrated, the day where he was vividly reminded of his parent's sacrifice and what it cost him. Tears stung his cheeks as he sat there, oblivious to the cold.
On the other side, Hermione was hugging herself for warmth. After their butterbeers, the decided it was getting too cold so they decided to head back.
"Thanks for spending the day with us," Parvati beamed as they boarded the carriage to head back toward the castle. "Too bad the next one isn't until just before Christmas. That's a long time to wait for the next day. Thankfully you've found an alternative."
"Maybe next time we could do it as a group," Hermione tried to let him down easy. "We can all go: Neville, Harry, Dean; the lot of them?"
"Even Ron?" Lavender asked.
"As long as it's a full group, sure," Hermione said. "Just so he can't mistake it being a date. Even if I wasn't dating Harry, I just can't see it working, him and me. We're just too different, you and I."
"Agreed," Lavender said. "He's got a lot of maturing to do and even if he does that, you just don't have any shared interests."
At that moment, the carriage came to a graceful stop. Hermione spotted something out the window. She bounced out of her seat, threw open the door and stepped down. In the back of her mind, she noticed Lavender and Parvati move past her toward the warm sanctuary of the Great Hall. Her main focus, however, was the mop of messy black hair sitting on the bench. Her legs carried her in that direction before she consciously decided to go.
"Harry?" Hermione called his name. Harry picked up his head.
"Hermione!" Harry brightened, though his smile still was forced. "How was Hogsmeade?"
"It was fine," Hermione scoffed. "I'll tell you. What's got you so upset?"
"Later," Harry gave her a forced smile. "I'll tell you, just not here."
"I brought you this," Hermione pulled the Honeydukes bag from her jacket pocket. "I saw them and thought of our first train ride."
"Thank you," Harry smiled, genuinely this time. "Still one of my happiest memories."
Harry had been using it to power his Patronus. It was taking a shape but still not corporeal. Hermione hugged him fiercely.
"I missed you," Hermione said.
"I missed you too," Harry admitted. "The castle was really lonely today, I must admit."
Hermione wanted to remain in their hug but her rumbling stomach had different ideas. They moseyed into the Great Hall for the Halloween feast where Harry sat down heavily. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione noticed Ron speaking animatedly to Seamus, gesturing in her direction.
"The Nargles are strong among you again," Luna appeared out of nowhere next to Harry. "I'm not going to have to feed you, am I?"
It took a practiced ear to know when Luna Lovegood was being cheeky but this was definitely one of those times. After talking to her about that night, Harry thanked her but requested she refrain from doing it again. Luna knew this and decided to be cheeky. Harry guffawed at her joke as Hermione sniggered uncontrollably.
"Something funny?" Neville asked as he sat down across from them, smiling from ear-to-ear.
"Oh Harry doesn't seem to like the idea me feeding him," Luna said. "Disappointing. It would be rather fun."
Harry lost it, leaning heavily into Hermione to keep from falling off the bench. His laughter rang throughout the hall, prompting everyone to look his way. Harry was too far gone to care.
"Thank you, Luna," Harry said as he wiped tears from his eyes. "I needed that."
Under the table, he grabbed Hermione's hand and smile gratefully at her as well.
The feast passed with relative peace, allowing Harry to enjoy the foods and revel in the camaraderie. At the end of the feast, Dumbledore took the lectern.
"Ah the joy of laughter," Dumbledore smiled down upon the students. "I must admit that hearing this hall full of joy is one of my favorite parts of being headmaster. However, I must stop to recognize something we often forget. Halloween is a day heralded as the day Lord Voldemort was defeated. In our eagerness, we forget the cost of that night. Tonight, I would like to pause and honor James and Lily Potter. It was their sacrifices that allowed their son to survive the Dark Lord.
"The Potters and so many more families sacrificed so much for us to have this celebration today. To the Potters."
Dumbledore held his goblet aloft and tipped it toward Harry. Harry gave him a grateful, if a bit watery, smile in return. Hermione squeezed his hand under the table and Luna hugged him tightly once again.
"Now you don't need to hear an old man prattle," Dumbledore said. "Off to bed with you all. Pip pip."
Tiredly, Harry dragged his body up the staircases toward the warm bed that awaited him. He was so focused on his destination that he didn't notice everyone stopped until he walked directly into the back of Colin.
"Sorry, Colin," Harry said as he pulled the boy upright. "What's the hold up?"
"The Fat Lady," he heard Angelina say. "She's gone!"
"Someone fetch Dumbledore," Percy said. Moments later, Dumbledore sped up the staircases. The Red Gryffindor Sea parted as if he were Moses and Harry could see the portrait of the Fat Lady sliced to shreds.
"Oh my," Dumbledore scanned the portraits around. "Did anyone see anything?"
The Gryffindors all shook their head, though it soon became apparent he was not speaking to them.
"Aye my liege," A portrait of a knight turned from the dragon he was battling. "There was a man seeking entry into Gryffindor tower. He was enraged that the Fat Lady would not let him pass. He brandished a knife and started slashing.
"Did you see who it was?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh yes," the knight said. "I remember him when he was here, He was so good at sneaking in after curfew. I'll never forget his face, the face of Sirius Black."
Pandemonium took hold on the landing before Gryffindor tower. Students started to panic and search every corner for the escaped prisoner. Dumbledore fired off a canon blast and let silence resume.
"Prefects," he said. "Lead the students back the Great Hall. I will contact the other houses and have them join you. Don't run but do move with pace, please."
In the Great Hall, Dumbledore took his lectern again.
"Sorry to disrupt your night," he scanned the hall. "Sirius Black tried this evening to gain entry to Gryffindor tower. As a precaution, you all will be sleeping here where the staff and Prefects can keep a watch on you. Prefects, please approach the staff table to get your watch assignments.
"Oh right," Dumbledore noticed the students looking at the tables in confusion. "Details."
With a wave of his wand, the tables flew to the ceiling and mounted themselves onto the walls, their bench folding into them as they finished moving. Purple sleeping bags then appeared and Dumbledore cast a cushioning charm on the floor, making it feel a little like a bounce house that a kid would have for their birthday party. It only took one glance for Harry and Hermione to have the same thought. They hauled two bags into the corner so they could talk.
"Dobby," Hermione called the elf. "Can you put up a privacy ward? I'd like to talk to Harry without being overheard."
The elf did as requested, bowed and popped out.
"What has you so upset?" Hermione asked as she crawled into her sleeping bag.
"I had tea with Professor Lupin while everyone was in Hogsmeade," Harry said. "Our suspicions were right, by the way, he is a werewolf. I found that out when Snape brought him a goblet of Wolfsbane Potion."
"Why do I feel like that's not what upset you?" Hermione's eyes were filled with concern.
"I told him that I was annoyed that Ron thought you going to Hogsmeade was a date," Harry said. "He laughed and said 'you're as bad as James.' I knew there was something he wasn't telling me but I didn't imagine it was that. He was one of my father's closest friends; knew my mum too."
"Lupin was a friend of your mum and dad?" Hermione said quietly.
"Apparently," Harry said. "What I can't figure out is why he didn't bother to check in on me after they were gone. I kind of… yelled at him today when I found out. I feel bad about that, actually."
"I get it, though," Hermione soothed. "You would have liked to know more about your parents as you grew up."
"Yeah," Harry admitted. "I'll apologize to him when he's back healthy. Anyway, how was your time in Hogsmeade?"
"It was fun," Hermione hesitated before letting out her breath and continuing. "Lavender got to do her market research, I got to see inside the book store. It was nice but I still spent the day wishing you were there with me instead."
"Guess that just means we'll have to do the thing right in December," Harry smiled at her. She smiled back, reaching out to grab his hand.
"Looking forward to it, boyfriend," Hermione giggled. Before long, their eyes grew heavy and they both fell asleep holding one another's hand. Harry's last thought was thanking Sirius Black for inadvertently setting this whole thing up.
(A/N: Liked this version better of Hermione having a Girl's Day Out instead of me shoehorning in a horrible "date" to show why I don't think Ron and Hermione work as a couple. It's not that difficult. It also allowed me to work more with the Lavender/Parvati duo which I am coming to love.)