Author: Belladuchi
Email: begmeeko@aol.com
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.
Summary: Before they begin their fifth year at Hogwarts, something shifts between Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The rift that forms threatens to shred apart everything that they share. When the real Professor Moody returns from deep in Turkey, he proposes a offer that could restore all that had ch anged. There are two things Harry must consider before he accepts Moody's proposal: his relationship with Ron, and his budding romance with Hermione. Which will he choose?
Finding Your WayHarry stood just between platforms nine and ten at the train station, occasionally looking at his watch. This was the first time that a member of his family had dropped him off. His Uncle Vernon was incessantly grumbling about the time and how all trains seemed to be late that day. As the large clock struck a quarter to eleven, Harry headed for the barrier separating the two platforms. Harry was followed by his uncle, who was holding Hedwig's cage as far away from himself as he could.
"I don't know what you do at that school of yours boy, but as long as you don't do anything foolish I don't plan to see you until June," Vernon said as he dropped the cage on the ground and turned on his heel. Within seconds Harry could no longer see no more of his Uncle than his oddly shaped bowler hat, he sighed a breath of relief.
Harry hadn't heard much news from Hermione and nothing at all from Ron since he had seen them last. Though he wasn't one to worry, he was a little concerned about not hearing more from his two best friends. He still knew nothing more about the 'incident' as he called it, neither one had been forthcoming thus far. Harry had woke up that morning feeling refreshed for the fist time in nearly a month and a half, he was finally going home.
As he walked through the barricade he thought, "I can't wait to see everyone and hear about their summers. Hogwarts is the one place on earth that is safe and the only thing in the world that never seems to change."
Hagrid was the first to approach Harry as he walked onto the platform. Harry was surprised to see him, since Hagrid wasn't know to make the trip to London unless he absolutely had to.
"Hello Hagrid," Harry said as he pushed his glasses back onto his face.
"There's no time for small talk Harry," Hagrid said as he picked up all of Harry's things except Hedwig.
With his owl hastily tucked under his arm Harry followed Hagrid onto the train, "You seem rather flustered Hagrid. What is the matter?"
After placing Harry's things in the nearest compartment, Hagrid turned to him with bloodshot eyes that Harry hadn't noticed before, "There are some mighty strange things that are happening up at Hogwarts, Harry. I have been up for days, or at least it seems. If you think that I am rather flustered, wait until you get a good look at Dumbledore and McGonagall. Even Snape was a little shaken up by what is happening."
"Perhaps if you told me what exactly it was that was happening, I could understand a little bit better."
Hagrid pulled Harry into the compartment by his collar and shut the door quickly behind him, "Harry you have to realize," he continued after looking around and lowering his voice, "that there are some things that happened that even a powerful wizard like Dumbledore can't explain. The reason that we have all been in such a tizzy is that there isn't anything that can be done about it, or at least we haven't found anything yet."
"You still haven't told me what it was," Harry said as he tugged at his collar which was still tightly held in Hagrid's grasp.
Hagrid grunted letting it go, "I can't tell you that right now, not here, and even if I could I wouldn't know how to go about it. All I can say is that it has something to do with Mid-Summers Eve. That's when it all started, all that trouble."
Harry sat down on one of the benches, "There seems to be a lot of things that happened on that night that no one sees fit to tell me about."
A look of concern passed over Hagrid's face as he said, "I suppose this would be trouble with Ron and Hermione?"
Harry looked up at him in astonishment, "How do you know about that?"
"Both of them have been at Hogwarts since about a week after your birthday. McGonagall and Snape wanted to keep a close eye on them for some reason, so they were brought up for term a bit early."
"A bit early? No wonder I haven't heard from Ron in the past month."
"He hasn't said much of anything, that is when I've seen him. I've heard rumors that he only keeps mumbling to himself, and completely clams up whenever Hermione is around. It's such a shame for such good friends be so distant like that."
Harry nodded as the train began to move, "I didn't expect that we would be leaving already."
"I'd best be going now, Harry. I'm one some business for Dumbledore, but I made a special trip to Kings' Cross to see you."
"That is very kind of you Hagrid. Where is everyone else?"
"Wherever they are, they are to be staying well away from you. Dumbledore had this part of the train marked off so that you wouldn't be disturbed on your trip. Enjoy the peace Harry, it may not last for much longer."
Before Harry could respond, Hagrid was gone. As he watched the rolling countryside fly past the window, the words "it may not last much longer" echoed through his head. Harry nearly fell out of his seat when he heard a knock at the door, even Hedwig managed a screech.
"I hope you weren't expecting to be left alone Potter. That MacTavish girl won't leave me alone," Draco Malfoy said as he closed the door behind him and sat down opposite Harry.
"Hello Malfoy," Harry said recalling a girl with wavy dark hair that had sat behind him in potions one year, "Do you mean Katrina MacTavish?"
"I wish. Her cousin from America, Maria, is starting Fifth Year with us tomorrow. Apparently Katrina has told her all about me, and Maria has fallen in love with me. I can't help that fact that I exude so much beauty and charm that girls just throw themselves at me."
"As I recall Malfoy, this is the first time a girl has thrown herself all over you. Perhaps you should be flattered even if she is a Yank."
Draco frowned, "I don't see your normal arm attachment either, Potter. Has Granger finally gotten over you? Perhaps now I can have a chance."
Harry's eyes blazed, "Don't speak about her like that if she isn't here to defend herself."
"You're doing a pretty good job for her," Draco said as Harry realized that he had him up against the wall and his hands around his throat.
As he released his hold Harry said, "Sorry about that Malfoy, I didn't mean to loose my self control."
"Just don't let it happen again Potter, I learned a lot from my dear father this past year. You never know where you might find yourself when you don't catch me off guard," Draco said as he smoothed out his robes and sat down.
"Did it ever occur to you that this is a private compartment?"
"Oh come on, Potter. Even you wouldn't have the heart to feed me to a MacTavish," he said, eyes pleading.
"You don't think I would actually do it do you?"
As Draco shook his head, Harry stood up and motioned for him to walk out the door.
"One can only do as the great Harry Potter commands. Mind you that I'm not under you little spell like Granger, Potter. I'm just going to leave now before a Prefect finds that I have disturbed your rest," Draco said as he strutted out the door.
Harry slouched back on the bench, resting his eyes and prayed for sleep to come before the train reached Hogesmeade. Though it did before too long, the images in his head weren't all that comforting.
Harry awoke with a slight case of bad hair and the after image of Hermione being in trouble. As he felt his heart rate slow down, he looked out the window. Never had he been this comforted by the sight of the sleep village of Hogesmeade.
"Here we go Hedwig, another year. I hope all goes well this time, and perhaps you-know-who won't decide to show up this year."
Harry and Hedwig exited the train with luggage in tow. Within steps of leaving the small platform they ran into Cho Chang. For the first time her long silky black hair didn't make Harry catch his breath, and he managed a quick hello before passing on.
Before he knew it, he was sitting at the foot of his old bed with a full stomach from the feast they had just had. During the feast Harry had strained his eyes looking for a sight of either Hermione or Ron, but he hadn't seen them. When he had asked after their whereabouts, other Gryffindors had either ignored him or explained that they knew less than he did. Neville Longbottom took the bed on the other side of what was assumed to be Ron's.
"How was your summer, Harry?" Neville asked as he began digging through his trunk.
"Decent enough. And yours?"
Neville mumbled something that echoed from inside his oak trunk. When his head reappeared he approached Harry with a package in his hands, " It was on par with my expectations, though a bit on the shabby side. This came by owl to me from somewhere in Scotland in late June. It was to be forwarded to you, but our owls were in coop all holiday and I couldn't send it regular post because I didn't remember the street address. I hope you don't mind that I'm just now giving this to you."
"Thanks, I don't mind at all," Harry said as he turned the package over in his hands. It was covered in stamps and scrawl that resembled Hermione's when she was hastily taking notes. He shrugged off the oddness of the package and ripped through the brown packaging. Inside was a wooden box, and some sort of small key on a silver chain The box and key were both covered in Pict symbols, one of which Harry recognized as a lover's knot. He smile, almost positive that they were from Hermione.
Before the box could be opened the box, Professor McGonagall strode into the room. In a rather high pitched voice that he hadn't heard before she said, "Harry if you will please follow me, Professor Dumbledore has requested that you come see him at once."
Harry nodded, quickly following. Once they had passed through the porthole, Professor McGonagall had slowed down enough for him to ask, "Is this something to do with Hermione and Ron?"
She turned to him, her sharp eyes staring at him from behind her small framed glasses, "Harry you probably know more than I do about Hermione and Ron right now. They were brought here in early August, as I'm sure you know, but I haven't seen them since the day they arrived."
"I was told that you and Snap had requested their presence."
"It doesn't matter what you heard, or what you were told before today Harry. I hope that all the information you need will be given to you within the next week or so."
They walked in silence until they reached Dumbledore's office. McGonagall mumbled some password, and as they passed through the doorway Harry was surprised at what he beheld.
