A/N: Okay... okay... I am finally back! But unfortunately b/c of family affairs, dumb writer's block, and other stuff I have only created two chapters.. but they are quite long, sort of ... anyhoo... hope it was sort of worth the month's wait! i will get this cranking though-- and I guess you guys can look at it this way, if I was rushing to get this finish, the story would be quite crappy, would it not? I really want this story to be the type of tale that I myself would love to read until the end... so, hopefully, my writer's block thingy would end and then the story would continue w/ a new chapter each week! So.. enjoy!

CHAPTER TEN: One of Us... A Few...

Some would have cried out "Tyrant!" Or "He's gone completely mad!" Or some other insane name towards their Quidditch captain and Keeper, Ron Weasley. Why was he like that? They could care less why he was being such a complete ass to them Oh, if only they knew

He remained on the field right after he had finally dismissed his players. Ron knew that he made former Quidditch captain Oliver Wood seem like a kitten, but it was through this sport of magical champs that he was able to vent out his frustrations. Ron began taping up his broom once more, a tactic that helped guarantee him a most firm grip.

"You were great out there, Ron."

The seventh year spun around, surprised at first, but then found himself scowling a bit at the approaching voice. Turning away, shrugging gruffly, "By Wood's standard or the great Harry Potter standards"

"Don't tell me that you're still sore at me for putting you on the spot in class, Ron"

Harry, hands in his jeans pocket, slowly made his way to his old friend. To the young man whose friendship he treasured and still held so dearly.

"Humph imagine, if I'm that mad over you humiliating me in front of my peers, wonder how angered I would be if you were to do something much worse like say," He turned around and met blazing eyes with Harry, "You selfishly abandoning the people you call your friends?"

"You were always such a dick when you're pissed, Ron." Harry shook his head as he sat squatted down a few feet from Ron.

"A what?" Ron snapped.

"Nothing" Harry mumbled, running a hand through his black hair. Turning to meet eyes with Ron, "Look, I know that I have a lot of explaining to do to you, Ron, and I—"

"No you don't, Professor." Ron shrugged, his voice bitterly emphasizing the teaching title.

"Yes I do, Ron. I owe you and Hermione—"

At the mention of the woman they both loved, Ron shot up to his feet. Clenching his broomstick, pointing threateningly at Harry. "You owe no one any answers, Potter. Not even Hermione." He growled, "In fact, I would really appreciate if you just stayed away from the both of us, that especially includes Hermione, unless it is of academic importance."

"Ron," Harry's patience wearing a bit thin with his hot tempered friend, "On so many levels, you have every right to be mad at me but you need to understand that what happened, my leaving, could not have been avoided. Oh, if only you knew why I had to leave Ron. And if I could tell you about it all, I would but I can't. I don't blame you if you hate me more because of it"

"I could care a flyin' snitch about why you had to leave!" Ron snarled. "The point is that you left! You left us and that not only left us confused and even angry, but most of all extremely hurt! You were always there for us, Harry. And yes I admit that in the past I was a complete prat and what I did to you and Hermione before made me a much more horrible friend, so I should not be the one to talk but I made up for it! I stayed! You left us" And before Ron knew what he was saying, "You left her! You left Hermione, who did nothing of the sort to hurt you! She was always there for you when even I turned my back on you! You left her and hurt her badly, Harry. Not physically, but emotionally. She loved you—" Ron swallowed, his throat stinging as he said, "She still loves you. But you hurt her you broke her heart when you left and you're still hurting her by being here. I saw the looks you were giving her in class today, Potter. I saw the looks you cast upon her that night you arrived back here. Don't you know that with each look you're killing her? Killing me?! Because I also see the look in her eyes when she looks at you." Ron was shaking now with pent up anger and tears, yet his stance remained strong. "Even when you left, I had to endure with those eyes full of love towards you. And I don't have to tell you just how beautifully haunting her eyes are, do I, Potter?"

Ron took a deep breath, looking down as he tried to compose himself not to just lunge out and strike at Harry. He finally looked up at his former friend, "I could care less about why you left us, Harry. You're here, and it doesn't look like you will be leaving anytime soon I don't know where we stand, Harry. I'm angry and still a bit hurt but on some level I still value your friendship. But as far as Hermione goes I don't want you anywhere near her. I will kill you, Harry. If you hurt her in anyway, I will kill you. That sounds completely unreasonable of me but when it comes to Hermione it doesn't sound as mad." With that, Ron took one last regard before he brushed pass Professor Potter.

~~~~**~~~~


"He is one of us"

"Alecentra"

"Albus, I know. Belive me, I know. He's one of us which means his time is approaching"

"You have not even met him yet, Alecentra. How can you be sure that he is destined to be a—"

"After our conference, Albus I was going to meet with Harry when I heard his voice."

"You heard his voice?"

"Well, he seemed to be yelling. He was out there with Harry, and they were actually out by that Quidditch field. The moment I heard his voice I knew he's the second one, Albus. Just like I was the first, he is to be the second one"

"Do you think he will be ready, Alecentra?"

"I was not ready, Albus so I don't exactly expect him to be to be ready when he is to be born again as a Few"

~~~~**~~~~

He was hunched over, his back facing the door, which allowed her to watch him without his knowing.

She stood by the door, watching him with quiet fascination and endearment. How many times back in their youth would she watch him hard at work over a spell or a tactic for Quidditch? Many a times, and it was worth many a minutes that she could have spent doing her own work or reading a book.

Hermione knew that she was breaking the rules yet again tonight. For the second time, she had snuck her way into the teachers' living quarters. However, because of this man before her, it was not her second time to ever embark to a place that was forbidden to other students. She smiled as she thought, "If he were to get mad at me for breaking rules, he really should be the one to talk."

"Care to stand there all night watching me, Mione?" He turned around, eyes twinkling with amusement as he continued with, "Or would you care to close the door and take a seat inside?"

Hermione blushed furiously after she got over the initial shock that she had been caught watching him, much less breaking rules yet again.

"I'm not going to bite your head off, Granger. Come inside before McGonagall, Dumbledore, or worse yet Snape, catches you."

Hermione softly closed the door, then slowly made her way to sit on the edge of his bed. While she did that, Harry returned to whatever task he was working on.

"So what are you doing there, Professor?"

His shoulders shook with laughter as he was still bent forward on his desk. Glancing back, enabling Hermione to see the light sparkling in his emerald eyes, "Professor ha, I still find it quite awkward, as well as hilarious, that my once peers have to address me so formally like that! Please, Hermione. Outside of class, can you just call me Harry or git or prat or whatever little nickname that I recall you used to so fondly call me."

"So, you four-eyed prat" Hermione giggled, also causing Harry to laugh whole heartedly, "What are you doing over there?"

Harry fell silent and for a few uneasy moments he did not respond to her question. Hermione began to fidget uncomfortably, wanting him to desperately say something to her.

She heard him murmur a couple of stranger words, an incantation she supposed, and briefly saw a small puff of smoke. It was then that Harry leaned back on his chair and sighed.

"Harry?"

He turned around, holding out a ring. Harry moved his chair closer to Hermione so that she could see the finer details of the ring. "This black stone in the middle is what is known as an obsidian. The pebbles are called Apache tears' which some legends say that they are the tears of mothers or sisters of those fallen brave Apache warriors that died in battle. When their tears hit the earth, they become this black transparent stone." Harry looked up into Hermione's eyes. Softly and with much tender care, he reached over and raised her right hand.

Hermione held her breath as she watched him slip the ring on her hand. Her heart raced to the point where she needed to truly take that breath.

"The band of the ring is pure silver, which by Wiccan magick means of female power, the Goddess."

Surprising Hermione even more, Harry softly kissed the ring, his lips just brushing against her skin. Hermione had to clench her other hand because his sole touch sent such a powerful sensation through her.

"I made this especially for you, Hermione." He still held onto her hand, "When at times I can't be there for you, as long as you have this ring, you will be fine. You will be out of harm's way."

He gave her hand one last squeeze before reluctantly releasing his hold, turning back to clean up his desk.

As he was attending to his desk, Hermione raised her hand up to examine the ring. Her glistening eyes still on the ring, "Have you cast a protection spell on this ring?"

"The stone itself is of protection, my dear. But as an extra insurance, I did cast a spell over the silver band." He answered, his back still facing her.

Hermione smiled, "I love it, Harry. Thank you."

Harry turned around, smiling down at his heart. "You're welcome, Hermione."

Hermione blushed again as she looked up at Harry. She forced herself to avert her eyes somewhere else when she spied two picture frames on his dresser drawer. She raised an eyebrow as she noticed that they weren't moving, obviously they were muggle photographs.

She picked up the first picture and an immediate sense of jealousy scorched through her. It was of Harry and this raven hair beauty with piercing blue eyes. They were laughing in the photo and they looked quite happy and relaxed together.

"That's Alecentra." Harry whispered to her, causing Hermione to jump. She was so intent on the photo that she was not aware of Harry approaching her closely from behind. He was standing so close to her that she could almost feel his chest and his heart beating behind her.

A bit flustered by her assumption, she gave a shallow laugh. "Oh my I thought I mean"

"You thought that Alecentra and I were together?" He chuckled, then placed a hand on her shoulder. Still whispering so closely that his breath tickled her ear, "Mione, there has only been one woman, one love of my life."

Hermione was so tempted to turn around but instead took a deep breath and turned towards the other picture frame. This time it was of a various group of young adults, including Harry.

"Oh that's of my Senior class trip to New York city. Knowing you well enough you know what I am talking about, correct?"

"Senior class as in the final year of a muggle's high school education?"

"Exactly" Harry smiled. Pointing to each individual from left to right, "That's Danny. We call him Old Blue Eyes because not only is he a Frank Sinatra fanatic, but also because he's the oldest of us all and the obvious blue eyes. His girlfriend, Emma. She's known as Brown Eyes. She's the leader of the girls in our little group. That tall guy with the cocky smile is my best friend, Kyle. He's Prat. I gave him that nickname because that was so much nicer than what he usually was anyway Then there's yours truly, boy wasn't I a handsome bugger? Still am, I suppose."

Hermione rolled her eyes, which Harry saw and caused him to laugh. "Then that petite girl right there is Lucy, our Baby Girl. Youngest and shortest member. Real sweetheart. That's Katie. Though Em's the leader, Katie's the oldest of the ladies. We call her Mommy Kay. She totally mothers everyone! And that's Sean also known as Knox. He's the total jock of the group. We call him Knox because he's the defense tackler on our school's football team. He's extremely strong and very competitive and obsessed with the sport. The guy reminds me so much like Oliver Wood."

Hermione grinned. A part of her should feel jealous that Harry obviously made new friends, practically a new family, after he left them but "So," There was a mischievous glint in her eye, "There's Old Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes, Prat, Baby Girl, Mommy Kay, and Knox what was your little nickname?"

Harry laughed self consciously. He scratched the back of his head and walked a bit away from Hermione. She turned around, still looking at him expectantly.

"Um" He paused, then mumbled something while he averted his eyes from Hermione.

"What?" A smile was on her face, laughter in her eyes.

"British." He said, meeting her eyes.

"British?!" She laughed. "My, how original. Was it because of the accent?"

"Yeah" He smiled. "Well, it was either that or what the girls wanted which was H.P."

"H.P?"

With a straight face, "Stands for Harry Potter."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Really? Did they—I mean—did they suspect"

He crossed his arms. Shaking his head, "No see, the girls just thought that not only do I look the part minus glasses and scar, but also because for the first few weeks I often used the word muggle'. The girls are avid fans of the Harry Potter books."

"I still can't believe that our reality is really their fantasy." Hermione shook her head, turning to place the photo frame down.

"Is this" Hermione's eyes caught sight of a Stereo CD player.

Harry leaned to the side and grinned. "Yep"

"Can it play?" She asked, running her fingers over the machine.

He walked over and after pressing a few buttons

"There's this song it is my absolute favorite" He looked at her, practically gazing right into her soul, "Because it reminded me so much of what I had to leave behind"


*When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I'll be glad coz I was blessed to get
To have you in my life*


"May I have this dance?" He whispered, softly taking hold of her hand as he spun her around to face him.

Hermione nodded, finding herself unable to say no to this man before her. Knowing that if she did, that were to be yet another regret she would have to live with.

*When I look back on these days
I hope to see your face
You were right there for me

*In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you
for all my life

*I'll keep a part of you with me
and everywhere I am there you'll be
and everywhere I am there you'll be*


As they gently swayed to the music, Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. Her arms were around his neck, his own were delicately holding her waist, each holding on to each other, this moment, for as long as they can.


*Well you showed me how it feels
To feel the sky within my reach
And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me

*Your love made me make it through
Oh I oh so much to you
You were right there for me*


"Hermione" He began, but she hushed him, softly placing her finger on his lips.

"Don't, Harry I just want to dance with you" She whispered. "Be with you" Hermione also added, though her voice was much more quiet for as much as she needed to admit that, hopefully he had not heard her words.

But the content smile on his face said otherwise


*In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you
For all my life

*I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you'll be

*Coz I always saw in you my light, my strength
And I want to thank you now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me always

*In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you
For all my life

*I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you'll be
And everywhere I am there you'll be

*There you'll be*

Even after the song came to an end, it began again because he had placed it on repeat. But even as the music continued, Hermione knew that the moment shared had ended.

"I have to go" She softly cried, "I-I shouldn't have even come I shouldn't even be here"

"But you are you're here with me in my arms" He whispered back, raising her chin so that he can look into her eyes.

"Harry you're not the boy that you once were you're twenty-five years old" She cried miserably.

"Hermione, whether I am seventeen or twenty-five or even a hundred no matter how old I am, I still love you" He confessed, wanting her to know how he felt before it was too late.

"You're my teacher" She argued again.

"I'll wait I've waited ten years to see you again, Mione. I can wait one more year"

"I'm with Ron" Her tears began to fall.

She hoped that with those words, Harry would stop raising her hopes and for a brief moment, it seemed as if he had given up

"If you can tell me that you're in love with him. That you love him more than you can ever love me if you can say all that to me in the eyes"

"You'll stop loving me?" She asked. It was cruel to ask such a thing, but she could not bare to have her hopes and dreams raised only to have them shattered again. She had done that once two years ago

"I could never stop loving you." He declared with so much intensity that it scared, yet thrilled, her. "But but if Ron makes you happy I would do anything to see you happy and if being with him and loving him does so"

Hermione lowered her gaze. Her chest heaving, her heart pounding. It took all the self control, all the strength, summoning up all the pain and anger and heartache to force her to say to him in the eyes

"Ron has been there for me. He does make me happy and I love him, Harry. I love him in a way that does not compare to any of my feelings for you. I want to be with him. I choose him. I love him" Pausing for briefly, yet still locked in eye contact. "I'm in love with him."

Hermione's eyes suddenly widened as she uttered those words, for she startled herself with them. She did not surprise herself because those words were true, though on some level it was not, but she was more startled to realize that it was not Harry that would shatter her heart but her own stubbornness and fear that was causing her own heartache. Hermione scared herself as she spoke those empty words to Harry because for a brief moment in time she almost believed it herself!

Not knowing how to recover from her self revelation, Hermione removed herself from Harry's hold and ran. She ran out, and thankfully he was not there to see her tears. Only when she made it safely back in to her four poster bed did she break down and cried.

Harry would have gone off, wanting to know why Hermione fled. Those words, her declaration of love towards Ron if they were true, why did she run away and not give Harry the chance to wish her and Ron all the best? All right, wishing her and Ron the best was the most noble thing he could have done, though it would be quite dishonest on his part but still why did she run? Did she have something to hide?

He would have gone off but

"Harry."

Alecentra had orbed her way into his room, half scaring him to death. Harry jumped, and turned around to see his mentor standing by his desk.

"Alecentra! Damnit, you nearly scared the crap out of me!" Harry exclaimed, his American slang very bright at this moment.

"Harry, we need to talk."

"I'm sorry, Alex." He indicated to the door, "But I need to go see Hermione—"

"It's about your friend. Ronald Weasley."

Harry stopped dead, gazing at Alecentra with disbelief that she even uttered his friend's name. Glaring a bit suspiciously, "What about Ron?"

"Harry" Alecentra began, but not before taking a deep sigh.

"Alecentra, please don't pull a Dumbledore on me! What's wrong with Ron? What do I have to know?"

"Ron is a future Few. He's destined to be a Few which means that very soon, your friend Ron will die"