C H A P T E R F I V E
T H E
H A R V E S T B A L L
But it wasn't too long. Before Rachel knew it, it was 7:50 on November 27th. She was busy doing last minute make-up, while Harry was relaxing in front of the common room fire, waiting for Hermione. Her dress robes were mauve and they were very straight. She was wearing a small sweater over her dress. It matched her other attire. She looked like a very important businesswoman. Her lips were colored dark purple, to match her clothes, and she had eye shadow and long, shimmering earrings on. Her mauve high-heeled shoes glinted in the firelight.
Harry was wearing his dress robes from last year. They were bottle green and didn't look too different from his normal school ones. He had tried to calm his hair, but to no avail. He had polished his glasses so vigorously that you could see your face in them.
Ron was sitting on the couch, talking to Jill. His dress robes were a bright emerald, and its cuffs and collar had brass buttons on them. Obviously, Harry could see, Fred and George had bought Ron new dress robes with the money Harry had given them from the Triwizard Tournament last year.
Jill's dress robes were soft pink and they had ruffles along the trim. Her auburn hair was in two poufs resting on the back of her neck. She had painted her lips red and put on, in Harry's opinion, too much mascara. She was listening intently to Ron's every word, staring dreamily into his eyes.
Suddenly, the door to the girl's dorm opened with a loud crash. Rachel rolled her eyes. "Here she comes. Always has to show off and enter with a bang." She thought. Hermione glided into the room. Her hair was very sleek and it hung just below her shoulders. Her bright red lips glittered in the firelight, and so did the glitter that she had put on her eyelids, cheeks, and neck. Her long blue dress swept the floor as she walked over to Harry, who stood up and escorted her down to the Great Hall.
"There goes the couple of the century." Ron said, slightly dazed. Rachel shot him a look that clearly said that she did not like that title.
"Well, I'd better go meet up with my date." Rachel said, sounding important.
"Who is your date, anyway?" Ron asked. Rachel stepped over to him and whispered a name in his ear.
"Gotta go. I'll see you guys at the Ball. Tootles!" Rachel smiled as she briskly trotted out of the room, an important aura surrounding her. Ron just sat on the couch, speechless.
"Come on! We're going to be late!" Jill whined, as she struggled to pull Ron back to his senses.
"What? Oh, right…" Ron said slowly, still in a daze. "The Ball…"
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The hallways were silent as Harry and Hermione walked down to the Great Hall, arm-in-arm, their footsteps echoing off the walls of stone. They strode down the hallway where the entrance to the Great Hall was.
"After you." Harry said motioning towards the door to the Great Hall.
He opened the doors to the Great Hall and let Hermione in. They heard the clatter of high-heeled shoes run down the hallway opposite them, but didn't pay much attention to them.
The Great Hall had been through some redecorating. The House tables had been pushed to the side along the wall, leaving a big dance floor in the middle. There were flickering jack-o-lanterns lining the walls, and a huge swarm of live bats flittered and fluttered around, covering the ceiling. It looked just like how it did during the Halloween Feast, but there were bales of hay scattered about, and dancing scarecrows holding baskets of leaves and throwing them all over the place. Cornucopias with edible fruits rested on every table.
"Let's go sit." Hermione suggested. The couple walked over to a big table lining the wall closest to the Head Table, which was decked out in colors of red, orange, and brown.
"Wonder where Ron is." Harry said, looking around, scanning the faces of all people entering the Hall.
"There he is!" Hermione exclaimed, tugging on Harry's arm and pointing toward the opposite wall.
Ron was looking for someone. He spotted Harry and Hermione at last, and led Jill over to their table.
"Do you know where Rachel is?" Ron asked hurriedly.
"No, do you know who she's with?" Harry questioned.
"Yeah, but you don't want to know."
"Why not?"
"Trust me."
"Look! There she is!" Hermione interrupted, pointing to the far corner of the Hall.
"But who's she with? I can't make out his face." Harry said. Ron suddenly went very white. He couldn't let Harry know who Rachel's partner is. And if he did… Well, he just wouldn't let him.
"Uh… Don't worry about her right now. Think about… Food! Yeah, food. I wonder where the food is, I'm hungry. Yep, I'm starving!" Ron chattered very fast. He distracted Harry long enough so that Rachel and her date could move out of sight unnoticed.
"Ron, don't you remember?" Hermione asked. "All you have to do is order yourself!" At that, she placed her order with her plate, and instantly, the food appeared.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot."
Harry looked at Ron with suspicion. "What are you getting at?"
"Me? I… I'm not getting at anything! Just hungry. Can't a guy be hungry?"
"Yeah, I suppose so."
By now, the music had started playing. A magical band, the Weird Sisters, was playing a slow song up on a podium.
"Come on! Let's dance!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling Harry down to the dance floor. They stumbled a little on their way there, but there was not a fault in their steps once they started dancing.
"He didn't dance like that last year when he was with Parvati." Ron commented to Jill. "You know, I think he really loves her."
"Yeah, whatever." Jill snapped, eager to get dancing. "And I love you. Now can we start dancing?"
"Really?" But Ron didn't get an answer. Jill was dragging him down to the dance floor.
As they swayed, their arms around each other, Harry and Hermione kept a sharp eye out for Rachel and the mystery man. They started to slowly move around the floor, looking for them. When they drifted off to a corner of the floor, they saw them. Harry and Hermione stopped dead on the floor, making Ginny and Colin crash into them. Their grins of eagerness and curiosity dropped like a stone. It was Malfoy.
Rachel caught their eyes and sneered, everything was going exactly as she wanted it to. She leaned over and gave Malfoy a kiss.
Harry and Hermione stared at the couple, their eyes darting from Rachel to Malfoy. Then they danced away back to their table like nothing happened.
"What?" Rachel screamed once she and Malfoy and gone back to the Slytherin table. "That wasn't supposed to happen! That was not part of the plan! Harry was supposed to come over to me and say something like," She imitated Harry. "'Oh, Rachel, why did I ever dump you. You're much better than that Mudblood idiot'.'"
"Well, you can't have everything." Parvati stated. She didn't like it at all that Rachel was on a date with her boyfriend. She was glad that Rachel didn't get her way. Because of Rachel's hair-brained scheme, she had to go to the Ball with Crabbe. Pansy Parkinson agreed with Parvati, she had to be with Goyle.
"Oooh, I need some fresh air. Come on, Malfoy." Rachel growled as she yanked Malfoy out of his seat.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Hermione were waiting for food.
"I can't believe Rachel would go out with scum like Malfoy." Hermione said.
"Yeah, me neither. But I don't care. Malfoy can have her. I've got a new girlfriend, anyway. And she much better than her. I just don't get why I ever went for her in the first place."
"I don't either. So tell me, who is she?"
"Hope this is a good enough answer for you." Harry looked around for Rachel and Draco. He wrapped his arms around Hermione and gave her a long kiss. Rachel and Draco walked in from their breather and saw Harry and Hermione right away. Rachel's expression went from relief to fury and rage. Her face got all flushed. Draco looked alarmed.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Hermione were still kissing. Some sort of cool warmth flowed through Harry as soon as their lips touched. It was unlike the feeling he got when he kissed Rachel for the first time. He liked this feeling more. Actually, he craved it. "I guess this is how True Love feels like." He thought as he and Hermione drew apart. "I've been wanting to do that for five long years." He confessed to Hermione.
"Me too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Ever since that potion chamber back in first year." She was referring to their first year, when she and Harry got through Snape's puzzle on the way to the Sorcerer's Stone. She had flung her arms around him and said that he was the greatest wizard she had ever known.
"So that means…"
"Yup. That kiss I gave you last year was for real."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Hi guys!" Ron broke in, out of breath. "Whatcha doin'?" He was sweaty from dancing six fast dances in a row with Jill. He plopped into a chair next to Harry. "Ya eatin' yet?"
"Um, no, not yet." Harry replied. He was unhappy about the rude entrance Ron had just made. "But Ron didn't know that he just cut short my first kiss with the one person I've ever truly loved." He thought to himself, getting madder at every word he thought.
"We're going to go take a little walk." Hermione stated impatiently. She looked ruffled too. She and Harry got up and walked out of the Great Hall.
"What's eating them?" Ron asked. Jill just shrugged her shoulders.
` $ % ^
The night air was chilly as Harry and Hermione strolled down the path in the garden surrounding the castle. They pulled their robes tightly around themselves to try to keep warm.
They passed a few other couples, either sitting on low stone benches or leaning on trees. They all looked rather cold, but not as cold as Hermione and Harry, because they had heavier robes on.
"Man, it's cold out here." Hermione whispered, pulling her robe closer.
"Here." Harry thrust his hand in front of Hermione. "You can use this. I'll manage." She looked at Harry, who was shivering in just his sweater and jeans.
"Thanks." Hermione took Harry's dress robes from his hand and wrapped it snugly around herself. "Let's sit." Hermione suggested. The two sat on a bench, rather close together, either because of warmth, or something else.
"This is a little better." Harry sighed. They were both wrapped in the same robes, for extra warmth. Then, they heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"Hi, guys." It was Ron. "Just coming out to see what you guys were up to." He looked at Harry's miserable expression. "Bummed about Rachel, aren't you?"
"Nah, I don't care about her. Got someone else in my sights."
"Oh, who is it?"
"Hmm, why should I tell you?" He asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Aw, come on, I'm your best friend! I should know these things!"
"You mean you don't know? Come on! We've only been eying each other for four years." Harry grinned at Ron's cluelessness. Hermione moved her hand up to hide a smile. "Think."
Ron did think. He thought for at least two minutes. Finally, he had an answer. "Oh! Duh! Cho!"
Harry and Hermione both raised their eyebrows at that one. Then they started laughing slightly. Harry let out a big sigh. "No. Come on Hermione." The two got up and began to walk toward the Lake, still grinning and laughing. They could still hear Ron as they got farther and farther away.
"Ginny! No, it's not Rachel. Don't say it's Jill; she's mine. Parvati! No, ewww! Did I just say that? Pansy Parkinson! Oh, man. What kind of vile thoughts are entering my brain? Lavender! Oh, come on, it's gotta be one of 'em! Katie! Alicia! Angelina! Come on, I'm running outta girls!"
He went on like this for a few minutes. Harry and Hermione stayed close by to hear if he got it right. It was quite amusing.
"Hermione!" He continued. "Yeah! It's gotta be Hermione! I knew I'd get it!"
"Yeah, because she's the only one left." Harry whispered to Hermione.
"Right, Harry? Hermione? Hey, where'd you guys go?" Ron walked back into the castle. Harry and Hermione burst into laughter.
"He's a sweet guy." Hermione said to Harry. "But never as sweet as you."
"Come on, let's go" Harry suggested. The two got up and walked over to a large tree overlooking the Lake. They sat underneath it and stared out to the Lake.
"It's so beautiful." Hermione cooed.
"Yeah, but it's not nearly as beautiful as you." Harry replied.
"You said the exact same thing to Rachel."
"Yeah, but this time I mean it." Harry answered softly. He drew Hermione up close to him and squeezed her tight. "I love you."
Hermione didn't reply, she just gazed into his sparkling green eyes. A silence fell over them. They moved closer and closer together.
Suddenly, a splash and a swoosh broke the silence. Something perched in the tree overhead the couple.
"It's Patil and Malfoy." Harry said. "Let's go."
I'm already one step ahead of you. Came Hermione's voice inside Harry's head. He whirled around to where Hermione was sitting, but didn't see her. All he saw was a cat.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, crouching down to the small tabby.
Yeah, it's me. Came Hermione's voice.
"But…"
Animagi can talk while in their animal form. Hermione began to explain. I read about it in Animagi: A Special Book for Special People. It's called Thought-Speak. You, like, talk through thinking. It's weird.
"Okay. Be right there." Harry said. He walked a little into the forest and transformed into his animagus form – a large, pearl white stag, just like his father. Okay. Let's go.
Cat and Stag walked into the Forbidden Forest. Hermione jumped onto Harry's back, prowled up to his head, and began to lick his face. I love you. She whispered.
Harry didn't say a word. He pranced deeper into the forest. This looks good.
Looks good for what?
Nothing. Just good. Romantic. He transformed back into a human. Hermione followed suit.
"But aren't there… Werewolves, and things, in here?" Hermione asked, worried. "I think we're safer as animals."
Harry leaned over and kissed Hermione. "Don't worry." He reassured. "I'll protect you with my life. Anything, as long as you're safe."
"Oh, Harry." purred Hermione. "Have you been thinking about Rachel lately?" she inquired.
"Why?"
"Oh, I don't know. Just wondering if you still had… Feelings for her."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about her. For all I care, she can shrivel up and blow away; just as long as I have you. You're the whole world to me."
"Mmm." Hermione pulled Harry closer to her and gave him a kiss.
"Come here!" Harry yelled playfully. He stood up quickly and tried to grab Hermione. She sprang up and tried to run. He grabbed the hem of her robes and pulled her tight. Tighter and closer than he had ever held Rachel.
"Rachel. Hmph! Who cares about her?" He thought to himself as he and Hermione exchanged kiss after kiss. "When I have Hermione, I don't care about anything. Except her."
They fell after the sixth kiss and spread out in the leaves, laughing. Then they quieted down and looked up at the starry sky above for quite some time. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the shadows.
"Well, well. Lookie what we have here," came a cold, sharp voice. Severus Snape walked out of the shadowy woods. "Oh, my. We are in trouble. Up! Both of you!"
Harry and Hermione stood up stiffly, but quietly. Some leaves were caught in their hair, and their robes were messy with grass stains on them.
"Come. Professor Dumbledore will hear about this. Students frolicking outside when they are supposed to be inside at the Ball." He led them into the Great Hall.
They walked inside, right in the middle of the dance floor. The Weird Sisters stopped playing at once. "Professor Dumbledore!" Snape shouted out, so the whole school could hear. "Students! In the Forest! NO supervision!" Dumbledore stepped down from the Head Table.
"I will deal with these students." Dumbledore said sternly.
"But…" Snape was at a loss for words.
"But nothing. This is just puppy love. I will see to a small conference with these young adults. Nothing I can't handle." Dumbledore finished.
"But Professor, these students should be punished to the highest extent, and I--"
"Severus Snape, you do not question the Headmaster. I will deal with it." With that, Dumbledore stormed away, with Harry and Hermione in tow.
Snape stared at Dumbledore leaving, awestruck and dumbfounded.
` $ % ^
They were led away to Dumbledore's office. He confronted them both immediately.
"So, Harry, what happened to Rachel?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Huh? Oh, her. Just puppy love." Harry replied.
"And this… Is not?"
"Oh, no. I think… I think this is for real."
"Ah, I see. True Love. It is a wonderful, magnificent thing."
"Yes, Professor, it is indeed." Hermione commented dreamily.
"But Harry, shouldn't you try to still be Rachel's friend? I think she feels rejected," suggested Dumbledore.
"Yeah? You think so? Well, she's the one that started it. She should apologize to me." Harry replied defiantly. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Whatever you say, Harry. Jealousy is like a cold; the only way too get rid of it is to let it pass and wear itself out."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But if I know Rachel, this cold is going to last a long time." a long silence followed this statement.
"But you two do know that you were in the Forbidden Forest, don't you? The out of bounds Forbidden Forest. But I figured you would be in there sometime, Harry. Late November, I figured you would have been in there at least three times already!" That statement made them all laugh. "But really. I don't want you in there again."
"Okay, Professor." Harry and Hermione said together.
"Well now!" blurted Dumbledore, "The Harvest Ball is still in progress, but Ron, Jill, and Rachel went up to the common room early. Why don't you go meet them? Snape will have a fit if you two go back down to the Ball."
"Okay, come on Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. Harry started to follow her but Dumbledore pulled Harry aside.
"Go on, I'll catch you up." Harry called after Hermione. She ran down the corridor and out of sight.
"Harry, I want you to know that I will talk to Rachel for you." Dumbledore acknowledged. "I know you two are very good friends, and friendship should not be spoiled by love." he told him.
"Okay. Better you than me."
"Yes. Alrighty then, see you later!"
"Bye."
` $ % ^
Harry walked up to Gryffindor Tower to meet up with Ron, Rachel, Jill, and Hermione. When he got there, a scene that he didn't think would ever occur met his eyes.
Ron, Rachel, and Hermione were in the middle of the room, having what looked like a very heated argument. Jill was sitting off to the side, not knowing what to do or think.
"And you, what were you thinking?" Ron screamed at Hermione. "You could have got us all in serious trouble! You pompous know-it-all!"
"Yeah, compulsive reader!" Rachel agreed.
"Me?!" Hermione squealed. "It was her!" She pointed at Rachel.
"Yeah, it was your fault!" Ron rounded on Rachel. "If you hadn't tried to make Harry jealous, none of this would have happened! You don't eat pizza crust first, no matter what cheese is in it! Backwards Yank!"
"What?!?!?!?!?" Rachel retaliated.
"Oh, yeah. That would be giving you way too much credit."
"Ouch." Harry whispered to himself.
"You jerk!" Rachel screamed. She punched Ron in the right eye.
"Oooo, double ouch. That's gotta hurt." Harry whispered again.
"Come to think of it, you are a jerk! I'll give you pompous know-it-all! You red-haired weasel!" Hermione punched Ron in the left eye.
"Yikes. Triple ouch." Harry once more.
Jill instantly ran over to Ron, made some ice appear, and began to nurse his wounds.
All Harry wanted to do right now was get up to his dormitory. But the entrance was on the other side of the room. He would have to go past the arguers. Harry had seen Ron and Hermione mad at each other before, and he did not want to mess with them. He started tiptoeing around the perimeter of the room, out of sight.
Suddenly, he stubbed his toe on the couch and fell into a lamp. Everyone looked toward him.
"You!" Rachel screamed. She ran towards Harry. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted into the boys' dorm, with Rachel hot on his tail. As they ran out of sight, Hermione put her hand to her mouth in fright.
Soon, Rachel strode out, smoothed herself out, placed a box on the table in front of the fire, and left the common room. Harry didn't appear. Now Hermione was really scared. She started towards the boys' dorm.
"Stop." Ron said weakly. "You can't go in there."
"And why not?" Hermione asked, itching to see if Harry was okay.
"That's… That's the boys' dorm."
Hermione let out a sigh of exasperation. "Who cares? I can go in there if I want to."
"No."
"Yes. Anyway, who spent most of their free time in the girls' bathroom back two years ago, hmmm?"
"Harry."
"No, you idiot. You!" At that, she swiftly walked into the dorm.
"You were in the girls' bathroom?" Jill asked in disbelief.
"It's a long story." Ron stated.
After Hermione disappeared into the dorm, Jill continued to tend to Ron.
"I have a splitting headache." Ron whined, his head on Jill's lap.
"And a profusely bleeding nose. Easily fixed, though." Jill said as she bean to nurse Ron's wounds.
` $ % ^
Up in the boys' dormitory, Hermione was standing in front of Harry, who was sitting perfectly unblemished on his bed.
"What were you doing?" Hermione asked furiously. "You had me so worried!"
"Rachel just wanted her Glove Repair Kit back. I borrowed it before the ball. Don't you remember? She forgot who she lent it to, and when she saw me, she remembered." Harry explained smiling. "Okay? No harm done."
"Okay." Hermione sighed sitting down on the bed next to Harry. "It's just that I was so worried about you."
"It's all right." Harry said softly, stroking Hermione's hair. "So what do you say we go downstairs and join the others?"
"Sure." Hermione affirmed, standing up.
` $ % ^
Attention, students," began Professor McGonagall the next day at breakfast, "Professor Dumbledore and I have an announcement for you all!"
"More like a surprise," corrected Dumbledore.
"Right. Well, first, I'd like you all to welcome a new secretary into this school."
"Some of you – and I know whom…" She glanced over at Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Rachel. Then her eyes darted to Parvati and Draco. "…Are already acquainted with this person."
"I am pleased to present… Doctor Pearl Clamshell-Menlulu!" Dumbledore announced.
People cheered. Then, out she came.
Parvati screamed. Then she shouted for joy.
Ron fainted again.
Hermione passed out.
Draco smacked himself in the head a few times to make sure he wasn't having a nightmare.
Rachel saw her face… and let out a long whine.
Harry moaned.
Jill gave them all puzzled looks.
Mrs. Clamshell was the same witch pushing the cart on the Hogwarts Express. The same short, stout, chubby little lady of sixty-five was standing in the middle of the podium in front of the Head Table. She was the same curly, white haired woman; the same triple chin.
"HELLO KIDS" she yelled. Several people tapped their ears. Others held their hands over them. Ron woke up. She fumbled around inside her robes, adjusted something in her robes, and continued speaking. "Sorry. As I was saying, you can call me Doc. I will be the new secretary of the hospital wing. I will be helping Madam Pomfrey with all of her paperwork." Madam Pomfrey didn't look too happy.
Dumbledore stood up. Doc waddled back to the Head Table, sat next to Hagrid, and looked up at him dreamily. Hagrid looked like he was about to throw up. He gave an uneasy look to Harry. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "First, I would like to announce that we will be having a new student enter Hogwarts. The reason this student is so late is because we needed some time to sort out the health-check papers. Isn't that right, Madam Menlulu?" Doc blushed, giggled girlishly, and hid her face in Hagrid's coat. Hagrid pulled away so quickly and violently that his chair fell over. He hit the ground with a loud crash. Many people laughed. The Slytherins snickered the most.
After Dumbledore got over his giggles, he continued. "Now dig in!" Everyone totally forgot about food. They all began eating except Hagrid. With Doc by his side, it looked like he wouldn't be able to eat for weeks. Ron and Jill ate very fast, then got up from the table.
"Where you goin'?" Harry asked between bites.
"Just for a walk."
"Whatever."
"You know classes start in two minutes, so hurry up!" Hermione reminded them.
"Oh, yeah. We can't forget those." Ron said sarcastically.
And off they went.
They didn't go far, just to the bench where Harry and Hermione sat the night before. Snape was patrolling the forest, hoping to catch Harry and Hermione in there again. Ron and Jill looked at him and laughed.
"So, what did you want to drag me out here for?" Jill asked.
"Just to tell you that I love you." Ron told her.
"You do?" she asked.
"Yes, I do. For real," he said, with a huge, loving smile on his face.
"I love you, too," she said back.
He looked at her. She glanced back. "You know, I've never experienced your kisses before."
"Want a free sample?" Jill asked. Then, they kissed.
"Mmm, good. Can I have another?" They kissed again. And again. And again.
"Come on," she said after the sixth kiss, "Let's get back before we get in trouble."
"All right," he said, "It's almost time for classes. Hermione will have a fit."
When they got back, there was a lot of commotion and ruckus. "What's going on?" Jill asked Harry.
"Doc fainted!" he replied happily.
"What?" Ron yelled. "It had to happen when I was gone, didn't it? What happened?"
"Well, she was doing her own educational, stand-up comedy hour." Hermione revealed. "Actually, it was more of an attempt."
"Yeah, she kept telling us how rainforests turn her on." Harry said.
"Or that she has more degrees than our I.Q." Hermione added. By the tone of her voice, Ron and Jill could tell that she didn't like that.
"Or that Jack Jacobson of Hufflepuff was J2." Rachel tacked on.
"Or that a way to a man's intestines is through his butt. I mean it was just plain freaky!" explained Seann.
"And her triple chin was quivering the WHOLE ENTIRE time!" exclaimed Rachel. "It was scary!"
"And the bad thing was she delayed classes a whole hour!" Hermione said, worried.
"Who cares?" Ron asked.
"Me!" Hermione answered.
"You care about not having Potions?"
"Oh, really? Then whoopee!" Hermione cheered.
"Since when did you memorize the schedule?" Harry asked Ron.
"I didn't. I just said that to calm her down."
T H E
H A R V E S T B A L L
But it wasn't too long. Before Rachel knew it, it was 7:50 on November 27th. She was busy doing last minute make-up, while Harry was relaxing in front of the common room fire, waiting for Hermione. Her dress robes were mauve and they were very straight. She was wearing a small sweater over her dress. It matched her other attire. She looked like a very important businesswoman. Her lips were colored dark purple, to match her clothes, and she had eye shadow and long, shimmering earrings on. Her mauve high-heeled shoes glinted in the firelight.
Harry was wearing his dress robes from last year. They were bottle green and didn't look too different from his normal school ones. He had tried to calm his hair, but to no avail. He had polished his glasses so vigorously that you could see your face in them.
Ron was sitting on the couch, talking to Jill. His dress robes were a bright emerald, and its cuffs and collar had brass buttons on them. Obviously, Harry could see, Fred and George had bought Ron new dress robes with the money Harry had given them from the Triwizard Tournament last year.
Jill's dress robes were soft pink and they had ruffles along the trim. Her auburn hair was in two poufs resting on the back of her neck. She had painted her lips red and put on, in Harry's opinion, too much mascara. She was listening intently to Ron's every word, staring dreamily into his eyes.
Suddenly, the door to the girl's dorm opened with a loud crash. Rachel rolled her eyes. "Here she comes. Always has to show off and enter with a bang." She thought. Hermione glided into the room. Her hair was very sleek and it hung just below her shoulders. Her bright red lips glittered in the firelight, and so did the glitter that she had put on her eyelids, cheeks, and neck. Her long blue dress swept the floor as she walked over to Harry, who stood up and escorted her down to the Great Hall.
"There goes the couple of the century." Ron said, slightly dazed. Rachel shot him a look that clearly said that she did not like that title.
"Well, I'd better go meet up with my date." Rachel said, sounding important.
"Who is your date, anyway?" Ron asked. Rachel stepped over to him and whispered a name in his ear.
"Gotta go. I'll see you guys at the Ball. Tootles!" Rachel smiled as she briskly trotted out of the room, an important aura surrounding her. Ron just sat on the couch, speechless.
"Come on! We're going to be late!" Jill whined, as she struggled to pull Ron back to his senses.
"What? Oh, right…" Ron said slowly, still in a daze. "The Ball…"
` $ % ^
The hallways were silent as Harry and Hermione walked down to the Great Hall, arm-in-arm, their footsteps echoing off the walls of stone. They strode down the hallway where the entrance to the Great Hall was.
"After you." Harry said motioning towards the door to the Great Hall.
He opened the doors to the Great Hall and let Hermione in. They heard the clatter of high-heeled shoes run down the hallway opposite them, but didn't pay much attention to them.
The Great Hall had been through some redecorating. The House tables had been pushed to the side along the wall, leaving a big dance floor in the middle. There were flickering jack-o-lanterns lining the walls, and a huge swarm of live bats flittered and fluttered around, covering the ceiling. It looked just like how it did during the Halloween Feast, but there were bales of hay scattered about, and dancing scarecrows holding baskets of leaves and throwing them all over the place. Cornucopias with edible fruits rested on every table.
"Let's go sit." Hermione suggested. The couple walked over to a big table lining the wall closest to the Head Table, which was decked out in colors of red, orange, and brown.
"Wonder where Ron is." Harry said, looking around, scanning the faces of all people entering the Hall.
"There he is!" Hermione exclaimed, tugging on Harry's arm and pointing toward the opposite wall.
Ron was looking for someone. He spotted Harry and Hermione at last, and led Jill over to their table.
"Do you know where Rachel is?" Ron asked hurriedly.
"No, do you know who she's with?" Harry questioned.
"Yeah, but you don't want to know."
"Why not?"
"Trust me."
"Look! There she is!" Hermione interrupted, pointing to the far corner of the Hall.
"But who's she with? I can't make out his face." Harry said. Ron suddenly went very white. He couldn't let Harry know who Rachel's partner is. And if he did… Well, he just wouldn't let him.
"Uh… Don't worry about her right now. Think about… Food! Yeah, food. I wonder where the food is, I'm hungry. Yep, I'm starving!" Ron chattered very fast. He distracted Harry long enough so that Rachel and her date could move out of sight unnoticed.
"Ron, don't you remember?" Hermione asked. "All you have to do is order yourself!" At that, she placed her order with her plate, and instantly, the food appeared.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot."
Harry looked at Ron with suspicion. "What are you getting at?"
"Me? I… I'm not getting at anything! Just hungry. Can't a guy be hungry?"
"Yeah, I suppose so."
By now, the music had started playing. A magical band, the Weird Sisters, was playing a slow song up on a podium.
"Come on! Let's dance!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling Harry down to the dance floor. They stumbled a little on their way there, but there was not a fault in their steps once they started dancing.
"He didn't dance like that last year when he was with Parvati." Ron commented to Jill. "You know, I think he really loves her."
"Yeah, whatever." Jill snapped, eager to get dancing. "And I love you. Now can we start dancing?"
"Really?" But Ron didn't get an answer. Jill was dragging him down to the dance floor.
As they swayed, their arms around each other, Harry and Hermione kept a sharp eye out for Rachel and the mystery man. They started to slowly move around the floor, looking for them. When they drifted off to a corner of the floor, they saw them. Harry and Hermione stopped dead on the floor, making Ginny and Colin crash into them. Their grins of eagerness and curiosity dropped like a stone. It was Malfoy.
Rachel caught their eyes and sneered, everything was going exactly as she wanted it to. She leaned over and gave Malfoy a kiss.
Harry and Hermione stared at the couple, their eyes darting from Rachel to Malfoy. Then they danced away back to their table like nothing happened.
"What?" Rachel screamed once she and Malfoy and gone back to the Slytherin table. "That wasn't supposed to happen! That was not part of the plan! Harry was supposed to come over to me and say something like," She imitated Harry. "'Oh, Rachel, why did I ever dump you. You're much better than that Mudblood idiot'.'"
"Well, you can't have everything." Parvati stated. She didn't like it at all that Rachel was on a date with her boyfriend. She was glad that Rachel didn't get her way. Because of Rachel's hair-brained scheme, she had to go to the Ball with Crabbe. Pansy Parkinson agreed with Parvati, she had to be with Goyle.
"Oooh, I need some fresh air. Come on, Malfoy." Rachel growled as she yanked Malfoy out of his seat.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Hermione were waiting for food.
"I can't believe Rachel would go out with scum like Malfoy." Hermione said.
"Yeah, me neither. But I don't care. Malfoy can have her. I've got a new girlfriend, anyway. And she much better than her. I just don't get why I ever went for her in the first place."
"I don't either. So tell me, who is she?"
"Hope this is a good enough answer for you." Harry looked around for Rachel and Draco. He wrapped his arms around Hermione and gave her a long kiss. Rachel and Draco walked in from their breather and saw Harry and Hermione right away. Rachel's expression went from relief to fury and rage. Her face got all flushed. Draco looked alarmed.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Hermione were still kissing. Some sort of cool warmth flowed through Harry as soon as their lips touched. It was unlike the feeling he got when he kissed Rachel for the first time. He liked this feeling more. Actually, he craved it. "I guess this is how True Love feels like." He thought as he and Hermione drew apart. "I've been wanting to do that for five long years." He confessed to Hermione.
"Me too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Ever since that potion chamber back in first year." She was referring to their first year, when she and Harry got through Snape's puzzle on the way to the Sorcerer's Stone. She had flung her arms around him and said that he was the greatest wizard she had ever known.
"So that means…"
"Yup. That kiss I gave you last year was for real."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Hi guys!" Ron broke in, out of breath. "Whatcha doin'?" He was sweaty from dancing six fast dances in a row with Jill. He plopped into a chair next to Harry. "Ya eatin' yet?"
"Um, no, not yet." Harry replied. He was unhappy about the rude entrance Ron had just made. "But Ron didn't know that he just cut short my first kiss with the one person I've ever truly loved." He thought to himself, getting madder at every word he thought.
"We're going to go take a little walk." Hermione stated impatiently. She looked ruffled too. She and Harry got up and walked out of the Great Hall.
"What's eating them?" Ron asked. Jill just shrugged her shoulders.
` $ % ^
The night air was chilly as Harry and Hermione strolled down the path in the garden surrounding the castle. They pulled their robes tightly around themselves to try to keep warm.
They passed a few other couples, either sitting on low stone benches or leaning on trees. They all looked rather cold, but not as cold as Hermione and Harry, because they had heavier robes on.
"Man, it's cold out here." Hermione whispered, pulling her robe closer.
"Here." Harry thrust his hand in front of Hermione. "You can use this. I'll manage." She looked at Harry, who was shivering in just his sweater and jeans.
"Thanks." Hermione took Harry's dress robes from his hand and wrapped it snugly around herself. "Let's sit." Hermione suggested. The two sat on a bench, rather close together, either because of warmth, or something else.
"This is a little better." Harry sighed. They were both wrapped in the same robes, for extra warmth. Then, they heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"Hi, guys." It was Ron. "Just coming out to see what you guys were up to." He looked at Harry's miserable expression. "Bummed about Rachel, aren't you?"
"Nah, I don't care about her. Got someone else in my sights."
"Oh, who is it?"
"Hmm, why should I tell you?" He asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Aw, come on, I'm your best friend! I should know these things!"
"You mean you don't know? Come on! We've only been eying each other for four years." Harry grinned at Ron's cluelessness. Hermione moved her hand up to hide a smile. "Think."
Ron did think. He thought for at least two minutes. Finally, he had an answer. "Oh! Duh! Cho!"
Harry and Hermione both raised their eyebrows at that one. Then they started laughing slightly. Harry let out a big sigh. "No. Come on Hermione." The two got up and began to walk toward the Lake, still grinning and laughing. They could still hear Ron as they got farther and farther away.
"Ginny! No, it's not Rachel. Don't say it's Jill; she's mine. Parvati! No, ewww! Did I just say that? Pansy Parkinson! Oh, man. What kind of vile thoughts are entering my brain? Lavender! Oh, come on, it's gotta be one of 'em! Katie! Alicia! Angelina! Come on, I'm running outta girls!"
He went on like this for a few minutes. Harry and Hermione stayed close by to hear if he got it right. It was quite amusing.
"Hermione!" He continued. "Yeah! It's gotta be Hermione! I knew I'd get it!"
"Yeah, because she's the only one left." Harry whispered to Hermione.
"Right, Harry? Hermione? Hey, where'd you guys go?" Ron walked back into the castle. Harry and Hermione burst into laughter.
"He's a sweet guy." Hermione said to Harry. "But never as sweet as you."
"Come on, let's go" Harry suggested. The two got up and walked over to a large tree overlooking the Lake. They sat underneath it and stared out to the Lake.
"It's so beautiful." Hermione cooed.
"Yeah, but it's not nearly as beautiful as you." Harry replied.
"You said the exact same thing to Rachel."
"Yeah, but this time I mean it." Harry answered softly. He drew Hermione up close to him and squeezed her tight. "I love you."
Hermione didn't reply, she just gazed into his sparkling green eyes. A silence fell over them. They moved closer and closer together.
Suddenly, a splash and a swoosh broke the silence. Something perched in the tree overhead the couple.
"It's Patil and Malfoy." Harry said. "Let's go."
I'm already one step ahead of you. Came Hermione's voice inside Harry's head. He whirled around to where Hermione was sitting, but didn't see her. All he saw was a cat.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, crouching down to the small tabby.
Yeah, it's me. Came Hermione's voice.
"But…"
Animagi can talk while in their animal form. Hermione began to explain. I read about it in Animagi: A Special Book for Special People. It's called Thought-Speak. You, like, talk through thinking. It's weird.
"Okay. Be right there." Harry said. He walked a little into the forest and transformed into his animagus form – a large, pearl white stag, just like his father. Okay. Let's go.
Cat and Stag walked into the Forbidden Forest. Hermione jumped onto Harry's back, prowled up to his head, and began to lick his face. I love you. She whispered.
Harry didn't say a word. He pranced deeper into the forest. This looks good.
Looks good for what?
Nothing. Just good. Romantic. He transformed back into a human. Hermione followed suit.
"But aren't there… Werewolves, and things, in here?" Hermione asked, worried. "I think we're safer as animals."
Harry leaned over and kissed Hermione. "Don't worry." He reassured. "I'll protect you with my life. Anything, as long as you're safe."
"Oh, Harry." purred Hermione. "Have you been thinking about Rachel lately?" she inquired.
"Why?"
"Oh, I don't know. Just wondering if you still had… Feelings for her."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about her. For all I care, she can shrivel up and blow away; just as long as I have you. You're the whole world to me."
"Mmm." Hermione pulled Harry closer to her and gave him a kiss.
"Come here!" Harry yelled playfully. He stood up quickly and tried to grab Hermione. She sprang up and tried to run. He grabbed the hem of her robes and pulled her tight. Tighter and closer than he had ever held Rachel.
"Rachel. Hmph! Who cares about her?" He thought to himself as he and Hermione exchanged kiss after kiss. "When I have Hermione, I don't care about anything. Except her."
They fell after the sixth kiss and spread out in the leaves, laughing. Then they quieted down and looked up at the starry sky above for quite some time. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the shadows.
"Well, well. Lookie what we have here," came a cold, sharp voice. Severus Snape walked out of the shadowy woods. "Oh, my. We are in trouble. Up! Both of you!"
Harry and Hermione stood up stiffly, but quietly. Some leaves were caught in their hair, and their robes were messy with grass stains on them.
"Come. Professor Dumbledore will hear about this. Students frolicking outside when they are supposed to be inside at the Ball." He led them into the Great Hall.
They walked inside, right in the middle of the dance floor. The Weird Sisters stopped playing at once. "Professor Dumbledore!" Snape shouted out, so the whole school could hear. "Students! In the Forest! NO supervision!" Dumbledore stepped down from the Head Table.
"I will deal with these students." Dumbledore said sternly.
"But…" Snape was at a loss for words.
"But nothing. This is just puppy love. I will see to a small conference with these young adults. Nothing I can't handle." Dumbledore finished.
"But Professor, these students should be punished to the highest extent, and I--"
"Severus Snape, you do not question the Headmaster. I will deal with it." With that, Dumbledore stormed away, with Harry and Hermione in tow.
Snape stared at Dumbledore leaving, awestruck and dumbfounded.
` $ % ^
They were led away to Dumbledore's office. He confronted them both immediately.
"So, Harry, what happened to Rachel?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Huh? Oh, her. Just puppy love." Harry replied.
"And this… Is not?"
"Oh, no. I think… I think this is for real."
"Ah, I see. True Love. It is a wonderful, magnificent thing."
"Yes, Professor, it is indeed." Hermione commented dreamily.
"But Harry, shouldn't you try to still be Rachel's friend? I think she feels rejected," suggested Dumbledore.
"Yeah? You think so? Well, she's the one that started it. She should apologize to me." Harry replied defiantly. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Whatever you say, Harry. Jealousy is like a cold; the only way too get rid of it is to let it pass and wear itself out."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But if I know Rachel, this cold is going to last a long time." a long silence followed this statement.
"But you two do know that you were in the Forbidden Forest, don't you? The out of bounds Forbidden Forest. But I figured you would be in there sometime, Harry. Late November, I figured you would have been in there at least three times already!" That statement made them all laugh. "But really. I don't want you in there again."
"Okay, Professor." Harry and Hermione said together.
"Well now!" blurted Dumbledore, "The Harvest Ball is still in progress, but Ron, Jill, and Rachel went up to the common room early. Why don't you go meet them? Snape will have a fit if you two go back down to the Ball."
"Okay, come on Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. Harry started to follow her but Dumbledore pulled Harry aside.
"Go on, I'll catch you up." Harry called after Hermione. She ran down the corridor and out of sight.
"Harry, I want you to know that I will talk to Rachel for you." Dumbledore acknowledged. "I know you two are very good friends, and friendship should not be spoiled by love." he told him.
"Okay. Better you than me."
"Yes. Alrighty then, see you later!"
"Bye."
` $ % ^
Harry walked up to Gryffindor Tower to meet up with Ron, Rachel, Jill, and Hermione. When he got there, a scene that he didn't think would ever occur met his eyes.
Ron, Rachel, and Hermione were in the middle of the room, having what looked like a very heated argument. Jill was sitting off to the side, not knowing what to do or think.
"And you, what were you thinking?" Ron screamed at Hermione. "You could have got us all in serious trouble! You pompous know-it-all!"
"Yeah, compulsive reader!" Rachel agreed.
"Me?!" Hermione squealed. "It was her!" She pointed at Rachel.
"Yeah, it was your fault!" Ron rounded on Rachel. "If you hadn't tried to make Harry jealous, none of this would have happened! You don't eat pizza crust first, no matter what cheese is in it! Backwards Yank!"
"What?!?!?!?!?" Rachel retaliated.
"Oh, yeah. That would be giving you way too much credit."
"Ouch." Harry whispered to himself.
"You jerk!" Rachel screamed. She punched Ron in the right eye.
"Oooo, double ouch. That's gotta hurt." Harry whispered again.
"Come to think of it, you are a jerk! I'll give you pompous know-it-all! You red-haired weasel!" Hermione punched Ron in the left eye.
"Yikes. Triple ouch." Harry once more.
Jill instantly ran over to Ron, made some ice appear, and began to nurse his wounds.
All Harry wanted to do right now was get up to his dormitory. But the entrance was on the other side of the room. He would have to go past the arguers. Harry had seen Ron and Hermione mad at each other before, and he did not want to mess with them. He started tiptoeing around the perimeter of the room, out of sight.
Suddenly, he stubbed his toe on the couch and fell into a lamp. Everyone looked toward him.
"You!" Rachel screamed. She ran towards Harry. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted into the boys' dorm, with Rachel hot on his tail. As they ran out of sight, Hermione put her hand to her mouth in fright.
Soon, Rachel strode out, smoothed herself out, placed a box on the table in front of the fire, and left the common room. Harry didn't appear. Now Hermione was really scared. She started towards the boys' dorm.
"Stop." Ron said weakly. "You can't go in there."
"And why not?" Hermione asked, itching to see if Harry was okay.
"That's… That's the boys' dorm."
Hermione let out a sigh of exasperation. "Who cares? I can go in there if I want to."
"No."
"Yes. Anyway, who spent most of their free time in the girls' bathroom back two years ago, hmmm?"
"Harry."
"No, you idiot. You!" At that, she swiftly walked into the dorm.
"You were in the girls' bathroom?" Jill asked in disbelief.
"It's a long story." Ron stated.
After Hermione disappeared into the dorm, Jill continued to tend to Ron.
"I have a splitting headache." Ron whined, his head on Jill's lap.
"And a profusely bleeding nose. Easily fixed, though." Jill said as she bean to nurse Ron's wounds.
` $ % ^
Up in the boys' dormitory, Hermione was standing in front of Harry, who was sitting perfectly unblemished on his bed.
"What were you doing?" Hermione asked furiously. "You had me so worried!"
"Rachel just wanted her Glove Repair Kit back. I borrowed it before the ball. Don't you remember? She forgot who she lent it to, and when she saw me, she remembered." Harry explained smiling. "Okay? No harm done."
"Okay." Hermione sighed sitting down on the bed next to Harry. "It's just that I was so worried about you."
"It's all right." Harry said softly, stroking Hermione's hair. "So what do you say we go downstairs and join the others?"
"Sure." Hermione affirmed, standing up.
` $ % ^
Attention, students," began Professor McGonagall the next day at breakfast, "Professor Dumbledore and I have an announcement for you all!"
"More like a surprise," corrected Dumbledore.
"Right. Well, first, I'd like you all to welcome a new secretary into this school."
"Some of you – and I know whom…" She glanced over at Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Rachel. Then her eyes darted to Parvati and Draco. "…Are already acquainted with this person."
"I am pleased to present… Doctor Pearl Clamshell-Menlulu!" Dumbledore announced.
People cheered. Then, out she came.
Parvati screamed. Then she shouted for joy.
Ron fainted again.
Hermione passed out.
Draco smacked himself in the head a few times to make sure he wasn't having a nightmare.
Rachel saw her face… and let out a long whine.
Harry moaned.
Jill gave them all puzzled looks.
Mrs. Clamshell was the same witch pushing the cart on the Hogwarts Express. The same short, stout, chubby little lady of sixty-five was standing in the middle of the podium in front of the Head Table. She was the same curly, white haired woman; the same triple chin.
"HELLO KIDS" she yelled. Several people tapped their ears. Others held their hands over them. Ron woke up. She fumbled around inside her robes, adjusted something in her robes, and continued speaking. "Sorry. As I was saying, you can call me Doc. I will be the new secretary of the hospital wing. I will be helping Madam Pomfrey with all of her paperwork." Madam Pomfrey didn't look too happy.
Dumbledore stood up. Doc waddled back to the Head Table, sat next to Hagrid, and looked up at him dreamily. Hagrid looked like he was about to throw up. He gave an uneasy look to Harry. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "First, I would like to announce that we will be having a new student enter Hogwarts. The reason this student is so late is because we needed some time to sort out the health-check papers. Isn't that right, Madam Menlulu?" Doc blushed, giggled girlishly, and hid her face in Hagrid's coat. Hagrid pulled away so quickly and violently that his chair fell over. He hit the ground with a loud crash. Many people laughed. The Slytherins snickered the most.
After Dumbledore got over his giggles, he continued. "Now dig in!" Everyone totally forgot about food. They all began eating except Hagrid. With Doc by his side, it looked like he wouldn't be able to eat for weeks. Ron and Jill ate very fast, then got up from the table.
"Where you goin'?" Harry asked between bites.
"Just for a walk."
"Whatever."
"You know classes start in two minutes, so hurry up!" Hermione reminded them.
"Oh, yeah. We can't forget those." Ron said sarcastically.
And off they went.
They didn't go far, just to the bench where Harry and Hermione sat the night before. Snape was patrolling the forest, hoping to catch Harry and Hermione in there again. Ron and Jill looked at him and laughed.
"So, what did you want to drag me out here for?" Jill asked.
"Just to tell you that I love you." Ron told her.
"You do?" she asked.
"Yes, I do. For real," he said, with a huge, loving smile on his face.
"I love you, too," she said back.
He looked at her. She glanced back. "You know, I've never experienced your kisses before."
"Want a free sample?" Jill asked. Then, they kissed.
"Mmm, good. Can I have another?" They kissed again. And again. And again.
"Come on," she said after the sixth kiss, "Let's get back before we get in trouble."
"All right," he said, "It's almost time for classes. Hermione will have a fit."
When they got back, there was a lot of commotion and ruckus. "What's going on?" Jill asked Harry.
"Doc fainted!" he replied happily.
"What?" Ron yelled. "It had to happen when I was gone, didn't it? What happened?"
"Well, she was doing her own educational, stand-up comedy hour." Hermione revealed. "Actually, it was more of an attempt."
"Yeah, she kept telling us how rainforests turn her on." Harry said.
"Or that she has more degrees than our I.Q." Hermione added. By the tone of her voice, Ron and Jill could tell that she didn't like that.
"Or that Jack Jacobson of Hufflepuff was J2." Rachel tacked on.
"Or that a way to a man's intestines is through his butt. I mean it was just plain freaky!" explained Seann.
"And her triple chin was quivering the WHOLE ENTIRE time!" exclaimed Rachel. "It was scary!"
"And the bad thing was she delayed classes a whole hour!" Hermione said, worried.
"Who cares?" Ron asked.
"Me!" Hermione answered.
"You care about not having Potions?"
"Oh, really? Then whoopee!" Hermione cheered.
"Since when did you memorize the schedule?" Harry asked Ron.
"I didn't. I just said that to calm her down."