Part 5- You Make Me Sick
"I can't believe it, I just can't believe it. This did not just happen. That scum, and she's so gullible- he takes advantage............."
"Ron, shut up," Lavender said, "and stop your whining right now, or I'll have to kill you. Your sister can take care of herself, and Seamus is not going to hurt her- he never did anything to hurt her in the first place, the little brat just blew things out of proportion. Way out of proportion."
"Lav, how dare you call my sister a brat?" Ron asked.
"Because she's acting like one. It's none of youyr business anyway. And you're no better. Seamus is one of my best friends, and you keep calling him scum, sleaze, jerk, cheater....... Should I continue."
"That's different because it's true!"
"It's no use. You're convinced he's just a horrible guy, aren't you? Harry can't convince you, and he's your best friend, I can't convince you, even your own sister, who knows him the best, can't convince you."
"Harry hasn't been around." After Ron said this, the bickering couple grew quiet. It was true, Harry hadn't been around very much since Hermione had fell desperately ill. Ron and Lavender were both worried, but neither was nearly as concerned as Harry, who had spent every waking moment trying to find the ingredients that were needed for her cure. Lavender didn't feel like she had a close enough relationship with Hermione to help- after all, the spell could only be performed by those who loved her most, and those whose love was returned by her. Madam Pomfrey knew it was useless for her to try and place the spell on Hermione, but she watched over Harry every single step of the way. She didn't want to take any chances that could cost Herm her life. Lavender felt that Ron should be helping Harry, that double the power would bring their friend back to a full recovery rather than a slow one, but Ron was more worried about his sister and Seamus, which angered Lavender all over again.
"You should help, but all you care about is making Seamus look like a bad guy."
"God damnit, Lavender, can't you give me a break!"
"Not until you give Seamus one."
"Fine. I can't do this anymore. I'm sick of you nagging me about Seamus, and making me seem like a bad guy. It's over."
"GOOD!" Lavender yelled, and stomped up to the room that she shared with Jill Mills, Christine Luna, Parvati Patil, and Hermione, and Ron stayed seated in his chair, still in shock.
"Lav?" a voice said, "Are you okay?" It was Jill Mills, who had continually grown closer to Lavender and Parvati since their fifth year, when she had broken up with her Hufflepuff boyfriend and started spending more time with her housemates.
"Yeah, I'm fine. That Ron, he makes me so mad! I can't stand it. I'm glad it's over."
"I can't find it. I've searched everywhere," Harry exclaimed, desperate to find the final ingredient in the potion that would cure one of his best friends. "You haven't searched the forest," Madam Pomfrey said.
"I have. Melissa, Sirius and I were looking out there with Hagrid yesterday. The only way I'm going to get it is if I ask a centaur to just give me a tiny piece of their hoof. What nutty centaur would do that?"
"You mustn't give up, Harry. You have to get it, and fast. If you don't get in within the next twenty four hours she's a goner."
"It's so hard, and I'm so tired. I know I have to keep going, for her, and I want to, but i don't know if I have it left in me, Madam. I feel so weak. I never realized that it would be so exhausting to make a potion."
"It's no normal potion, Harry, and you know it isn't. It's very advanced, to cure someone from a very deadly sickness."
"I'm going back into the forest. But I can't take Melissa and Sirius. The centaurs are afraid if there are too many of us."
"You must be very careful, Harry. Very careful. The forest is very dangerous."
Before Harry set out into the forest, he went and spoke to his god-parents, who doubled as his guardians.
"What do I do?" Harry asked.
"All you can do is hope that you run into one of the friendlier centaurs, like that Firenze you met in your first year. He may help," Sirius said, "But otherwise, you're barking up the wrong tree, Har."
"Thanks."
"Can you believe they broke up over us? And they seemed so happy, too," Ginny said to Semaus.
"They didn't break up over us, they broke up over me, Gin. Ron hates me, and Lav always tries to defend me. No one can convince your brother that I'm not out to make you miserable."
"He's stupid. He doesn't know you the way I do. But I feel guilty. Ron didn't trust you to begin with, but since we broke up his mistrust had tripled. I wish he would just relaxed. Fred and George were always so cool about us. They thought it was great. I wish Ron weren't so darn difficult."
"That's just the way he is. But he'll be spending his Christmas Eve alone instead of with Lav."
"If he weren't such a bozo he would still have Lavender."
Neither of the two realized that Ron was in hearing distance, and had heard every word they had said.
In the forest, Harry walked deeper and deeper into the depths of it, darkness spreading, and fear as well.
He walked for what seemed like hours before anything happened. He froze, because he thought he heard something following him. He stopped, and there was a crunch.
"Who's there? Show yourself to me."
"I'm only trying to help you. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Fa Alaver Istril Danice. You may call me 'Fire Dancer'. I read the stars. All of the centaurs know what you wish, and are hiding, but I wish to help. It's what my brother Firenze would have wanted. He often spoke of you, and he spoke fondly. Unfortunately, Firenze was mysteriously killed. My fellow centaurs believe he died naturally, but he was too young. Only I am willing to believe that he was murdered by Voldemort. What do you believe, Harry Potter."
"I don't doubt that Voldemort would do that."
"Now, as I said, I know what you have come for and I am willing to help. I will be of assistance later on, when the battle comes............." Fire Dancer's voice trailed off.
"Here," she said finally, "take this, and leave the forest. It's not safe in here." Fire Dancer handed Harry a centaur hoof.
"I'm not positive I can find the way out, Fire Dancer."
"Then I shall do as my brother did. Get on my back," she commanded. Harry obeyed, and Fire Dancer rode him to the edge of the forest.
"This is as far as I can take you. Good-bye, Harry Potter. We will meet again.
Harry ran to the castle as fast as he could, forgetting how weak he felt and how tired he was. He finally had the last ingredient, and he could finally heal Hermione.
Once inside the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey watched over him as he stirred the potion.
"It's ready," she murmured, now we must heal her." Madam Pomfrey injected it into her.
"She should begin to stir in a minute or two. I'll leave you alone."
Sure enough, after a short minute, Hermione slowly opened her eyes.
"Harry?" she murmured, "Where am I? The last thing I know, I was in the Common Room after the match, and there was a party."
"That was two weeks ago, Herm. You were very sick. In a few hours, it will be Christmas Eve."
"I was sick? But how?"
"I don't know, but you're going to be okay. You recovered."
"Who healed me? Madam Pomfrey couldn't have, because I had a feeling I was coming down with something............ And I had the symptoms for it............"
"I healed you. I found everything, and then stirred the potion."
"Thank you, Harry. I owe you my life."
"I was glad to do it, Herm. I didn't want to lose you. I..... I love you, Herm."
"I love you, too, Harry. I always have."
Madam Pomfrey came in just then, and announced that Harry needed to leave. She said Hermione would be able to go about the school starting tomorrow, but she needed one more good night of rest before she could return, and she advised Harry go straight up to bed. He didn't argue.
The Gryffindor Common Room was buzzing with excitement the next day. Not only was it Christmas Eve, but Hermione had returned to the Common Room, and had been given a warm welcome by her friends.
The day passed, with smiles coming from everyone buy Ron. He had spent the day thinking about what Ginny had said to Seamus. She was right, and Ron knew he wasn't happy about losing Lav, but didn't want to admit it. Finally, he went to talk to her.
"Lavender?" he said, "I'm sorry."
"Huh?" she whirled around to find herself facing Ron.
"Oh, it's you."
"Look, I know I was a jerk, but you don't have to be like that. I came to say I was sorry, and that you were right. I'm going to lighten up about the whole Ginny/Seamus thing."
"What do you want, then? That's all great, but what do you want?"
"I want you back."
"Fine. But you have to promise that you're really going to lighten up about Ginny and Seamus, and not just say it."
"I mean it. I already made a truce with Seamus."
"Good. Now you can have me back." They both smiled, happy to be together again.