A/N-I told you! It's starting to get interesting! I'm sure you want to know
what's going to happen though, so I make this short. This is the last story
I have ALREADY written for this series. I just started writing this series
again, so after this story you'll have to be patient! I'm working really
hard on it, so HOPEFULLY it will be up soon.
A New Start Part II
Harry was sitting in bed, pretending to read a novel. He was hoping that Ron would come in soon so that he could explain. He wanted Ron, his best friend, to know what was REALLY going on. After the period in their fourth year when Ron and Harry were very mad at each other, Harry didn't know what the outcome could be.
Claudia kissed Ron goodnight and headed up to the girls' dormitories. She walked in and found Hermione laying in the dark, she was awake, but she looked depressed.
Claudia turned on the light and Hermione jumped up.
"Oh, Claud, it's only you" she said. Her voice sounded hoarse and eyes had dark circles under them.
"Mye, you have got to get this out. Tell me everything that you feel right now" Claudia said.
"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Positive"
"Alright.Right now, I feel abandoned and sad. I thought Harry and I had a future. I thought our relationship meant something to him. I wanted to be his soul mate, but I see now that I'm not. I've known him and loved him since our first year, but what was it all worth? Is this just a game that he's playing or what? I am I or was I ever important to him? I see now that I'm not. I know that I'm dragging this out to far, skipping a week's worth of classes and all, but I can't seem to get over him. I don't understand how he could do this me." By this time, tears were streaming down Hermione's face.
"Do you want me to go talk to him?" Claudia asked.
"Would you?"
"Wait right here, I'll be right back!"
Harry heard Ron come up the stairs. He set down his book and pulled out his long speech. Ron entered.
"Ron, there's something I have to tell you."
Ron gave Harry an icy look. "Fine, you have 2 minutes."
"I have to tell you this, not only because you're my best friend, but because someone has to know. The other day, when I proposed to Lavender." Harry cringed as he said her name, but he went on, ".I didn't know what I was doing. All I wanted to do was to show Hermione that I am ready to get married and commit. I proved it in the wrong way. Please believe me Ron. You're my only hope."
Ron looked at him. Harry could tell he was thinking. Then, his lips formed a half smile.
"If you love her, you better go get her," said Ron.
Harry broke into a grin and turned to go down the stairs. Standing at the door was Claudia.
She looked at him. "I heard what you said." She smiled. "Tell her that you love her and want to marry her, because that's what she needs to hear." She steeped out of the way and with that, Harry bolted out the door.
He ran into the common room and up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. He found Hermione, sitting on her bed. She had on her cloak and rain hat and her suitcase was next to her, but Harry was oblivious to it.
"Hermione! I'm so glad you're here. I have to tell you something. I DO love you and I AM ready to commit to you. I was so mad that I used Lavender to prove it to you! I love you so much, please forgive me."
Hermione sat and looked depressed. "Harry, Jason is leaving Hogwarts tomorrow and he asked me to go with him. He said that he really wants to get to know me better, and he's moving to New York to work with one of his friends. He wants me to move with him, and I said yes. I'm sorry Harry."
Harry stared. His brain wasn't thinking clearly. The thing only he could do was run. And he did.
It was hard for Harry to accept the fact that Hermione was leaving. He was hidden in a corner in Hagrid's hut. It was the only place he could think to go. Hagrid had been his friend since his first day at Hogwarts. He remembered the first day he met Hagrid. He had turned Dudley into a pig. That was funny. But there was no laughter now. All he could think of was the life he could have had and the one he lost.
In the darkness of Hagrid's hut, Harry could only imagine what he could have had. He deeply regretted what he had said to Lavender. He put his hand to his head in attempt to block out the throbbing memory of the mistake he had made. "How could I have been so dumb?" He asked himself. He got up, though his entire body felt like lead and he went outside and dunked his head in the water trough, thoroughly clearing his head.
He walked up to the castle, writing in his head what he would say to Hermione once he got there. "Hermione, you. you fill me with. no wait, that is bad. Okay, Hermione, I. I know what I did was wrong but. no, that isn't it. Damn it! Why can't I get it out!" By the time he got to the castle, he had finally decided on what he wanted to say.
Harry was wondering down the hall to the Gryffindor common room. When he got there, he found Claudia and Ron with heads hung low, dispirited and sad. "What's up?" he asked, trying to dig down in the depths of his memory what could cause the two to be so melancholy. Claudia looked up at him, and her eyes were a deep shade of red, as if she had been crying very heavily. "Where's Hermione?" asked Harry urgently, questioning if it could be so.
"Harry, she's. she's gone."
"She's what?"
"Harry, by gone I mean that she is no longer here. She and Jason left about five minutes ago. Where were you, she sounded like she was. Harry?"
Harry had taken off at light speed to the to the nearest train station, at Hogsmeade. He was about to bolt out the door when he remembered the secret passageway through the old witch on the third floor corridor. As soon as he located the witch, he whipped out his wand, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a mangled shadow of Servus Snape. Instantly he bolted into the classroom across from the witch.
But he was too late. A firm hand placed itself on his shoulder, followed by an evil drawling voice. "So, where are we off to today, Potter?" Anyone could tell that Snape hated Harry's guts and would do almost anything to get him into trouble. Before Harry could blink, he was in Snape's office, and Snape was writing him up for a detention.
Harry knew this was getting him further behind. He was glad when Snape handed him the slip and he ran out of the room faster than a bolt of lightning. By the time he was into the passageway and out in Honeydukes, he was already thirty minutes behind.
He ran out to the train station as fast as he could move his already fatigued legs. Harry felt as if he would pass out. His head swam in dizziness and his lungs felt as if they were coated in ice. At last, after several painful moments of hobbling to the to the train station, he saw the train just as it was about to leave.
Harry looked up to see Hermione sitting by the window. Her hand was neatly propped against her head and she was staring out into space. Suddenly, the train began to roll away! Harry knew that he couldn't let her go again. He started off after the train, still in agony. He was catching up to the window, but as the train increased speed, he was beginning to fall behind. Hermione saw him out of the corner of her eye. She moved her eyes to look at him. Her free hand pressed itself against the window as a solo tear slid down her cheek. The train rolled away. Harry was too late.
A few hours later, Harry showed up in the common room. Claudia had gone to sleep, as it was 11 o'clock. Ron had stayed up waiting for him. Harry didn't need to explain. Ron could tell that because Hermione was not with him, he was too late. "Sorry." Said Ron looking at him from behind red Weasley hair. Harry couldn't have felt any lower than he did right now.
"When is the wedding?" asked Harry as if it was gone from memory.
"The day after tomorrow."
"WHAT!!!"
"Yeah, that is what Lavender was bragging about to the whole school while you were gone."
"This is going from bad to worse. Not only have I asked the dumbest and prissiest person in the entire universe to marry me, but I have lost the only one that I truly love, and my grades have fallen to almost failing. It can't get any worse, can it?"
"You have dress rehearsal tomorrow at the chapel. Lavender picked out a lovely little suit for you and I know you'll hate it. Oh, and because Hermione isn't here, Claudia is going to be a bride's maid."
"Okay, it's gotten worse. God, and the only thing I need now is a detention from Snape." Harry stuck both his hands into the pockets of his robes and pulled out a piece of paper. He opened one, and it was the detention slip from Snape. "God, it is worse. I forgot I had this. DAMN IT!"
"Calm down Harry, we can sort this out tomorrow. Let's get some rest."
The next day, Harry was sitting in the chapel with all his friends and unfortunately Lavender and Parvati. They were making arrangements with the priest for the rehearsals and then it was off to Hogsmeade for a "celebration".
"Is everyone who will be participating in the wedding here?" asked the Priest.
"Sadly, no. Our good friends Hermione" Lavender eyed Harry "and Jason" she continued "won't be able to make it" she said with a tiny smirk.
"All of these girls, Claudia, Daphne, Robin, Ginny, and my sister Padma will be Lavender's bridesmaids, and I, of course, will be her maid of honor" Parvati gloated.
"Hey, what about us?" asked Ron.
"Oh yeah, these boys, Dean, Seamus, and Neville are groomsman, and Ron is the best man" Lavender said.
After practicing the wedding about four times (in which Harry was quite bored) the group headed off to Hogsmeade for their "celebration". Parvati and Lavender decided to go to a little French restaurant called "Chez Jean de Hogsmeade" and then hit the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer before returning to the castle.
To Harry's disgust, he found himself at the restaurant next to Lavender, who kept licking his ear. Parvati stood up.
"I want to wish the best of luck to Lavender and Harry, because I know that they are meant to be."
Ron coughed. He hadn't forgotten that Parvati had put a love potion on him in his 6th year, and the thought still haunted him.
Parvati gave Ron a sharp look, but continued on. "I knew they were meant to be together the first day that I saw Harry. He was so perfect for her, so right." Parvati's speech dragged on and on for what seemed like hours and hours until finally
"To Harry and Lavender!" she finished.
"To Harry and Lavender," everyone else chanted glumly.
Ron stood up. "I would like to say something." Everyone turned towards Ron. "From the moment I met Harry, I knew who he was meant to be with. Her pretty brown hair, cinnamon eyes, and happy smile, everything about her is perfect for Harry." He stared blankly at Lavender, who smiled. He continued. "However, her name isn't Lavender. It's Hermione." And with that, he turned around, and left.
Hermione sat on her moth eaten bed, looking out the window at the busy New York street. "How did I get here?" She thought. "I had it so good, and I traded it all for this? What is wrong with me? I'm not with the man I love, my only "friends" work at Artie's car repair shop, and most importantly, I hate it here! I have to go back and fast!"
It was the day of the wedding. Harry looked at himself in the mirror. "Why was am I wearing this?" He wondered. He had on a tie-dyed tuxedo with white patent leather shoes. It was the most repulsive thing he had ever seen. Ron walked in, wearing and tux similar to Harry's, and equally as repulsive.
"Come on Harry, it's almost time." It looked as though even the thought made him sick.
"All right," Harry replied. He took one sad more look in the mirror, and then headed towards the door.
Harry was standing at the bottom of the aisle in the chapel. He watched as Claudia walked down in a bright orange dress (which clashed horribly with her hair). She looked like she wanted to throw up. The other bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle, most with the same expression as Claudia.
Then Lavender appeared. She had on the ugliest dress Harry had ever seen. Harry's tux looked like the best thing in the world next to this dress. It was extremely poufy, with big lace balls attached to the skirt. She had on blue eye shadow that went all the way up to her eyebrows, and bright pink lipstick. Her flowers were tie-dyed to match Harry's suit.
Smiling, she walked towards Harry. He took a deep breath. "Let's just get this over with," he thought.
The priest started the ceremony, and Harry tuned most of it out until he got to the famous line.
"If anyone thinks these two should not join together in Holy Matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
There was silence.silence.BANG! The doors to the chapel banged open. Harry looked up, and there stood, at the top of the aisle, dressed in flowing periwinkle, slightly out of breath, but beautiful just the same, Hermione.
"I object! I object!" she ran down the aisle to Harry.
"Hermione, what are you-" he started to ask.
Hermione put a finger on his lips. "Shh.let me say something. Harry I've been such an idiot. I should've known that you didn't mean to ask Lavender to marry you."
"WHAT!" Lavender screeched.
"And I should've believed that you loved me," Hermione said a little louder. "You're the one for me Harry, and I know that now." She smiled. "I love you." She then leaned in and kissed Harry softly on the lips.
Harry looked at her. He couldn't believe it, things were turning out okay. There was only one thing he had left to do.
Harry bent down one knee. "I'm sorry, I don't have a ring, but I really need to ask you something." Hermione's eyes filled with happy tears. "Hermione Granger.will you marry me?"
"Oh Harry you know I will!" She fell into his arms. Everyone in the chapel began to clap and cheer (well everyone except Lavender, Parvati, and Padma).
That night Claudia was troubled. In all the commotion she had forgotten about the dream she had the night before she went back to Hogwarts. She didn't want to bother Harry or Hermione. They looked very comfy by the fire. She didn't want to get Ron worried either. "Oh well," she thought. "It's probably no big deal anyway."
To be continued.
A New Start Part II
Harry was sitting in bed, pretending to read a novel. He was hoping that Ron would come in soon so that he could explain. He wanted Ron, his best friend, to know what was REALLY going on. After the period in their fourth year when Ron and Harry were very mad at each other, Harry didn't know what the outcome could be.
Claudia kissed Ron goodnight and headed up to the girls' dormitories. She walked in and found Hermione laying in the dark, she was awake, but she looked depressed.
Claudia turned on the light and Hermione jumped up.
"Oh, Claud, it's only you" she said. Her voice sounded hoarse and eyes had dark circles under them.
"Mye, you have got to get this out. Tell me everything that you feel right now" Claudia said.
"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Positive"
"Alright.Right now, I feel abandoned and sad. I thought Harry and I had a future. I thought our relationship meant something to him. I wanted to be his soul mate, but I see now that I'm not. I've known him and loved him since our first year, but what was it all worth? Is this just a game that he's playing or what? I am I or was I ever important to him? I see now that I'm not. I know that I'm dragging this out to far, skipping a week's worth of classes and all, but I can't seem to get over him. I don't understand how he could do this me." By this time, tears were streaming down Hermione's face.
"Do you want me to go talk to him?" Claudia asked.
"Would you?"
"Wait right here, I'll be right back!"
Harry heard Ron come up the stairs. He set down his book and pulled out his long speech. Ron entered.
"Ron, there's something I have to tell you."
Ron gave Harry an icy look. "Fine, you have 2 minutes."
"I have to tell you this, not only because you're my best friend, but because someone has to know. The other day, when I proposed to Lavender." Harry cringed as he said her name, but he went on, ".I didn't know what I was doing. All I wanted to do was to show Hermione that I am ready to get married and commit. I proved it in the wrong way. Please believe me Ron. You're my only hope."
Ron looked at him. Harry could tell he was thinking. Then, his lips formed a half smile.
"If you love her, you better go get her," said Ron.
Harry broke into a grin and turned to go down the stairs. Standing at the door was Claudia.
She looked at him. "I heard what you said." She smiled. "Tell her that you love her and want to marry her, because that's what she needs to hear." She steeped out of the way and with that, Harry bolted out the door.
He ran into the common room and up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. He found Hermione, sitting on her bed. She had on her cloak and rain hat and her suitcase was next to her, but Harry was oblivious to it.
"Hermione! I'm so glad you're here. I have to tell you something. I DO love you and I AM ready to commit to you. I was so mad that I used Lavender to prove it to you! I love you so much, please forgive me."
Hermione sat and looked depressed. "Harry, Jason is leaving Hogwarts tomorrow and he asked me to go with him. He said that he really wants to get to know me better, and he's moving to New York to work with one of his friends. He wants me to move with him, and I said yes. I'm sorry Harry."
Harry stared. His brain wasn't thinking clearly. The thing only he could do was run. And he did.
It was hard for Harry to accept the fact that Hermione was leaving. He was hidden in a corner in Hagrid's hut. It was the only place he could think to go. Hagrid had been his friend since his first day at Hogwarts. He remembered the first day he met Hagrid. He had turned Dudley into a pig. That was funny. But there was no laughter now. All he could think of was the life he could have had and the one he lost.
In the darkness of Hagrid's hut, Harry could only imagine what he could have had. He deeply regretted what he had said to Lavender. He put his hand to his head in attempt to block out the throbbing memory of the mistake he had made. "How could I have been so dumb?" He asked himself. He got up, though his entire body felt like lead and he went outside and dunked his head in the water trough, thoroughly clearing his head.
He walked up to the castle, writing in his head what he would say to Hermione once he got there. "Hermione, you. you fill me with. no wait, that is bad. Okay, Hermione, I. I know what I did was wrong but. no, that isn't it. Damn it! Why can't I get it out!" By the time he got to the castle, he had finally decided on what he wanted to say.
Harry was wondering down the hall to the Gryffindor common room. When he got there, he found Claudia and Ron with heads hung low, dispirited and sad. "What's up?" he asked, trying to dig down in the depths of his memory what could cause the two to be so melancholy. Claudia looked up at him, and her eyes were a deep shade of red, as if she had been crying very heavily. "Where's Hermione?" asked Harry urgently, questioning if it could be so.
"Harry, she's. she's gone."
"She's what?"
"Harry, by gone I mean that she is no longer here. She and Jason left about five minutes ago. Where were you, she sounded like she was. Harry?"
Harry had taken off at light speed to the to the nearest train station, at Hogsmeade. He was about to bolt out the door when he remembered the secret passageway through the old witch on the third floor corridor. As soon as he located the witch, he whipped out his wand, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a mangled shadow of Servus Snape. Instantly he bolted into the classroom across from the witch.
But he was too late. A firm hand placed itself on his shoulder, followed by an evil drawling voice. "So, where are we off to today, Potter?" Anyone could tell that Snape hated Harry's guts and would do almost anything to get him into trouble. Before Harry could blink, he was in Snape's office, and Snape was writing him up for a detention.
Harry knew this was getting him further behind. He was glad when Snape handed him the slip and he ran out of the room faster than a bolt of lightning. By the time he was into the passageway and out in Honeydukes, he was already thirty minutes behind.
He ran out to the train station as fast as he could move his already fatigued legs. Harry felt as if he would pass out. His head swam in dizziness and his lungs felt as if they were coated in ice. At last, after several painful moments of hobbling to the to the train station, he saw the train just as it was about to leave.
Harry looked up to see Hermione sitting by the window. Her hand was neatly propped against her head and she was staring out into space. Suddenly, the train began to roll away! Harry knew that he couldn't let her go again. He started off after the train, still in agony. He was catching up to the window, but as the train increased speed, he was beginning to fall behind. Hermione saw him out of the corner of her eye. She moved her eyes to look at him. Her free hand pressed itself against the window as a solo tear slid down her cheek. The train rolled away. Harry was too late.
A few hours later, Harry showed up in the common room. Claudia had gone to sleep, as it was 11 o'clock. Ron had stayed up waiting for him. Harry didn't need to explain. Ron could tell that because Hermione was not with him, he was too late. "Sorry." Said Ron looking at him from behind red Weasley hair. Harry couldn't have felt any lower than he did right now.
"When is the wedding?" asked Harry as if it was gone from memory.
"The day after tomorrow."
"WHAT!!!"
"Yeah, that is what Lavender was bragging about to the whole school while you were gone."
"This is going from bad to worse. Not only have I asked the dumbest and prissiest person in the entire universe to marry me, but I have lost the only one that I truly love, and my grades have fallen to almost failing. It can't get any worse, can it?"
"You have dress rehearsal tomorrow at the chapel. Lavender picked out a lovely little suit for you and I know you'll hate it. Oh, and because Hermione isn't here, Claudia is going to be a bride's maid."
"Okay, it's gotten worse. God, and the only thing I need now is a detention from Snape." Harry stuck both his hands into the pockets of his robes and pulled out a piece of paper. He opened one, and it was the detention slip from Snape. "God, it is worse. I forgot I had this. DAMN IT!"
"Calm down Harry, we can sort this out tomorrow. Let's get some rest."
The next day, Harry was sitting in the chapel with all his friends and unfortunately Lavender and Parvati. They were making arrangements with the priest for the rehearsals and then it was off to Hogsmeade for a "celebration".
"Is everyone who will be participating in the wedding here?" asked the Priest.
"Sadly, no. Our good friends Hermione" Lavender eyed Harry "and Jason" she continued "won't be able to make it" she said with a tiny smirk.
"All of these girls, Claudia, Daphne, Robin, Ginny, and my sister Padma will be Lavender's bridesmaids, and I, of course, will be her maid of honor" Parvati gloated.
"Hey, what about us?" asked Ron.
"Oh yeah, these boys, Dean, Seamus, and Neville are groomsman, and Ron is the best man" Lavender said.
After practicing the wedding about four times (in which Harry was quite bored) the group headed off to Hogsmeade for their "celebration". Parvati and Lavender decided to go to a little French restaurant called "Chez Jean de Hogsmeade" and then hit the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer before returning to the castle.
To Harry's disgust, he found himself at the restaurant next to Lavender, who kept licking his ear. Parvati stood up.
"I want to wish the best of luck to Lavender and Harry, because I know that they are meant to be."
Ron coughed. He hadn't forgotten that Parvati had put a love potion on him in his 6th year, and the thought still haunted him.
Parvati gave Ron a sharp look, but continued on. "I knew they were meant to be together the first day that I saw Harry. He was so perfect for her, so right." Parvati's speech dragged on and on for what seemed like hours and hours until finally
"To Harry and Lavender!" she finished.
"To Harry and Lavender," everyone else chanted glumly.
Ron stood up. "I would like to say something." Everyone turned towards Ron. "From the moment I met Harry, I knew who he was meant to be with. Her pretty brown hair, cinnamon eyes, and happy smile, everything about her is perfect for Harry." He stared blankly at Lavender, who smiled. He continued. "However, her name isn't Lavender. It's Hermione." And with that, he turned around, and left.
Hermione sat on her moth eaten bed, looking out the window at the busy New York street. "How did I get here?" She thought. "I had it so good, and I traded it all for this? What is wrong with me? I'm not with the man I love, my only "friends" work at Artie's car repair shop, and most importantly, I hate it here! I have to go back and fast!"
It was the day of the wedding. Harry looked at himself in the mirror. "Why was am I wearing this?" He wondered. He had on a tie-dyed tuxedo with white patent leather shoes. It was the most repulsive thing he had ever seen. Ron walked in, wearing and tux similar to Harry's, and equally as repulsive.
"Come on Harry, it's almost time." It looked as though even the thought made him sick.
"All right," Harry replied. He took one sad more look in the mirror, and then headed towards the door.
Harry was standing at the bottom of the aisle in the chapel. He watched as Claudia walked down in a bright orange dress (which clashed horribly with her hair). She looked like she wanted to throw up. The other bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle, most with the same expression as Claudia.
Then Lavender appeared. She had on the ugliest dress Harry had ever seen. Harry's tux looked like the best thing in the world next to this dress. It was extremely poufy, with big lace balls attached to the skirt. She had on blue eye shadow that went all the way up to her eyebrows, and bright pink lipstick. Her flowers were tie-dyed to match Harry's suit.
Smiling, she walked towards Harry. He took a deep breath. "Let's just get this over with," he thought.
The priest started the ceremony, and Harry tuned most of it out until he got to the famous line.
"If anyone thinks these two should not join together in Holy Matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
There was silence.silence.BANG! The doors to the chapel banged open. Harry looked up, and there stood, at the top of the aisle, dressed in flowing periwinkle, slightly out of breath, but beautiful just the same, Hermione.
"I object! I object!" she ran down the aisle to Harry.
"Hermione, what are you-" he started to ask.
Hermione put a finger on his lips. "Shh.let me say something. Harry I've been such an idiot. I should've known that you didn't mean to ask Lavender to marry you."
"WHAT!" Lavender screeched.
"And I should've believed that you loved me," Hermione said a little louder. "You're the one for me Harry, and I know that now." She smiled. "I love you." She then leaned in and kissed Harry softly on the lips.
Harry looked at her. He couldn't believe it, things were turning out okay. There was only one thing he had left to do.
Harry bent down one knee. "I'm sorry, I don't have a ring, but I really need to ask you something." Hermione's eyes filled with happy tears. "Hermione Granger.will you marry me?"
"Oh Harry you know I will!" She fell into his arms. Everyone in the chapel began to clap and cheer (well everyone except Lavender, Parvati, and Padma).
That night Claudia was troubled. In all the commotion she had forgotten about the dream she had the night before she went back to Hogwarts. She didn't want to bother Harry or Hermione. They looked very comfy by the fire. She didn't want to get Ron worried either. "Oh well," she thought. "It's probably no big deal anyway."
To be continued.