Story Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author name: Mae-Lynn Moodle
Author E-mail: CristyenElaine@hotmail.com
Category: General/ romance novel-length
Keywords: Harry Hermione Ginny Death Eaters Voldemort
Rating: PG…. Oh well, PG-13 to be safe
Spoilers: Probably all
Summary: It's my version of the fifth book. Voldemort and his Death Eaters return, new characters, Harry finds out more about his parents, we all find out what in the world is the Order of the Phoenix, and a traitor is in the midst…
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's note: Okay, this is fanfiction, so it doesn't have to be 100% correct, am I right? Therefore, I do not need a whole lot of e-mails telling me Lily Potter's maiden name is Evans and you can't apparate in or outside of Hogwarts. I simply overlooked it and didn't spot these mistakes until it was too late to change.
Chapter Seven
"The Secret Admirer"
The next morning Harry went to breakfast together with Ron, feeling very cheerful indeed.
They sat down at the Gryffindor table. Seamus Finnagin looked from Harry to Ron with a puzzled frown and Parvatti Patil and Lavender Brown starting giggling and whispering.
"What?" Ron demanded.
They just giggled and whispered more.
"Ignore them," Harry muttered in Ron's ear.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged and Parvatti said that she didn't know.
Harry looked up just in time to see the mail arriving. Hedwig landed gracefully on Harry's shoulder dropping two letters on the plate of toast he was eating. Then Hedwig swooped off of Harry's shoulder and dipped her beak into Parvatti's goblet of orange juice, emitting muffled laughter from Lavender.
"What?" Ron asked again. Neither of the girls answered him in return. While Ron was glaring at the two, Harry tore open one of his two letters that he had received:
Mr. H. Potter:
Your detention will take place at nine o'clock tonight. Meet Professor Snape in the entrance hall.
Professor M. McGonagall
Harry folded up the parchment and put it back in its envelope. He had forgotten all about his detention and felt upset that he had to do it with Snape, of all people. Harry didn't even do any thing to earn this punishment in the first place!
"What is it?" Ron asked Harry curiously. Harry grimly handed the letter to Ron.
"Oh, why tonight?" Ron moaned.
"Why not tonight?"
"Tonight-- you're supposed to be busy, Harry," Ron said, grinning ear-to-ear.
"Er-- come again?" Harry didn't quite understand him.
"Oh no wonder," Ron said casually, as if it wasn't anything, "it's that letter that you haven't read yet. Of course it's nothing that important…. You really don't need to read it…"
Harry just stared blankly at Ron.
"Oh, just open it for magic's sake!" Ron pressured.
Harry tore it open and unfolded the parchment carefully:
Dear Harry,
I've been thinking about this a lot lately and now I know there are a few things that I must tell you. I will tell you tonight if you meet me in the trophy room at eleven o'clock. Please don't forget and I do hope that you aren't too busy.
Love from,
Your Secret Admirer
Harry's heart hammered as he folded the note back away. What if it were Hermione?…. But what if it wasn't?
Harry liked the first idea better.
"Do you know who it is?" Harry asked Ron anxiously.
"Maybe…" Ron said in an annoying singsong voice.
"Ron, there's no 'maybe' in this. Either you do, or either you don't. Pick your poison," Harry said.
"Pick my what?" Ron said, laughing.
"Never mind," Harry muttered. "Muggle figure of speech…"
"Oh, okay,' Ron said, regaining his breath after laughing so hard.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Ron asked, playing stupid.
"Do you know who it is?" Harry asked, feeling annoyed. "This time, give me a straight answer," Harry added.
"Well, er-- um, yeah, kinda… a bit," he said, his ears turning pink.
He saw Harry's frustrated face and then finally said, "Yes. Yes, I know who sent you that letter."
"Tell me!" Harry begged.
Ron grinned mischievously.
"Never!" He cried.
"Aww, come off it!" Harry begged. "Please?"
"Nope!"
Harry gave up and sighed.
"Somebody really actually likes me?" Harry asked, doubting himself.
"Obviously."
"Hmm… wonder who it could be…" Harry said thoughtfully. Then Harry felt excited. "I wonder… is it-- could it be--" Harry caught himself before he gave it away.
"Yes?" Ron asked eagerly.
"Nothing," harry said quickly.
"Harry, I know who she is. I've known this since the first day you met her, silly. It's so obvious!" Ron said, crossing his arms matter-of-factly.
"It is?" Harry asked.
"Of course it is. You're like soo in love; even she knows it!" Ron said.
"She does?" Harry asked weakly.
"Everybody knows this. Actually everybody likes her, to tell you the truth."
"They do?" Harry really wasn't sure that he liked the way this conversation was going. Had he been fool enough to flirt so much that everybody knew?
"But just between the two of us…. It isn't her tonight," Ron said.
Harry felt as though his heart was a heavy iron anchor and it had just dropped to the bottom of his stomach with what felt like a sickening splash. I- it isn't?"
"Sorry," Ron said, "Your 'secret admirer' happens to be somebody else." Ron looked at Harry's sad face.
"You seriously love her?"
"Uh-huh."
"I'm sorry. I know she's gorgeous and really likeable, but do you seriously love her?" He asked again.
"Yeah, I can't get her off my mind. I'm so upset now… I sure wished that Hermione liked me back," Harry said sadly.
Ron spat his pumpkin juice all over the front of his robes. "Hermione?!" He choked.
"What?" Harry said feeling very confused.
"I was talking about Ella Snyder!"
Harry felt so stupid. Harry just left before Ron could tease him some more. As he was running out of the Great Hall, he ran into Hermione.
"Harry!" she squealed.
"Sorry," he muttered, not stopping. "Harry, what's the matter?" she called, running after him. He stopped by the wooden oak doors and looked at her.
"Harry, what's the matter?" she repeated, "You look absolutely shaken!"
Harry looked her in the eyes, ignoring her question, and asked, "Where were you this morning at breakfast?"
She waved her hand impatiently and said, "I ate early so I could go to the library to do some research." She said that all very fast. "Now Harry, please tell me what's wrong!" She put a hand on his shoulder, which sent butterflies to Harry's stomach and he probably blushed, too. Hermione probably noticed because she turned pick and withdrew her hand from his shoulder, looking away.
"I can't tell you," he finally said.
"Why?"
"I just can't bring myself to say," he said sadly.
"Is Ron mad at you… again?"
"No. I, uh, just let something very important slip to him, embarrassing the hell out of me," Harry said.
"What'd you slip to him?" she asked curiously.
That I love you! Harry thought. "That's just it, Hermione, I can't tell you."
"Why not? I promise not to tell anybody. I kept that secret you told me about Ron liking me, didn't I, Harry?" she said, proving a point.
"I know I can trust you, Hermione," he said, making Hermione flash her beautiful smile, "but like I told you already, I can't bring myself to say it." Harry looked into her eyes, but she looked thoroughly confused.
"Does it have anything to do with me?"
Harry broke into a sweat; she suspected him! "Uh, no way," Harry said.
"Oh." To Harry, she sounded…. A bit disappointed, almost. Harry shifted his hands uncomfortably and accidentally dropped one of his two letters. Hermione swooped down immediately to grab it for him. "Thanks," Harry said, reaching out for the letter.
"What's this?" Hermione asked, pulling the letter out of the envelope. Harry prayed to God, hoping for life it wasn't the one from his 'secret admirer'. He sighed with relief when he heard Hermione say, "Detention?! Tonight?"
"Oh no, do you know about it too?" harry asked.
"Huh?"
"Tonight! Ron knows who it is, but he refuses to tell me!" Harry moaned miserably.
"Oh-- that! Yes, I do know about it," Hermione confessed.
"Oh Hermione! Please tell me who it is!" Harry begged.
"Sorry, Harry, I cant tell you who it is."
Then they opened the grand oak doors and started to walk outside. They walked around the lake and settled down in the shade, provided by a small tree.
"Hermione," Harry moaned. "I need to know who it is. Snape's in charge, which means I can't get out of this detention tonight. If I can't get out of detention, I won't be able to meet that girl tonight and know who she is. Ron refuses to tell me, but I know you can."
Hermione blushed. "Oh alright," she said. Harry grinned. "But only if you tell me that secret you spilled to Ron," she finished stubbornly.
"B-but I can't!--"
"--Neither can I," Hermione said.
"I'm starting to think this is all a joke… How can anybody like me? I'm pathetic!" harry said miserably.
Hermione put a comforting arm around him. "No you're not, harry! You're popular, brave, famous, witty, a terrific best friend--"
Harry smiled happily.
"--A great Seeker….. and good-looking, too," she added, blushing a bit.
"Oh, Hermione! You're such a great friend!" harry said happily. They stood up, about to go back inside to Gryffindor Common Room.
"A very good friend," harry muttered quietly, more to himself. He looked into her eyes, took a deep breath, and did it. He looked back at her and saw how surprised she was.
Now Harry was officially embarrassed and now Harry knew for sure that Hermione didn't like him back, judging by the face she was giving him. Harry couldn't take it any longer-- Hermione hadn't blinked, or even moved a muscle since he had kissed her. She was all frozen up with this shocked and frightened look on her face.
Then Harry fled to the only place he could go without being teased by any of his friends, which he had just embarrassed himself in front of: Hagrid's Hut.
