Chapter 7: Opposites Attract
It was the week before the exams
and Christmas holiday. It had been weeks since the last threat from the
Death Eaters, so the magical community generally felt a mix of relief and
wariness. Harry was the wariest of them all. He continued to spend plenty
of time in the early morning hours teaching himself. It wasnt' about the
grades anymore, as it was about learning as much as he could. Moody was
the most pleased with Harry's progress, but Harry did not share the great
admiration for Moody that every member of the faculty and every other one
of Moody's students had for the man. Harry never told anyone that he was
disappointed with Moody, because it seemed like he was the only one. They
would probably all suspect that his distrust stemmed from memories of the
imposter of Mad-Eye Moody, Barty Crouch.
But that wasn't it. The problem
was that Harry felt the class was moving too slowly. Harry knew that Voldemort
would strike eventually, and Harry wanted to be prepared for anything.
Instead of thinking about Quidditch, Harry would recite to himself the
names of monsters and how to defeat every one of them. Harry mentally recited
the names of spells and the effects of each. He was driven by a sense of
despiration, because he knew that this time Voldemort would not underestimate
him. Harry stayed after nearly every class to ask questions of his professors
about advanced magic and about their most important magical experiences.
The faculty met together one day and agreed that Harry was indeed more
serious about the threat of Voldemort than most of them were. The sacrifice
Harry made was that he withdrew slightly from both his friends.
This was during the short periods
when Harry wasn't thinking about Cho. For finals week, they had both planned
to do a lot more studying than usual. It was really hard on Harry. Harry
and Cho were boyfriend and girlfriend, but all they really took a break
from this week was long chats. They had never even kissed. Somehow, Cho
managed to keep tutoring students despite a regular diet of studying. Harry
still didn't know where she got her energy.
If they ever asked, Harry was reluctant
to explain how much he had been studying. If Ron, or especially Hermione,
asked him how he did on a test, they would have to drag it out of him.
He was almost embarrassed with how well he was doing now that he was applying
himself so much. However, he didn't think he should make his friends any
edgier and more concerned than they already were. Harry was most concerned
with Cho. Her parents had recovered, but they did not which wizard attacked
them. They, too, believed that the attack had nothing to do with Sirius,
their secret-keeper.
Ron and Hermione consequently spent
much more time together, though without Harry for a mediator, they found
themselves getting into arguments more frequently than before.
"Come on Hermione, you've been studying
for four hours straight. Come back to the Common Room with me and we'll
have some pointless conversations or you could take a nap."
"For the last time, no. Ron, don't
you know that the other students in the top five are studying harder than
ever? I have to keep up with them in order to stay the top student."
"Um, no you don't."
"Easy for you to say, Ron. You don't
care about your grades."
"Yes I do! It's just that I also
have a life, and I care about my friends and about relaxation and sleep
and having a good time."
"So do I. It's just that now is
a time to be serious."
"Yes it is. But not just serious
about your grades. Do you really want to say that you spent your whole
fifth year in the library and in class?"
"No." This was a silly argument,
she thought. This could go on forever, though she actually kind of enjoyed
the break. "I've spent loads of time at the Great Hall, too," she added
with mock enthusiasm.
Ron laughed. "I'm serious, Hermione.
You're studying more than ever, because this year you can. The, um, threats
from the Dark Wizards aren't there. So why can't you just enjoy that fact
and not take it for granted?"
"I'm not taking it for granted,
Ron." She suddenly realized how little attention she and Ron paid to the
other person's point of view. "I'm taking advantage of the extra study
time, just like everybody else. You should be studying too. Especially
potions," she added that with a little bit of regret. Ron was doing quite
poorly in potions this term, and if he didn't do really well on the mid-term,
he would not pass the class.
Ron just stared at her and that
at the ground.
"Oh Ron," Hermione began. "I'm sorry."
She looked at the History of Magic textbook in front of her. She already
knew all of this stuff by heart. She should really help him. She asked
carefully, "Ron, do you want some help with potions?"
"No!" There was panic in Ron's voice.
Both Ron and Hermione were stunned by his reply. Hermione looked down at
her book again, feeling stupid and defeated. Ron looked at her, and then
sighed. "Hermione, I'm sorry. You were only trying to help. But, well,
it's a sensitive subject. The reason I don't study is because I don't want
to become some dungeon-dwelling potions master like Snape or a nerd like
. . like . . " He trailed off, but the damage was done.
"Like who?" Hermione's temper flared
up and the pity disappeared. "Nerd, am I? I was going to help you with
potions, being a nerd and all. But since you'd rather waste your career
at Hogwarts and fail--"
"You're right," interrupted Ron
quietly.
Hermione was startled. "I know,"
she said. "I'm really being hurtful, aren't I? I'm sorry. I'm really stressed
out. Didn't you want to get out of here? Let's go."
Ron's expression suddenly changed
into a smile. "I do have thick skin you know. Yeah, I wanted to get out
of here at first, but let's stay. I'll make a deal with you. I let you
tutor me for an hour in potions, and then you and I go to Hogsmeade. We'll
try to bring Harry, but if he's sleeping in again then that's his fault."
Ron smiled.
"You'll let me tutor you?
Is that supposed to be a joke?" She smiled. She put her book away and took
out her potions textbook. Ron hadn't brought any books with him; he had
only planned to get Hermione out of the library and into the common room.
She took out a quill and a clean piece of parchment in case she had to
write down some notes. "Okay, do you have a specific question, or should
we just start from the top?"
Ron thought about this for a while.
He couldn't think of any good questions to ask. He was trying to think
of something truly impressive, but he couldn't. He then realized how little
he had cared about potions recently. Well, Snape was getting meaner, he
justified to himself. That class was consistently the worst part of the
school day. Hermione kept staring at him with patience in her eyes, but
she was tapping her finger on the table. Ron noticed. "I . . .er
. . haven't been studying much, have I? Let's just start from the top,
shall we?"
Hermione rolled her eyes in mock
frustration. She had expected as much, and so she playfully began with
a patronizing question. "Okay, what's the foundation of the science of
potions?"
"Chemistry," said Ron instantly.
Both of them became really uncomfortable suddenly, and then Hermione resumed
her tutoring with more careful questions.
Some time later, Harry entered the
library and sat next to Ron at the table. "I have to talk to Cho. Have
you seen her?"
"No, Harry, not at all," said Ron.
"We can tell her whatever it is if we see her. What did you want to tell
her?"
"Nothing," Harry said simply. "I
just want to be with her. To talk about anything. Anyway, I'll let you
get back to studying. I've been in the common room; it's nice and quiet
there right now. Come with me?"
"Sure," Hermione said. Harry and
Ron helped her with her books and they all left together.
Exams went well for everybody. As
soon as Harry finished his last exam, which he aced, he raced to the classroom
where he knew Cho would be finishing her last exam. She was already waiting
outside when he got there. "Are you staying over break?" Harry asked.
Cho gave him a strange look. "Harry,
I'm going home."
Harry, being crushed, frowned.
Cho gave him a funny sort of smile.
"What?" Harry asked defensively.
"I live in Hogsmeade, remember?"
Cho said.
Harry hit his forehead with the
palm of his right hand. "Wow," he said. "My brain's not functioning well
anymore."
"Midterms can do that sometimes,"
Cho said.
"Yeah."
Christmas break was fun for Harry
and his friends. On Christmas morning, Hermione sneaked Cho into the Gryffindor
common room. They all came up to surprise Harry and Ron with presents.
Hermione and Ginny nudged Ron, and
Cho nudged Harry. The two boys woke with a start. Ron smiled mischievously.
"Hey Harry, can you picture a better wake-up call?"
Harry grinned. "No I can't."
The girls grabbed pillows and pelted
the boys until they surrendered. Presents were distributed in an orderly
fashion. Harry received a sweater from Mrs. Weasley, a book on Quidditch
from Ron, another broom maintenance kit from Hermione, and a locket and
chain from Cho. Harry examined it carefully, and then opened up the locket.
Inside was a picture of Cho and Harry waving at the camera from a trip
to Hogsmeade a few days before. Harry surprised Cho with a hug that made
her blush furiously.
"You do way too many push-ups,"
Cho said when he released her. "You almost broke my arm," she teased.
Ron was busy opening his presents:
a book on the Chudley Cannons from Harry, another oddly-colored sweater
from his Mom, some items from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes from Cho, a goofy
picture of Ginny from Ginny, and a golden quill with his name engraved
on it from Hermione.
"I could kiss you," Ron blurted
out.
Everyone was shocked.
"Well," Ron continued unabashed.
"I should do this properly. Hermione, go out with me?"
Hermione blushed. "Why not?" she
joked.
"I'm warning you, I'm still gonna
kiss you for this."
"Ron, it's just a quill," Ginny
pointed out.
"It's a gold quill. Anyone who doesn't
want to see this, Ginny, should turn their head away now."
"Just get on with it already, you
git," Hermione said impatiently.
Ron kissed her.
"Okay, Hermione," Cho said. "Time
for your presents."
"You already got mine," said Ron
mischievously.
"What?" Hermione said. "You mean
you didn't get me anything? Someone hand me a pillow." Ginny enthusiastically
obliged and Hermione pelted Ron with cotton until he apologized. Everyone
was laughing by the time Hermione quit.
"Maybe you should have just broken
up with me," Ron said. "Then at least my head wouldn't be hurting right
now."
The rest of the year went by smoothly.
Before they knew it, Harry and his friends were eating breakfast during
the second to the last week of the school year.
"This is about the time when heroics
are in order," Ron said in a monotone.
"Hopefully not this time," said
Hermione.
Just then, Harry received a strange
note from an old owl. The owl, having delivered the note, flew off immediately.
Harry read it aloud for Ron, Hermione, and Ginny to hear:
Harry,
I'm still
here. The wizard who killed Mr. and Mrs. Chang. As you can guess, I used
the diversion from those dumb Death Eaters. I'm still in the castle. You've
got that map, right? Find me if you can.
Harry gave Cho a concerned look.
She was lost for words, though obviously angry.
"Is this some sick joke?" Harry
said aloud.
"I don't think so," said Hermione.
"He's mocking us, whoever he is. I guess we'll have to find him."
"This annual pattern is really disturbing!"
Harry exclaimed with irritation. Cho reached out and put her hand on his,
and he was soon staring in her eyes.
"Of course we're not going to a
teacher or anything," Ron said, interrupting Harry's stagnant train of
thought.
"Because it might be bogus?" Hermione
said.
"I was gonna say," Ron corrected,
"that we never go to teachers in these situations."
"Unwritten rule," joked Harry.
"Are all the Gryffindors crazy,"
Cho asked, "or just the ones I know?" She saw the looks on their faces
and the spoons, including Harry's, were al prepared to launch food at her.
"I was joking," she said hurriedly. "That's my coping mechanism. Otherwise,
I would have grabbed that note from you and thrown it in the fireplace."
In the common room that afternoon,
Harry, Cho, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were the only ones present. They tried
to piece the puzzle together. "In the castle, that's a great hint," said
Ron.
"The castle's only so big," Ginny
said sarcastically. "It's like finding hay in a haystack."
"Or a nerd in Ravenclaw," Harry
teased.
"Or a loser in Gryffindor," came
a somewhat familiar voice.
Ron nearly jumped. "Malfoy?!"
The face of Draco appeared, and
then the rest of Draco. He had a self-satisfied expression on his face.
"You took my cloak!" Harry said.
He got up instantly.
" I did not," replied Draco indignantly.
"Look at the design. Feel it." He threw it at Harry.
"Different material," Harry admitted
after examining it. "My fault." He threw it back at Malfoy.
"You've been spying on us?" Cho
asked incredulously.
"I've been in and out of this place
all year," said Draco casually. "Great stories you people tell. You saved
the Weasley girl in the Chamber of Secrets? Impressive."
"What do you want?" Ron said.
"I want to help you. I know where
the person is who wrote that note," Malfoy said.
"Because you're in league with him?"
Ron challenged.
"No," Draco said irritably. "I overheard
the name from my father's lips over the winter break. The person who ordered
that pathetic siege. I give you the name, you find the person on your blasted
map, and then you go save the day."
"Why should we trust you?" Harry
said.
"Have I reported Cho?"
"No, but this could be your first
time here," said Ginny.
"Fine. I could mention what you
talked about yesterday if it makes you feel any better. Arguing about the
best European cheese? Mercy. Or maybe you still don't trust me, in which
case I can't convince you. But If I'm leading you into a trap, then there
are five of you against the enemy. If you refuse, well, that's also up
to you."
"Why did you choose to reveal yourself
now?" Ginny asked.
"It looked like Potter was about
to pull out that map of his," Draco began. "It would have had a spot labeled
'Malfoy' on it. There was no point in hiding."
"Why are you helping us?" Harry
asked.
"Because," Draco hesitated. "I have
my reasons."
Harry thought he saw Draco's eyes
flicker towards Ginny momentarily, but he wasn't sure what he saw. It looked
like Ginny noticed, though, from the look on her face.
"Where'd you get the cloak?" Ron
said.
Draco sighed. "From Snape," he said
finally.
"Why would Snape give you something
like that?" Ron said.
"Because I asked him for it," Draco
said irritably.
"Not good enough," challenged Ron.
"Because he's my uncle!" Draco blurted
out.
There was a pause. "Mother's or
father's side?" Hermione asked.
"It doesn't matter!" Draco said
defensively. "Are we going or not?"
Ron was fuming. "That favoring git!
He's living his life through you, trying to make you something you're not--the
hero. That's his way of getting back at Harry's dad, is it? Pitiful."
Draco started heading towards Ron.
"I'll show you pitiful!" The others broke it up, but Ron and Draco continued
to snipe at each other like they wouldn't get another chance.
Ron and Draco finally relaxed somewhat.
"What's the name?" Harry asked.
"The name is McCourt," Draco said
simply.
A/N: Prepare for the showdown. I've
proposed another theory for the origin of Snape's meanness. Sorry about
neglecting Sirius and others.
