Author: Atlantis Potter
E-mail: atlantispotter@yahoo.com
Category: Romance, Mystery
Keywords: Year 5, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Petunia
Rating: R
Spoilers: All Four Books.
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.
A/N: Please R/R! If you like it, let me know. If you hate it, let me know! Thank yous are at the bottom of each chapter.
Harry Potter and the Veneficus Quies
"What the hell?" His mind reeled as he stared at the parchment in his hand. His thoughts wandered to last year, outlining the series of events that had occurred. The last time Harry had seen it had been in January. Moody had found him out late one night with the map and had taken it from him. He'd always assumed that the Marauder's Map had been thrown out or confiscated with the rest of Crouch's belongings. So why in the hell was it in an envelope on his bed?
His thoughts were interrupted by a hard knock on his door. Still staring at the map with its plethora of dots moving about, he walked towards the door and unlocked it. Opening it, he was completely shocked and annoyed to see Hermione standing there.
"What?" his voice dripping with venom.
"I was...just, erm, coming to ask you about your dream," she responded, the hurt and fear very evident in her eyes.
"What about it?" he said shortly.
"Er..you said you would tell me about this morning, but, um, the Minister-"
"Right, whatever, you can come in, I guess."
She turned her gaze towards the floor and caught a glimpse of the parchment in his hand.
"Harry! Is that what I think it is?" her eyes open wide.
"Is what what you think it is?"
"The Marauder's Map! Is that the Marauder's Map?"
"So what if it is?"
"But Harry! I thought that Moody-er, Crouch took it from you last year?"
"He did."
"So, why do you have it?"
"That's why I'm trying to figure out. Why are you here again?"
"Um, the dream."
"Right, well, sit down," he began telling her the dream and for some reason, was extraordinarily annoyed by her tears when he finished. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, Harry, it's just, so- so sad."
"I suppose you could look at it that way. It's just a dream, Hermione. For Heaven's sake, grow up. There are much scarier and sadder things go in the world than my stupid dreams."
"Why are you acting like this?" she said, overcoming her initial surprise at his harsh words.
"As if you don't know. Hermione, I think it's time for you to go, I need to speak with Dumbledore before tonight."
He could see the anger in her eyes, but still stood by the door, holding it open for her.
"Fine, you be this way Harry Potter! See if I care!" she said, slamming the door behind her.
Positively fuming, he turned to his desk, slamming drawers open and close, looking for a piece of parchment. His anger increased trifold when he found it sitting neatly on top of his desk. Slamming his top drawer closed after he'd grabbed a quill, he dipped the quill into the inkwell a little too forcefully, sending small drops of ink across his desk. He swore loudly, dabbing up the mess with a tissue.
He hastily scribbled a note to Dumbledore, asking if he could have a meeting with him. He sent the note off with Hedwig and flopped onto his bed to brood.
Again the sharp knock.
"Go away Hermione! I don't want to talk!"
"It's Ginny," said a soft voice.
Harry let out a groan as he stood up to answer his door. He had a feeling that from here on out, the day would not be getting any more pleasant.
"Hey, Gin, come on in."
"Thanks, I, erm, wanted to talk to you about what happened this morning."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I will be. Ron and I are leaving tonight to go home, I'm not sure how long we'll be gone, which is why I wanted to talk to you."
"What's on your mind?"
"Well, I feel like I owe you an apology."
"For what exactly?" he asked, beginning to get a bit nervous.
"Well, for a few things. I'm sorry I acted the way I did this morning. I-" she began to tear up.
He reached and patted her hand, "Gin, it's ok, I understand this morning."
"I know," she said shakily, trying to calm herself. "I wanted to apologize for everything that has happened between us."
"How do you mean?" he said softly, his confusion growing.
"I should probably start at the beginning."
"I suppose that's a good a place as any."
"Ok, well, I've kinda liked you since, well, your first year. I mean, it was just a little crush, you were-are Harry Potter. So, when you finally noticed I existed over the summer, I was so confused. I thought I didn't like you anymore, but you, ugh, I don't know. Anyway, when you started to like me, I figured it'd be picture perfect. I mean, Ron and Hermione were finally together and I just thought that's the way it'd always be. Them and us, you know?"
He didn't answer her.
"Ok, well, I was spending a lot of time with Hermione, and I used to see how her and Ron used to act around each other. Well, when they weren't fighting anyway," she said, noticing the strained grimace on his face at the mention of Hermione and Ron. "I saw how they seemed to really love each other and I thought that was the way it was supposed to be. Which is why I said what I said that night in the Astronomy Tower."
"So, you didn't mean it?"
"Harry, you were right, we're too young to know what love is. I don't think I meant it, I just said it because I thought I was supposed to."
"What did you mean when you said that my heart wasn't yours and yours wasn't mine? Or whatever it was you said."
She blushed, "Well, I think I kind of developed a bit of a crush on Neville at the Halloween Ball and I meant that I could never have your love when it so obviously belonged to Hermione."
Harry fell off the bed.
"Oh my god! Harry! Are you alright?" she cried, jumping out of her seat to help him up.
"I'm okay. Fine, sit back down." he answered, standing up and brushing himself off. "Erm, what do you mean, exactly, when you say 'It belonged to Hermione'?"
"Why, she's your best friend, of course. You have her on this pedestal and I couldn't ever expect to be her. In your eyes, she's perfect and no one can ever replace her."
This revelation, this epitome, of Ginny's truly shocked Harry. He had no answer for her, because she was telling him things about himself that he didn't know.
"I'm really sorry if anything I said hurt you. I just wanted to tell you since I wasn't sure when I'd get to talk to you again."
"Right, um, well, I understand."
"I really must get going, I have a few things to pack. Thanks for talking with me Harry."
"Anytime. I hope your trip to the Burrow goes alright. Tell your mum that if she wants me to come, I will. Hermione, too." he added as an afterthought.
"I will. Thanks again," she said as she hugged him. It was a quick, friendly hug and she headed out the door.
Harry allowed himself to fall on the bed with a loud groan. His mind was racing with thoughts of Hermione, Ginny and the Marauder's Map, which was currently taunting him with its place on the desk. He laid his head back against the pillows and closed his eyes, determined to clear his head.
It was several hours later that another loud banging came at his door.
"Harry! Are you in there?" came the voice of Hermione.
He groggily opened his eyes and went to the door.
"What now?"
"We have an emergency Prefects' meeting with all the teachers. Starts in ten minutes, I just thought you'd like to know," she said curtly before turning and going back to her room.
He looked after her, growing more and more agitated. She had some nerve, being mad at him when everything was clearly her fault.
He quickly changed into some less crumpled robes and headed towards the anteroom off of the Great Hall. It was filled to the brim with teachers and prefects. Dumbledore was standing by the fireplace, his eyes roaming the room to make sure everyone was accounted for. Harry looked around after he'd grabbed the last available seat. There were several gentlemen scattered throughout the, conversing in small groups. Professor McGonagall was listening to Professor Sinistra, who was dressed to travel. Harry noticed tears in the young professor's eyes. He also noticed Viridian Ellsworth leaned against the wall, looked haggard and disturbed. As soon as a few lingering prefects had entered the room, Dumbledore called the meeting to order.
"If everyone could please settle down, I'd like to begin the meeting," he waited a moment before continuing. "As you know, the attack on the Ministry of Magic has caused a great deal of suffering for the students and teachers here. Therefore, it has been proposed by the Board of Governors that we extend the holidays to accommodate the needs of the students, teachers and their families."
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Ms. Bell?"
"How long would this extension be? Is there anyway it would interfere with the preparation for the NEWTs and OWLs?"
"We believe that a two week extension is enough to allow everyone to get their affairs in order without creating any major conflicts with the school schedule."
A few people around the room nodded and several audible sniffs were heard.
"Alright, as per custom, the extension must be voted on by the teaching staff, the Board of Governors and the Prefects, so if we could get that out of the way, I think there are some people here in the room that have other things to attend to. By a show of hands, all in favor of the proposed extension?"
There was not a hand unraised in the room. Dumbledore merely nodded and announced that the extension would be placed in effect and all families would be notified immediately. He dismissed the meeting and as Harry stood to go, he heard his name being called, "Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, if I could have a word with both of you?"
They looked at each other before turning to face Dumbledore, Harry shooting Hermione a rather mean look and Hermione challenging him back with an eye roll.
"Harry, I received your owl about the dream. One thing that you mentioned struck me as very odd. Tristram said that Voldemort wanted something from you, do you have any idea what that might be?"
"Sir, I have no idea. At that point in the dream, I was too furious to ask him about it."
"Very well then. That is all I wanted to ask. Is there anything else you two have questions about?"
"No sir," answered Hermione.
They left the room, Harry exiting at a very fast pace so that he would not have to walk with Hermione.
"Harry!" she called after him, jogging slightly to catch up.
"Hermione, what?"
"Can we talk?"
"No. I don't want to talk," he said as he apparated away from her.
Ten minutes later he was sitting on his bed pouting.
"ALOHOMORA!"
His door slammed loudly against the wall of his dorm. Hermione stood in the entrance, wand out and eyes blazing.
"We need to talk."
"I. Don't. Want. To."
"Well, I don't care. You can't just go apparating off all the time. You're not supposed to apparate on Hogwarts grounds."
"Well, we can, so what's the point of not using something like that?"
"Harry, the only reason we can apparate on Hogwarts grounds is because we fully understand the theory behind apparition. We understand that our will is a lot more powerful that other witches and wizards and that's what enables us to apparate where we really shouldn't be able to. Not even everyone in IMS can apparate around Hogwarts like you and I."
"Is there a point to this?"
"Yes! Oh, you aggravate me to no end, Harry James Potter."
"Good, as long as we're on the same page, why don't you get out of my room?"
"Would you quit changing the topic?"
"Would you quit changing the topic," he said mockingly, "You are such a bossy know it all! You come in MY room going on and on about how we can't do this and we can't do that and you want to talk to me about what an insufferable witch you are. Honestly, Hermione what do you want!"
"First off, we can't apparate all the time because everyone else will want to as well. And then we'll have people splinching themselves all over the place! Honestly, do you ever think? Professor McGonagall warned me about this..."
"Hermione! Listen to yourself! Do you know how annoying you sound?"
"You know, I haven't changed since yesterday and you didn't seem all that annoyed with me yesterday."
He snapped his mouth shut when he realized that it had dropped open at her cutting words. "Yes, well, yesterday I thought you were my friend."
It was her turn to experience the jaw dropping. "You really think that because of what happened last night that I don't want to be your friend anymore?"
"Hermione, this is the last time I'm going to ask. Please get out of my room. I really don't think I can be around you right now."
Her face lost the look of righteousness that it had since she had entered his room. She turned slowly and left, shutting the door quietly behind her.
"Mum! They're here!" Harry heard the voice of Fred Weasley ringing loudly throughout the house. He and Hermione stepped from the fireplace, carrying overnight bags and animal crates. Mrs. Weasley had invited them both to stay at the Burrow for a week, so that they could attend the Ministry Memorial and escape from the very depressed atmosphere consuming Hogwarts. Harry was beginning to wonder whether or not the atmosphere at the Burrow would be all that much better, but he shrugged aside his worries and walked out into the kitchen, brushing soot and ashes from his robes as he moved.
"Oh, good. I'm so glad you two are here. You know where your rooms are. I'll be serving dinner at six o'clock," said Mrs. Weasley in a very dry monotone. Harry gaped at her for a few moments before he felt himself being shoved by Hermione, or rather her overnight bag and Crookshanks' basket. He took Hermione's things from her, but not before giving her a very sinister glare, and headed up the stairs.
Knocking only once on Ginny's door, he opened it, unceremoniously dumped Hermione's things, including Crookshanks' basket, in the center of the rug and marched up to Ron's room.
The migraine from travelling via Floo powder was not lessened by the sickening orange of Ron's room. Ron himself was stretched on his bed, reading some Quidditch book or another. When Harry entered the room, he jumped up. "Thank god you're here, Mum's been driving us all bonkers. She's been spending most of her time sitting in the living room and crying. When she's not doing that, she's visiting the hospital. We haven't had a decent meal in days."
"Well, your dad is in the hospital. I'm sure she's very stressed out. How is your dad?"
"Nothing's changed," said Ron, barely audible.
Harry just nodded. "I suppose we should head downstairs. Maybe convince your mum to take a nap. Maybe we could even manage supper tonight?"
"Right, because we can cook," answered Ron, giving Harry a very strange look.
"Anything to help."
"Food poisoning everyone in the house might not be all that helpful,"
"I guess you're right. Maybe Hermione can cook?" added Harry as an afterthought.
"Are you still fighting?"
"I guess you could say that."
"What happened between the two of you?"
"Nothing. Stupid. Hard to explain," Harry mumbled as he turned into the kitchen.
Hermione was seated at the table with her arm around Mrs. Weasley, who was sobbing into her apron. She sat up when the boys walked in, quickly swiping at her eyes and trying to collect herself. Hermione was watching her with a very worried expression as Molly stood up and began rummaging through cupboards, obviously getting ready to start dinner.
"Ron, would you let everyone know that the memorial service will be tomorrow morning at ten o'clock?"
Ron nodded and headed off to find his brothers and sister, all of them being at home for once.
Dinner was quiet, as was the rest of the evening. Everyone awoke relatively early so that they could fight over the showers and by nine thirty, all the Weasleys minus Arthur plus Harry and Hermione were dressed and ready to go.
Harry was shocked when he found out the number of people that had been killed during the attack. Over three hundred witches and wizards had died. There were a great deal of Hogwarts students at the memorial service, which was being held on the lawns of what had once been the Ministry of Magic.
There was music at the service that Harry did not recognize. It was melodious and sad, played softly, it lent a very solemn air to the service. There were several eulogies and speeches that brought tears to everyone's eyes. Towards what Harry figured must be the end, Percy Weasley moved to the podium.
"We are all here today to celebrate and remember the lives of those who have moved on from this world. We are also here to remember those who have been injured by the recent astrosities. As a representative of the Ministry of Magic, I feel it is my duty to properly welcome our final speaker. Miss Penelope Clearwater."
A smattering of applause rose from the assembled group.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I was only five years old when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was defeated. The triumph of his defeat spread throughout Wizarding Britain, as well as the rest of the Wizarding World. It was common opinion that even the Muggle world should celebrate. It was an end to perhaps the Darkest era we had ever known, for even Grindlewald could not compete with the evil ways of the Death Eaters."
"And so we rejoiced. We were once again free to live and breathe without an impending threat of evil hanging over our heads. I remember greatly the tales of my old siblings, who had spent their youths in fear of an unknown."
"Nearly one year ago, the rumours once more began to circulate. It was said that You-Know-Who was back, yet very little occurred to support these tales. Those who believed were once again living in fear of an unknown."
"On December twenty-sixth our worst fears became reality. There was no longer an unknown. The message was simple, Voldemort has returned."
A collective gasp rose from the crowd at the mention of the name.
"Ah, you see, that is our weakness. Why do you gasp when I say his name? What's in a name? Voldemort. Does that not strike fear into your very heart? Does that simple three-syllable word cause you nightmares? Does the very mention of his name cause evil to directly descend upon you and your loved ones? In all honesty, it does not. It is merely a name. Nine letters. Three syllables. Do not fear his name. We must unite; witches and wizards, purebloods, half bloods, and muggleborns. Any soul who is innately good must join the fight, for there is strength in numbers and strength in goodness. Today, we are here to remember our loved ones. We must remember them by refusing to sit down and take it on the chin. We must stand up and fight. There can be no fear in our hearts of a man we can easily defeat. Voldemort. From this day forward there can be no terror associated with that name. We will not go quietly and most certainly, we will not go without a fight."
With a simple thanks, she walked quickly from the stage, leaving a very stunned crowd in her wake. They had expected a eulogy or a remembrance, certainly not the speech she had given them. The silence began to grind on Harry's nerves. A small clapping broke that silence. Hermione, whom Harry had been intently ignoring for the entire service, was meeting her hands together in a simple, appreciative gesture.
Dumbledore beamed proudly at her as he too began clapping his hands. Harry joined them, as did many others. The amount of clapping swelled, but there was no cheering nor was there a standing ovation. It was merely supportive, proud and yet solemn, in remembrance of those who could not fight the good fight.
"Hurry up! Everyone come in here! We are so far behind schedule, it's not even funny!" Arabella called to the few students who were standing outside the door of the IMS classroom. It was their first day back after the extended holiday, and clearly, Arabella was anxious to get started. They quickly filed in and found seats, staring incredulously at their teacher, who was sitting on her desk, rubbing her hands together.
"I want to get started immediately. This block is actually one of our less active blocks, so I'm going to cut it down to four weeks so as not to throw the remaining ones off schedule. Today, we're going to assign projects, look at some Astronomy charts that we'll be studying and practicing some duelling."
"Arabella? What projects, exactly?"
"Draco, I'll get to that in a minute. Kindly shut up and listen," she paused briefly, giving Draco a kind smile that greatly foiled the snap in her voice. "Right then. I've always been a firm believer in 'Know Thine Enemy'. As you've probably noticed, this entire program is based on that ideal. Therefore, I'm going to partner you up and assign each pair a certain field of the Dark Arts that you must thoroughly research and prepare a presentation on. The topics are Mind Control, Curses and Hexes, Torturous Methods, Dark Wizards Through the Ages and the Mistakes They Make Repeatedly and of course, Cunning Plans."
It was Hermione's turn to speak up, "Are you kidding? Surely, you must be kidding. Cunning Plans?"
"Hermione, by the end of the project, you'll be thrilled to a have a funny name for your topic, because everything you learn along the way is going to depress the hell out of you."
Hermione just stared at her.
"Right. Now, let's partner you up. Hermione, I want you to work with Cadence, Harry work with Draco..." she continued through the students, partnering them up and assigning topics. Much to Hermione's dismay, she pulled "Cunning Plans" from the hat. Harry was too angry at having been paired with Draco to really care about their topic, Mind Control.
Draco sneered at Harry as Arabella launched into an hour and a half long lecture on the importance of Astronomy. Harry zoned out, thinking about his fight with Hermione. They still weren't talking and though his anger was subsiding, he had convinced himself that he would not be the first to say he was sorry.
When Arabella had finished her lecture, she dismissed them for lunch. Harry, being far from hunger, wandered back to his room. It was eerily quiet. He had grown accustomed to having at least Daryl in his room most of the time. Usually, Daryl and Chief Pip were off creating trouble or just meandering about with Crookshanks, but Daryl was usually waiting for him when he returned from his classes. Over the extended break, Harry and Hermione had traveled to the Burrow for a few days and had ended up leaving Crookshanks, Pip and Daryl there. Ms. Weasley had insisted, saying she would greatly enjoy the company. Harry couldn't blame her; it had to be dead lonely to be in the Burrow when no one was around.
Arthur Weasley was still in the hospital. Because his coma had not been caused magically, but rather he had been physically hurt, the mediwizards were able to do very little for. Of course, they were allowed to visit and talk to him, but the best advice the Weasleys had been given was to merely sit and wait.
Harry tried to detract his mind from Arthur Weasley. He stretched out on his bed, closing his eyes and begin to count backwards from one hundred in his head. He allowed himself a twenty-minute nap before heading back to the classroom. A few people had already returned to their seats and Arabella arrived shortly after Harry.
"You may all head out to the common room. I've decided to floo you all to the library in Diagon Alley for the rest of the day. We'll be beginning duelling tomorrow morning."
They did as she instructed and met the rest of their classmates in the common room. Within fifteen minutes, Harry found himself sitting at a table with Draco Malfoy, who was making a rough outline of what they might need to research.
"Potter, I think we need to organize this project based on the different methods. Spells, torture, brain washing, and the like. Since I'm obviously the brains of this operation, I want you to just follow my instructions. Go over and tell the librarian that you'd like her to find you information on mind control in the Charms Archive. Do you think you can handle that?"
Harry narrowed his eyes at the pale boy facing him across the table. "So I take it you're confident in my ability to read?"
"Did I say that? No. I'm confident in your ability to go ask the librarian to do work for you. You honestly expect me to believe that you and the Weasel actually did any work over the past five years? You probably just pawned everything off on the Buck toothed Mudblood."
"You better watch what you say, Malfoy," Harry said, glaring at his partner.
"Scary. Really. Now, go," Malfoy pointing towards the information desk. Harry screwed his face up and curled his fists, but he was eager not to let Malfoy get the best of him. Resolving to just let it slide, Harry stomped towards the information desk.
"Erm, excuse me?" he asked the librarian, who was stamping books. She didn't answer and Harry became minorly enthralled by the task at hand. She would take a book from a large pile, tap the inside cover harshly with her wand, and some note or another would appear. She seemed to have the ability to change the note and color at will.
"What?" she finally said, still not looking up from her work.
Startled, Harry cleared his throat, "I, ahem, need some information on mind control, from the Charms Archive. It's for a school project."
"School?"
"Hogwarts School for Intensive Magical Study."
"One moment," she said before disappearing. After a few minutes, she returned with a rather thick scroll. "When you reach the bottom, just say Procedius and tap the end of the parchment with your wand. It'll show the next source." She finally looked up at him and her eyes widened significantly under her rather large Coke bottle glasses. "Blimey, are you Harry Potter?" she asked, her voice changing dramatically.
"No. I'm his evil twin brother, but thanks for the mind control information!" he said as he strolled away.
Malfoy had already secured a hefty stack of books and had housed himself in with the stacks of volumes.
He was glad to find that Malfoy ignored him as long as he worked, and set about taking notes on the parchment that the libarian had given him.
As is often the case with any family of charms, there is usually one focal charm that all of the others are created after. The most commonly used charms today are often shadows of a much more powerful and dangerous charm. There is an ancient myth that there was once a charm that, once cast, would render everyone within hearing range under full control of the caster. The mind of the victim would basically become non-existant. In the most horrendous forms of the myth, there is no fighting this charm. Of course, there is no evidence supporting the existence of such a charm, but the author would like to take liberties as far as assumming that the charm would be a very powerful, Dark magic and most likely it cannot be written down. It can also be assumed that such a powerful charm would have to be hidden in someone very, very powerful. However, this is mere speculation and should be used as so.
The strongest mind control spells are used on the victim during sleep. This is when the mind is most vulnerable for the concious actions of the victim are not available as a form of protection. Often, the victim is somehow placed into sleep, either via charm or potion, and are then subjected to mind control spells.
Of course, mind control can be achieved in many ways, potions and spells being the most commonly used.
Harry found the parchment incredibly dry, but he scribbled notes as per his instruction. After several hours, his eyes began to feel very tired and he was beginning to lose feeling in most of his body, it having been so long since he moved.
"Malfoy, are we about done for the day? It's nearly time for dinner."
Malfoy simply raised an eyebrow at him before slamming his book shut, "I suppose so, though I'd really like to have looked up a bit more on the Imperius Curse. You know what they say, there's no such thing as being overly prepared. What did you find?"
Harry opened the parchment roll and found the bit on dreams. Malfoy took it from him and perused it quickly.
"My advice: show this to Granger and see what she says. Maybe she'll make the connection, even if you're too dull to."
Harry was puzzled, but tried to hide it, instead displaying his obvious annoyance at Malfoy. Taking the parchment, he gave Draco one more dirty look, and hastily gathered his things.
"Would you all please come stand up here? We won't be needing any desks today," Arabella asked, already beginning to banish the desks to the far back of the classroom. Harry watched with mild interest as the desks stacked themselves in the back of the room. During this moving process, the rest of the students returned and Arabella was ready to begin. She faced everyone with a michievious smile on her face.
"Harry, come stand up here."
He did as she asked, standing directly in front of her with his wand out and at the ready.
"Phantomus incendio!" Without any warning, Harry felt himself engulfed in flames. He could feel the burning, licking flames singeing his robes and his arms and the hair on his head. He began to panic as the flames touched his skin. He was burning alive.
"Finite incantatem." The burning subsided and Harry wiped a heavy dose of sweat from his brow. He realized soon enough that he was lying on the floor, panting, and stood himself up.Mo "The Phantomus curse is the first curse we studied during charms. Who can tell me what it does? Akilah?"
"The Phantomus curse does very little on its on, but when combined with other charms, such as incendio, it creates a phantom of the curse on the victim, hence Harry thinking he was on fire."
The class nodded and Arabella smiled at them. With a flick of her wand, a list of possible uses for the Phantomus curse appeared on the board and they were once more partnered up to practice the spells on each other. Harry and Hermione were stuck together, the only two without partners.
After going a few rounds with the spell, they switched partners and Harry found himself face to face with Draco Malfoy. The skinny, blond wizard looked at Harry with a distinctly mischievious look in his eyes. Arabella directed them to add to the mix Phantomus Cæcitudo, which Harry recognized as Hermione's temporary blindness spell. After a quick demonstration on Katie Bell, she asked them to proceed. Harry turned towards Draco, wand out and at the ready. However, Draco's reflexes were much faster.
"Phantomus Avada Kedavra!"
The light that Harry saw comes towards him was a very slow-moving, very pale green. He saw Hermione watching them out of the corner of his eye and saw her mouth drop in shock. He heard a loud scream as the curse hit him. It hit him right in the stomach and he cried out as he felt a blackness seep though him. He felt an iciness come over his body and his eyelids began to lower. Conciousness faded into nothingness as Harry collapsed onto the classroom floor.
The bright white light swirled with the intermittent patches of darkness. He felt something grasping his hand as if doing so would prevent an ominous death. Blinking his eyes a few times, his vision slowly cleared and he found himself staring into a pair of chocolate brown orbs that made him very glad to be alive.
"Hermione?" he managed to whisper.
"Harry!" she choked out, his utterance having brought a fresh wave of tears to her already very bloodshot eyes.
He gave her hand a light squeeze and she abandoned all pretense and allowed herself to give him a very tight hug.
"Have you any idea how scared I was? To think that we haven't spoken in weeks. Harry, you could have died and I never would have gotten to say that I'm sorry. You could have died and we wouldn't have been best friends! I could never forgive myself."
"Shh...love, we can talk about it later... come here," he said, pulling up the covers of the hospital bed. She looked at him gratefully before moving onto the bed and tucking herself against him. She had obviously been awake longer than was usually recommended and seemed anxious to lay in a bed. "Now, why don't you tell me what happened?" Harry asked, once she had settled in.
"Well, we were all practicing the Phantomus curse and you got partnered with Draco. For whatever reason, he placed Avada Kedavra on you with the added protection of the Phantomus charm. Arabella was furious, but being Arabella took it upon herself to tell us that it was a very real possibility for something like that to happen. She said we'd never know what someone was going to throw at us and we'd be lucky if it was just the Phantomus curse. She then decided to take you to the hospital wing and made Draco do it, who was muttering something about no one ever being prepared."
"Sounds busy."
"Oh, Harry, it was awful. I'm so glad you're okay."
"Hermione, what day is it?"
"Wednesday, you've been out for about two days now and it's been two nights since I slept."
Harry groaned audibly. "I suppose Arabella has a truckload of work for me? And you really should go sleep."
"But of course she has, and really I'm fine. I'm just relieved that you're alright."
He laughed lightly and pulled her into a hug.
"Harry?"
"Yes, my Mione?"
"Are we okay now? I don't ever want to fight like that again."
"I promise, I'll never let it happen again."
It was her turn to hug him and soon after, they settled into an easy chat and camaraderie that they had both sorely missed over the weeks. The fight was almost- almost forgotten and Harry was content to lay and talk with her, happy that, for once, things were nearly as they should be.
"Harry, are you sure you shouldn't be lying down?" Hermione asked, walking into the living room.
"I'm fine. Madam Pomfrey said it was fine as long as I was resting."
"Ok, if you're positive."
"Hermione, relax, I'm fine."
"Well, forgive me for being a bit worried, you were out cold for two days!"
"I'm fine now. Come here, sit with me, we need to talk anyhow."
She looked at him, taking a considerable amount of time before meeting his gaze. Slowly, she sat down next time, careful to leave space between them.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Relax."
She took a shaky breath and drew her lips into a thin line. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Christmas Day."
"What about it?"
"Did it really not mean anything to you?"
"Harry, I can't allow it to mean anything to me. Why, did it mean something to you?"
His mind froze for an instant. Two paths faced him. Dare he venture into the unknown?
"Harry?" she implored, reaching out to touch his shoulder.
Shaking his head, he smiled at her, "Sorry, must be that pain killer I took."
"Are you sure you want to talk about this now? Maybe you should lay down."
"Mione! I'm okay really. Please, let's just talk."
"Alright," she gave a resigned say and turned her full attention to him.
"In answer to your question, no."
"It really meant nothing?"
"I was just caught up in the moment, you know? The wine, the warm fire. I was thinking straight and I'm sorry I acted the way I did for all that time. You were right, of course, and I'm sorry." He gave a weak smile and hoped against all odds that she would buy it.
She did. "Oh, thank Merlin. Harry, I was so worried!"
"I know. I completely understand that you didn't want to mess up our friendship."
"You have no idea how happy this makes me. I'm glad everything is ok." She hugged him and he momentarily allowed himself a moment of happiness and held her to him, breathing in her familiar and missed scent.
"I'm glad too," he lied, through his teeth. She pulled back and gave him another million-galleon grin.
"Do you need anything? If not, I'm going to go to the library. I think I'm on to something with this Prophecy."
"I'm alright."
"Ok, then I'll see you later." She kissed him on the forehead as she stood up. Grinning like mad, she walked into her adjacent room.
He gave her another meek smile and as soon as her door had closed, he groaned.
Hermione, one, Potter, zip.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter ten! Also, thanks to Elliott for beta-reading! Please review!
