Chapter 2
Firstly, this chapter is
PG 'cos of some bad language. Otherwise, it's Okely-Dokely! (And, there's a
little romance in this chapter) O.K, big thank you to all those who reviewed
Chapter 1, u know who u are, and even scarier, I know who u are *cackles
evilly*. Virtually everyone who reviewed said my chapters should be longer, so
this one should be a leetle longer than the first. As always, please review, so
I can improve my 'technique'. Here's Chapter 2, Enjoy!
***
"Well" said Harry with a
look that neither Ron nor Hermione could fathom, "I'm going to be an
Auror".
Both Ron and Hermione
jumped out of their respective seats, and looked at Harry with a mixture of
happiness, surprise and alarm all at once. "What, where how and when?" Hermione
exclaimed, shrilly, as she jumped on top of Harry, and gave him the biggest
bear hug ever. Ron saw the look of distress on Harry's face, and with a smile
curving the corners of his lips, took the opportunity to join in on the
crush-fest.
Ten minutes later, when
Harry had managed to pry his deranged companions off him, they sat down to
discuss the new revelations they had received in the past half an hour. "Well,"
said Harry, munching his way through his second chocolate frog, "Dumbledore
just came in, (mmm munch munch) and asked me if I would like to go (munch) to
the 'Auror Academy'. Apparently, (munch) I'll miss 6 months of school" this was
punctuated by a cry of protest from Hermione, and a mumbled "Lucky bastard"
from Ron. "Anyway," Harry continued, regardless of Ron's comment. "I will learn
basic self-defence against hexes and curses, I can visit you every Sunday, and, there's even a Quidditch field."
Harry concluded with a flourish. "So what do you think?" asked Harry, with the
anxious look on his face that usually meant he was desperate for approval of
something. "Well," said Hermione, a little hesitantly "I'm worried about your
schoolwork, Harry, you'll be so behind, and-" Ron cut in.
"Go for it Harry, she
means go for it. It's a great opportunity, you really deserve it, and Harry,
does this mean you finally learn how to beat the crap out of Malfoy in a duel?"
Harry beamed all over his face. "I guess it does." He decided. "Then you have
our full approval to learn how to cause physical harm to our enemies, Harry, by
all means." Ron smiled, "and if you're going to become Mr Auror/tough guy,
you'd better buy a watch, because its 12.33, and Mr Auror still hasn't had his
Beddybies!" and with that Ron flew up the stairs to the boys' dorm, with Harry
at his heels shouting something which sounded roughly like "I'll take the
beddybies and shove them up your … !"
Neither of them noticed
that Hermione had left for the girls' dorm ten minutes ago.
*** Harry sleeping ***
Harry stood in front of a
gaping, cavernous hole, next to Hermione, with a bright light from above
offending his eyes, and causing him to squint. He was pleading with her not to
jump into the small circular oblivion.
"Hermione, No! It's me
they want, not you! Please, I love you. You can't do it! I've only just found
you!" he cried, the desperation evident in his voice.
Hermione's eyes were sad,
and filmed with tears, but showed a cold resignation. "Goodbye my love" she
cried, and threw herself over the edge, and into eternal darkness.
The fabric of the dream
began to dissolve, and Harry awoke in a cold sweat, and with a bloody palm,
where he had driven his nails into the flesh in a vain attempt to clutch onto…
Hermione, Harry thought, and heaved himself out of his bed, as quietly as he
could, and tiptoed down the staircase, to the door which marked the entrance of
the girls' dorm.
He paused at the door, and
then gently pushed it open, and closed it again, ensuring it didn't creak. The
only difference between the girls' and boys' dorms was that the girls' was a
lot tidier than the boys'. The layout, however, was very similar. Harry smiled
to himself, he would have enjoyed being in a room full of sleeping girls, if he
hadn't got his eyes fixed on only one of them.
He slowly made his way
over to Hermione's bed, sat down, and stroked her hair. He took in her
appearance, her hair, her nose, her pattern of breathing. He had a sudden urge
to kiss her, but he suppressed it. After a while, she stirred, and turned to
look at Harry, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for Harry to be
sitting on her bed, stroking her hair at 2 in the morning. Then her eyes widened,
as she registered what was going on, and her surroundings. "Harry" she breathed
quietly, and then stopped. She looked at him, his black hair, his muscular
shoulders, his emerald green eyes, that she knew so well, the eyes that had
mesmerised her, ever since first year. She pulled him closer, and their lips
connected. Harry's body tensed for a second in shock, and then he wrapped his
arms around her, and leaned into the kiss. Harry felt that a dozen lights had
been switched on in his head all at once, and he held her tighter, feeling the
curves of her body against his own. He could have lain there forever, watching
her, but after an hour of pure happiness he knew he had to leave.
"Hermione, I-" began
Harry, but stopped. Hermione had closed her eyes, and he heard her peaceful
breathing mirroring his own, and with his heart pounding like a drum against
his ribcage, he left the girls' dorms, and headed back to his awaiting bed.
***
Harry awoke in the morning
with a feeling of light-headed euphoria, which most people receive only when
they've had too much to drink. He wondered absent-mindedly, as he pulled on his
robes, if this was what it feeled like to be in love. He looked across the room
at his sleeping friends. Seamus, Dean, Neville and Ron, the weak morning
sunlight was playing across their faces, he could tell they would soon wake up,
and then it hit him, the feeling of happiness soon disappeared when he looked
at the time. He was 20 minutes late for an appointment with Dumbledore about
his life-changing decision. And then his heart dropped like a stone. He would
not see Hermione for 6 whole months
he swore in a swift, rapid stream under his breath, so as not to wake up his
friends, before sprinting hare-style to Dumbledore's office.
***
Harry drew up panting
outside Dumbledore's office, a grand total of 23 minutes late from the
pre-arranged time, and puffed out the temporary password (strawberry liquish)
he had been given by Dumbledore to the familiar gargoyle outside the office he
knew so well. The gargoyle gave a large creak, and split into two, revealing an
opening in the wall, which Harry promptly walked through. He then proceeded
through the room with the strange whirring contraptions, and knocked, a little
forcefully, against the engraved wooden door.
"Come in." called the
familiar voice of Professor Dumbledore. Harry hesitantly turned the handle,
opened the door, stepped into the room and then firmly pressed to door shut.
"You forgot the 11th
Commandment, Harry" announced Dumbledore, with a twinkle in his eye. Harry sat
down, looking sheepish, and waiting for his deserved reprisal. "Thou shalt not
be late for an appointment with your Headmaster." Smiled Dumbledore knowingly,
but then his smile faded and he became grave.
"But seriously, if I had not woken up somewhat late myself" he paused,
his eyes twinkling merrily. "I would have had to 'tell you off' " Harry smiled,
apologetically, and mumbled his apologies.
"Apology accepted, Harry, but what I really
want to know, is your decision about the Academy, what do you choose to do?"
Dumbledore asked, his expression unreadable below his furrowed brow.
"Professor," Harry replied, somewhat apprehensively, "I choose to attend the
Auror Academy." He continued, his eyes furiously scrutinising the table. "But
I'm worried about my schoolwork, Sir, how will I keep up with normal subjects?"
Harry blurted, hastily, and to Harry's total surprise and indignation,
Professor Dumbledore, a respected, refined old man burst into an uncontrollable
fit of giggles.
"Harry, Dear boy,"
Dumbledore paused, a single tear of laughter running down his cheek "Did you
think I would let you go for 6 months without any education?" he hooted with
mirth. By this time Harry was feeling not only sheepish, but extremely stupid.
"No, Harry," Dumbledore paused, visibly fighting to straighten his face, and
sober himself. "On Saturdays, you have regular classes. Where you will learn
the basic subjects everyone has to learn. On Sundays you have free time to
visit us here at Hogwarts, and Monday to Friday you have Auror training."
Dumbledore concluded, with
a shadow of a smile in his eyes, "I am pleased you chose to take this
opportunity. You made the right choice, Harry. Term at the Academy starts in
two days time, so I will expect you on the lawns at 7.15 sharp, with your
belongings, to be transported to the Academy. And now, I believe you have
Double Potions with Professor Snape." And with that, he ushered an astonished
Harry out of the room with a flurry of hands, off to Potions.
***
The next two days flew
past Harry like two minutes, a rush of lessons, timetables and packing. The
night before Harry was due to leave, Harry, Ron and Hermione had a long talk,
huddled in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, and after that the said their
goodbyes and goodnights. All through the evening Harry sensed Hermione was
avoiding his gaze, he couldn't understand why. He had tried many times to really speak to her, but he couldn't
with Ron around. He hadn't told him about the moment he and Hermione had
shared; he just couldn't find the courage.
Maybe that was why he felt
strangely disappointed when he pulled on his pyjamas that evening.
***
It was early morning,
7.10, to be precise. Harry had left notes to both Hagrid and Ron, and was
hoping they got them. Harry heaved his trunk across the grounds, and down to
the lawns, surveyed by the weak sunlight; he waited for the carriage that would
take him to his destination. He placed his trunk down, and turned to look at
the large, imposing school he had called his home for five years, and wondered
what the Academy looked like, and hoped it was not too formidable.
As he looked on he noticed
a familiar figure running towards him, and as it got closer he realised it was Hermione.
He rushed forward to meet her, and she grabbed him, and gave him the biggest
hug ever received by anyone. He looked at her, and as with the last time he was
near her, he felt the urge to kiss her, it was an indescribable aching pain in
his chest he felt every time he looked at her. But he held back. Hermione said
nothing, but just looked at him, then she pressed a small package into his
hand, "Harry. I have always loved you. Sunday"
Then, they kissed. It was
a light kiss that meant so much to Harry. It was a promise. Hermione pulled
away, and ran back across the grounds, and disappeared through the main door.
***
Miles and miles of green
scenery flashed by, Harry noticed it had begun to rain. But he didn't care. He
was preoccupied, he wanted to be able to find the words to express the new
feelings he felt for Hermione. He had just stumbled upon them, when the driver
announced they had arrived. Harry slowly stepped out of the carriage, and his
jaw dropped in awe. The castle which stood in front of him was twice the size
of Hogwarts, and twice as formidable.
He stood in amazement as the rain poured down
on his sodden shoulders, and he let his trunk drop onto the soaking grass.
