Disclaimer -- Harry Potter and all related characters, spells, etc., are the creation of J. K. Rowling.
A/N: Thank you to Lady Kay, my lone reviewer.
Chapter Three-- Something in the Water
Several days after Hermione's Malfoy incident, Ron sat down in the Gryffindor Common Room next to Harry and Hermione, who had gone straight there after Potions. He had stayed behind to talk to Brittany Thebron, a fourth year Ravenclaw. Since the Quidditch tryouts, after which Ron had been named the team's new Keeper, Ron had had a steady stream of girls following him through the halls. "'Lo, Harry, Mione," he said, nodding to each of them. He grinned. "Brittany broke up with her boyfriend, Harry." He paused, as if waiting for a comment. "Do you think I could borrow your Invisibility Cloak tonight? We're meeting in the Astronomy Tower...." He trailed off suggestively.
Ron addressed his bookworm friend after not getting a reply from Harry. "How'd studying go, Mione?"
She didn't answer; he didn't even know if she heard him; she just turned the page.
Ron tried again. "I thought Potions went well, you know, for Snape's class."
Hermione looked up briefly. "Yes, thank you, Ron."
"Okay," said Ron slowly, enunciating vowels that weren't even there. "What is with you guys?" Ron asked in bewilderment, turning from Harry to Hermione.
Just then, Ginny rushed up. She sat down in the empty seat next to Harry and smiled at him, then blushed when he smiled back. She leaned down and reached into her bag, pulling out a folded piece of parchment. She handed it shyly to Harry.
"Hey!" he protested. "What's that?"
"Thanks, Ron. I just came in here to... er, see if Hermione was available tonight to help me with Arithmancy. I've got to go, I'll see you later. Bye, Harry." She jumped up and walked quickly out of the room, bumping into a first year Hufflepuff on the way.
"Harry! What was that all about? She didn't even look at Hermione. Harry?"
"Hm?" said Harry, looking incredibly guilty, putting the parchment in his robe pocket. "What did you say?"
"Gosh, you are all acting so weird today. Must be something in the water." Ron looked suspicious. "But anyway, could I borrow your Invisibility Cloak tonight?"
"Sure," said Harry, relieved to change the subject.
"Well, I'm going to go to sleep early before my midnight rendezvous. Have fun you two."
After Ron walked up the stairs, Hermione and Harry sat in silence. A group of third years were watching a game of wizard's chess, but other than that, the room was empty. Hermione gave a sigh and shut her book loudly. Harry, startled, looked up from a piece of parchment he was reading in his lap. "Are you ok?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes. Well, no. Mum owled me today. The divorce is final. I can't believe this is happening. Why'd they have to be so stupid about the whole thing--"
"Hermione, shut up," said Harry forcefully. "It's not the end of the world. You've been moping around for weeks about this."
She burst into tears. "You don't understand--"
"Bloody hell. You're right I don't understand. I don't understand why you've got to be such an idiot. You have a Mum and a Dad. So what if they don't live with each other anymore. At least you've got parents!" Harry was shouting. The chess players and spectators were watching. Harry blushed, mumbled he was going to bed, and left Hermione sitting there.
It had taken a little longer than expected for the eggs to hatch, so most of Hagrid's classes were just lectures. As nice as Hagrid was, it was generally agreed that he did not make a very good teacher, especially when it came to lectures. They were all relieved when the eggs finally cracked open. Hagrid excitedly gave them directions to get into their groups and practice what he had talked about. Hermione was glad she had done some research, because it was hard to recall any relevant information Hagrid had shared with them.
Draco, too, seemed to know what he was doing. He helped Hermione put the cracking egg a basket and put the basket into a fire. The basket had been charmed to let the contents burn, while the basket itself remained unscorched. Then, after the egg had been consumed by flames, they pulled the basket out of the fire. Inside was a pile of thick, dark ash. Within moments, the ash had transformed into a tiny phoenix. His body was covered in colorful fluff. Draco picked it up, handling the baby very gently, softly cooing to it while Hermione fed it.
"You're pretty good at this," she admitted.
"I had one when I was little. Sregfier. He was a cutie." Draco looked strange. Hermione supposed it was because she seldom saw him reminiscing. They hadn't talked much since the day in the library.
"Listen, I'm sorry if I overreacted in the library--" she began.
"No!" He interrupted. "You were right. I didn't mean what I said; it came out all wrong. You were right to be angry."
"I was incredibly dense about the whole thing. I was scared, and worried."
"I know what you mean, my parents used to fight all the time. My father abused my mother." Draco had tried to say it nonchalantly, as though he was giving the time of day, but Hermione could hear a tremble in his voice. The phoenix stretched out its neck and nipped Draco's thumb lightly, and he smiled. "See?" he said, obviously trying to change the subject. "They're so friendly."
"Yeah," said Hermione thoughtfully. She smiled back at Draco and stroked the bird's back, every once in a while touching the hand holding it.
Ron walked into the dorm room. "Almost ready, Harry?"
Harry looked up. "Sure, Ron."
They were nearly going to be late for the Quidditch practice. Not that it mattered much, since they couldn't start without Harry, but they had a match coming up against Hufflepuff in mid September. That only left two weeks! Harry was sitting at their desk, writing a letter. He had decided to ask Remus for some information about his parents, what they were like in school, how they met, their hobbies, and so on. Setting the pen down and rolling the parchment, Harry got up from the desk.
"Do you mind if we stop by and see Hedwig, first?"
"No problem. Just don't yell at me if I'm late to practice, ok, boss?" Ron joked.
"Sure," said Harry.
After securing the letter to Hedwig's leg and giving her a treat, Harry and Ron quickly made there way through the castle's long halls to the Quidditch field. They were surprised to find the rest of the team-- Ginny and Lavender Brown and Brynna, Chasers; Seamus and Dean, Beaters-- standing on the field shouting at the sky.
Well, someone in the sky. Draco Malfoy was circling around them. When he saw Harry, he landed smoothly on the grass.
"Hello there, Potter," he drawled.
"Malfoy! What are you doing here?" Harry demanded.
"Madam Hooch said that I could practice out here today--"
"We've already signed up!" Harry interrupted.
"--and she said that if you have a problem with it," Draco paused, smiling, "you can go talk to her."
Harry sighed. He rubbed his forehead. The other Gryffindor players were standing about on the grass with their brooms in their hands, waiting for some sort of signal from their leader. Harry didn't want to practice with Draco there, because if Draco knew their strategies, the match against Slytherin was as good as lost, but with the upcoming match against Hufflepuff, he knew they couldn't afford to miss any practices. He sighed again, finally reaching a decision.
"Right then. You can take that end of the field, and we'll practice on this side."
Draco sneered. "Whatever you say, Golden Boy." He kicked off from the ground and rose several meters, swooping down close enough to tickle his feet on the grass several times. He circled around the Gryffindor team.
The Gryffindors had encircled Harry. Seamus groaned. "Harry, what are we going to do with that fool flying around here?"
Harry frowned. "We are going to practice. We need to, if we want to win the Cup. We're at a major disadvantage here, being the first year in Quidditch for all of you. At least we haven't got it as bad as Ravenclaw. They have a whole new team! Ok. Here, I'll let out the Bludgers and the Quaffle. We'll practice without the Snitch for today, and I'll just fly around, watching you guys. Ginny, Brynna and Lavender, you guys-- er, girls- - try to score on Ron. I'll try to take the Quaffle away from you. Seamus and Dean, you know what to do, and try not to let too many Bludgers get away from you and hit the innocent bystanders." Harry winked as he glanced toward Malfoy.
Harry opened the case that Ginny had brought out, releasing the Bludgers and picking up the Quaffle. "Ready then?" He asked, waiting for his teammates to nod. "Ok!"
With that, they rocketed into the sky. Harry's worries about the team were soon replaced with a confident feeling. This was their first full practice; they were still trying to learn basic moves, but they worked well together.
About half-way through practice, it began to sprinkle. Soon, it was raining hard. Draco had decided that he had had enough, just as he noticed Harry calling his team to the ground. Draco landed smoothly and as he walked past, he heard Harry congratulating them on their hard work and effort. Draco sniggered and shot a haughty look at them, even though he had to admit to himself, they had looked really good.
"Gee, Draco, now that we're done, you had better get inside. The Slytherins wouldn't want their favorite spy getting a cold," Harry called after him sarcastically as the team began to walk back towards the castle.
"If you think we're worried enough about competition from you to send a spy, Potter, you're sorely mistaken," drawled Draco calmly. He stopped and turned to face Harry. "We can beat your mudbloods and muggle lovers any day."
Harry restrained himself from making a retort. He only wants you to get angry, he kept reminding himself. Just keep walking.
"So, Captain," Draco said mockingly after a long pause, "when's your next practice?" He paused again. "No answer, Golden Boy? I may just have to ask the Harry Potter Fan Club."
Again, he waited and Harry had to refrain himself from saying something. Harry had now passed Draco. They were the only two left on the field; everyone else had run inside to seek shelter from the pelting raindrops. Draco turned toward Harry again, and gave it one last try. "You know they don't really like you, eh Potter? They just feel sorry for you." He smiled smugly. "Poor little Harry, nobody wanted him. Not even his parents. They'd rather be dead than--"
Harry turned suddenly, pulling his wand out from his sleeve and shouting the first thing that came to his mind: "Petrificus totalus!"
Draco dropped to the muddy ground, unmoving, Harry walked over to him. "The only unwanted one, Malfoy, is you." His voice was low and serious. "Your father, your own father, tried to kill you. Your mother deserted you. Now it is you who is all alone."
Harry walked away, making his way slowly up to the castle. By the time he reached the doors, he was thoroughly soaked. He pointed his wand at the black lump laying in the grass several hundred meters away and muttered "Finite incantum" before continuing into the castle.