Chapter 8 *The Unexpected*
"What do you have in here, Hermione? Rocks?"
Hermione heard Harry grumble as he lugged her trunk behind him, including his own. "You were the one who wanted to carry it, Mr. Macho. If it's too heavy give it back to me," she answered with a smirk.
"No, I got it," Harry said quickly, glad Hermione was in front of him and couldn't see him blush.
"Yeah, real macho," Ron commented with a laugh.
"Shut-up, Weasley!" he snapped, a smile forming on his lips.
The three friends finally reached platform nine and three quarters.
"Mum! Dad!" Hermione cried, running towards them and throwing her arms around them.
"Hey, sweetie! How was your stay with Harry?" her mother asked, kissing her cheek.
"Oh, great. We -"
Just then, Ron interrupted her with a loud laugh. She turned to see him clutching his stomach and roaring with laughter. Ron pointed straight ahead of him and Hermione followed his finger.
She saw Harry trying to get through a mob of people, his trunk overturned next to him, while he tried to keep hers from overturning as well. She saw Harry's lips forming the words, "Excuse me," but no one moved.
Hermione was about to go help him when his voice made her jump back and everyone turn to look at him.
"EXCUSE ME!" he shouted. The train station became deadly quiet, everyone's eyes on him. Harry turned a bright shade of red, muttered a "sorry," and practically ran towards his friends.
"That was bloody hilarious, Harry!" Ron gasped, tears rolling out of the corners of his eyes.
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard not to laugh, but failed and ended up on the floor with Ron, doubled over in laughter.
Harry ignored them. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," he said, smiling.
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"Will you get a bloody room all ready!" Hermione and Harry cried in unison.
Harry and Hermione were seated next to each other on the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Lavender were across from them, snogging the life out of each other.
They broke apart and Lavender smiled at them sheepishly. "Awe, come on you two! How do you expect me to keep my hands off this marvelous creature sitting next to me?" Ron asked, making Lavender blush crimson.
"I don't care how just ...." Harry trailed off as he stared out the compartment door. A shadow was coming and whoever it was, Harry did not want to see them. He let out a groan. "Malfoy."
That single last name let out a groan from the other three. Ever since first year, Draco Malfoy had come into their compartment to give them his yearly tradition of taunts. It was beginning to get quite annoying.
Harry looked around the small room at his friends, seeing them get ready for their enemy: Ron was getting his wand, ready to blast Draco to pieces, Lavender was fixing her clothes and hair, in no mood to get teased for making out with her boyfriend, and Hermione was clutching the edge of her seat.
The shadow came closer and closer but instead of stopping at their door, Draco just walked right past them, not even glancing back.
"Did everyone see that?" Ron asked, still staring at the empty doorway.
They all nodded and Ron said, "Good, I thought I was beginning to get delusional."
Lavender let out a small laugh, trying to break the tension.
"Well, it's about time that brainless git left us alone. Now that I don't have to worry about that prat I would like to resume my previous activities. Come, sweetums, lets go give our mouths some exercise. Mine is feeling a bit flabby at the ends!" Lavender's light laugh could be heard all the way down the hall.
"I'm glad he's finally grown up," Hermione said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Even if I did have some good comebacks ready," she said with a smile.
"Oh really? Let's hear them, then," Harry teased, mimicking her when they were in first year and Ron said he could turn his rat, Scabbers, yellow.
"Shut-up, Harry! I didn't sound like ..." just then she grabbed Harry and held on to his arm in a death like grip, her brown eyes large and staring, horrified, at the door.
"Hermione?" he looked at her frightened face, at the door, then back to her again. "What's the matter?"
Her grip loosened but she didn't remove her hand from his arm. "N-Nothing, I just th-thought I saw Anthony. N-N-No b-big deal, r-r-right?" she stammered, trying to stop shaking.
Harry frowned, he hated to see her so afraid. He couldn't remember a time when she had been so afraid and it made him angry. I'm going to kill you, Anthony, he thought while taking Hermione's hands in his own and pulling her closer. "He can't hurt you, 'Mione. I won't let him. Besides, is he even allowed to attend Hogwarts after what he did?" Harry asked.
Hermione buried her face into his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Something about it's steady rhythm calmed her own heart to a normal pace. "I don't know," she answered him. She actually did know the answer but didn't want to dwell on it.
"It's going to be all right," he comforted her, running a hand through her hair.
Hermione felt her eyes drooping. She struggled to open them but decided against it. She was so tired. Tired of being terrified of Anthony, tired of having to keep up a happy face, and just plain tired. She probably just imagined him, she tried to convince herself. She shut her eyes and let out a sigh. "Yeah, everything is going to be all right ..."
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"Hermione? Hermione, wake up."
Hermione groaned sleepily and sat up. She looked up into Harry's face, trying to remember where she was.
Harry smiled at her. "You fell asleep in my lap."
"Oh, Harry! I'm sorry! Why didn't you wake me up!" she exclaimed, blushing. No wonder she had been so comfortable.
He just laughed and looked at her in a way she had never seen him use; it sent pleasant chills down her spine. "Come on. We're here," he helped her to her feet and began gathering their stuff.
Hermione did the same, getting ready to head out the door.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah?" she answered, turning around to face her best friend.
He looked at her a moment with a serious expression on his face. "What is it, Harry?" she asked, searching his beautiful eyes for some sort of explanation.
"Don't be afraid, okay?" this was said in a whisper but she heard him nonetheless.
"Afraid? Of what?"
"When we step off this train, our whole lives will change. For better or for worse, no one knows. But I want you to know that no matter what happens to us, we will always remain best friends. You, me, and Ron. Always remember that."
Hermione smiled up at him. "This is about the Dark Mark isn't it?" she asked, wishing she had a camera to capture the shocked look on Harry's face; it was priceless.
"You-you know?"
"Harry James Potter! I thought you knew me better than that! Of course I know, I'm not stupid! I only wish you could have told me instead of keeping it from me. I would have found out eventually, you know."
"I know. But I didn't want you to worry," he lowered his head, as if ashamed, then raised it to give her a dazzling smile. "I should have known I couldn't keep anything from you. What was I thinking?" he said, covering his mouth with his hand, a look of mock terror played on his handsome face.
Hermione laughed. "What were you thinking? You forgetful boy."
"Yes, I should be used to your know-it-allness by now."
"You should be and if your not, you better start. Just because this is our last year, it doesn't mean you'll never see me again. I think I'll just follow you all over the world just to bother you."
"Oh really?" with that, he closed the small distance between them and started to tickle her.
Tears poured out of her eyes as she tried to wriggle free. "I surrender!" she gasped, laughing so hard she felt she would explode.
Harry finally let go and plopped down onto the seat next to her. "I knew you -" but before he could finish his statement, Hermione had leaped on him, tickling him until he gasped for breath. "Okay, okay! You win!"
She stopped and smiled down at him. "Like always."
Harry laughed and got up. "I should let you know, 'Mione, that I always let you win," with that, he sprinted out of the compartment, escaping Hermione's comeback.
When she had gathered her small belongings she walked out into the narrow hallway, where Harry was waiting for her. "Okay, let's go before they send the whole school looking for us."
Harry nodded his agreement and headed towards the main exit. When Hermione stood by his side, he said, "I hope you do follow me everywhere, even if it is just to bother me," he smiled down at her, took her hand, and they stepped out of the train and into pure chaos.
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"I'm glad that's over. I'm pooped," Lavender said, leaning her head against Ron's shoulder as the four friends headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
As all the Hogwart's students stepped outside and saw the Dark Mark burning in the sky, panic made them run around like maniacs. It took Hagrid a full twenty minutes to calm the first years down and lead them towards the lake where boats were awaiting them. The older years took it a bit better, though some were fairly scared out of their minds. "How could this be possible?" was the phrase coming out of everyone's mouths. How was it possible? The Dark Mark was hovering above the safest place in all the wizarding world.
"Me too. I usually love watching people being sorted into houses and all the great food, but this time it was a complete nightmare. It took Dumbledore five minutes to calm everyone and by the time the food arrived everyone had lost their appetites," Hermione said, then looked over at Ron. "Well, almost everyone's appetites," she added with a grin.
Before Ron could comment on that true statement, a cold voice made them twirl around.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Fancy seeing you here, Hermione."
She knew that voice. The one that made her heart freeze over, the one that kept her up at night, the one that she was terribly afraid of. "Back off, Parzatti," Harry and Ron growled.
"No need to get all defensive. I just wanted to say hi to your little mudblood," Anthony smiled cruelly at them. He gave a slight bow to Hermione, swirled around with a swish of his coat and was gone down the opposite hallway.
"It's all right, Harry," Hermione touched his arm.
"I'm going to kill him!" he spat viciously. A struggling Ron was holding him back.
"No, you can't. I'm fine really. Let's just go."
Harry looked down at her and stopped his angry protests at Ron. "Are you sure?" he asked, his face going back to it's regular tan color.
"Hermione gave him a warm smile and nodded. "Sure I'm sure."
He looked down the hallway Anthony had disappeared from and started to walk away with his friends, reluctantly. "Okay ..."
"I'm glad your face turned back to it's normal color. Red doesn't suit you, mate," Ron said, the tension dissolving into happy laughter.
Even though Harry would not kill Anthony, for Hermione's sake, he would go to Dumbledore.
A~N: Hey peoples! I'm finally done with this chapter!! Yes! I typed so fast, I think my fingers might fall off ... Anyway, I'm sorry for the huge delay, hope I made up for it :) I want to thank all my reviewers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Until the next chapter ~ Yours truly, Sweet*Heart
"What do you have in here, Hermione? Rocks?"
Hermione heard Harry grumble as he lugged her trunk behind him, including his own. "You were the one who wanted to carry it, Mr. Macho. If it's too heavy give it back to me," she answered with a smirk.
"No, I got it," Harry said quickly, glad Hermione was in front of him and couldn't see him blush.
"Yeah, real macho," Ron commented with a laugh.
"Shut-up, Weasley!" he snapped, a smile forming on his lips.
The three friends finally reached platform nine and three quarters.
"Mum! Dad!" Hermione cried, running towards them and throwing her arms around them.
"Hey, sweetie! How was your stay with Harry?" her mother asked, kissing her cheek.
"Oh, great. We -"
Just then, Ron interrupted her with a loud laugh. She turned to see him clutching his stomach and roaring with laughter. Ron pointed straight ahead of him and Hermione followed his finger.
She saw Harry trying to get through a mob of people, his trunk overturned next to him, while he tried to keep hers from overturning as well. She saw Harry's lips forming the words, "Excuse me," but no one moved.
Hermione was about to go help him when his voice made her jump back and everyone turn to look at him.
"EXCUSE ME!" he shouted. The train station became deadly quiet, everyone's eyes on him. Harry turned a bright shade of red, muttered a "sorry," and practically ran towards his friends.
"That was bloody hilarious, Harry!" Ron gasped, tears rolling out of the corners of his eyes.
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard not to laugh, but failed and ended up on the floor with Ron, doubled over in laughter.
Harry ignored them. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," he said, smiling.
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"Will you get a bloody room all ready!" Hermione and Harry cried in unison.
Harry and Hermione were seated next to each other on the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Lavender were across from them, snogging the life out of each other.
They broke apart and Lavender smiled at them sheepishly. "Awe, come on you two! How do you expect me to keep my hands off this marvelous creature sitting next to me?" Ron asked, making Lavender blush crimson.
"I don't care how just ...." Harry trailed off as he stared out the compartment door. A shadow was coming and whoever it was, Harry did not want to see them. He let out a groan. "Malfoy."
That single last name let out a groan from the other three. Ever since first year, Draco Malfoy had come into their compartment to give them his yearly tradition of taunts. It was beginning to get quite annoying.
Harry looked around the small room at his friends, seeing them get ready for their enemy: Ron was getting his wand, ready to blast Draco to pieces, Lavender was fixing her clothes and hair, in no mood to get teased for making out with her boyfriend, and Hermione was clutching the edge of her seat.
The shadow came closer and closer but instead of stopping at their door, Draco just walked right past them, not even glancing back.
"Did everyone see that?" Ron asked, still staring at the empty doorway.
They all nodded and Ron said, "Good, I thought I was beginning to get delusional."
Lavender let out a small laugh, trying to break the tension.
"Well, it's about time that brainless git left us alone. Now that I don't have to worry about that prat I would like to resume my previous activities. Come, sweetums, lets go give our mouths some exercise. Mine is feeling a bit flabby at the ends!" Lavender's light laugh could be heard all the way down the hall.
"I'm glad he's finally grown up," Hermione said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Even if I did have some good comebacks ready," she said with a smile.
"Oh really? Let's hear them, then," Harry teased, mimicking her when they were in first year and Ron said he could turn his rat, Scabbers, yellow.
"Shut-up, Harry! I didn't sound like ..." just then she grabbed Harry and held on to his arm in a death like grip, her brown eyes large and staring, horrified, at the door.
"Hermione?" he looked at her frightened face, at the door, then back to her again. "What's the matter?"
Her grip loosened but she didn't remove her hand from his arm. "N-Nothing, I just th-thought I saw Anthony. N-N-No b-big deal, r-r-right?" she stammered, trying to stop shaking.
Harry frowned, he hated to see her so afraid. He couldn't remember a time when she had been so afraid and it made him angry. I'm going to kill you, Anthony, he thought while taking Hermione's hands in his own and pulling her closer. "He can't hurt you, 'Mione. I won't let him. Besides, is he even allowed to attend Hogwarts after what he did?" Harry asked.
Hermione buried her face into his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Something about it's steady rhythm calmed her own heart to a normal pace. "I don't know," she answered him. She actually did know the answer but didn't want to dwell on it.
"It's going to be all right," he comforted her, running a hand through her hair.
Hermione felt her eyes drooping. She struggled to open them but decided against it. She was so tired. Tired of being terrified of Anthony, tired of having to keep up a happy face, and just plain tired. She probably just imagined him, she tried to convince herself. She shut her eyes and let out a sigh. "Yeah, everything is going to be all right ..."
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"Hermione? Hermione, wake up."
Hermione groaned sleepily and sat up. She looked up into Harry's face, trying to remember where she was.
Harry smiled at her. "You fell asleep in my lap."
"Oh, Harry! I'm sorry! Why didn't you wake me up!" she exclaimed, blushing. No wonder she had been so comfortable.
He just laughed and looked at her in a way she had never seen him use; it sent pleasant chills down her spine. "Come on. We're here," he helped her to her feet and began gathering their stuff.
Hermione did the same, getting ready to head out the door.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah?" she answered, turning around to face her best friend.
He looked at her a moment with a serious expression on his face. "What is it, Harry?" she asked, searching his beautiful eyes for some sort of explanation.
"Don't be afraid, okay?" this was said in a whisper but she heard him nonetheless.
"Afraid? Of what?"
"When we step off this train, our whole lives will change. For better or for worse, no one knows. But I want you to know that no matter what happens to us, we will always remain best friends. You, me, and Ron. Always remember that."
Hermione smiled up at him. "This is about the Dark Mark isn't it?" she asked, wishing she had a camera to capture the shocked look on Harry's face; it was priceless.
"You-you know?"
"Harry James Potter! I thought you knew me better than that! Of course I know, I'm not stupid! I only wish you could have told me instead of keeping it from me. I would have found out eventually, you know."
"I know. But I didn't want you to worry," he lowered his head, as if ashamed, then raised it to give her a dazzling smile. "I should have known I couldn't keep anything from you. What was I thinking?" he said, covering his mouth with his hand, a look of mock terror played on his handsome face.
Hermione laughed. "What were you thinking? You forgetful boy."
"Yes, I should be used to your know-it-allness by now."
"You should be and if your not, you better start. Just because this is our last year, it doesn't mean you'll never see me again. I think I'll just follow you all over the world just to bother you."
"Oh really?" with that, he closed the small distance between them and started to tickle her.
Tears poured out of her eyes as she tried to wriggle free. "I surrender!" she gasped, laughing so hard she felt she would explode.
Harry finally let go and plopped down onto the seat next to her. "I knew you -" but before he could finish his statement, Hermione had leaped on him, tickling him until he gasped for breath. "Okay, okay! You win!"
She stopped and smiled down at him. "Like always."
Harry laughed and got up. "I should let you know, 'Mione, that I always let you win," with that, he sprinted out of the compartment, escaping Hermione's comeback.
When she had gathered her small belongings she walked out into the narrow hallway, where Harry was waiting for her. "Okay, let's go before they send the whole school looking for us."
Harry nodded his agreement and headed towards the main exit. When Hermione stood by his side, he said, "I hope you do follow me everywhere, even if it is just to bother me," he smiled down at her, took her hand, and they stepped out of the train and into pure chaos.
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"I'm glad that's over. I'm pooped," Lavender said, leaning her head against Ron's shoulder as the four friends headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
As all the Hogwart's students stepped outside and saw the Dark Mark burning in the sky, panic made them run around like maniacs. It took Hagrid a full twenty minutes to calm the first years down and lead them towards the lake where boats were awaiting them. The older years took it a bit better, though some were fairly scared out of their minds. "How could this be possible?" was the phrase coming out of everyone's mouths. How was it possible? The Dark Mark was hovering above the safest place in all the wizarding world.
"Me too. I usually love watching people being sorted into houses and all the great food, but this time it was a complete nightmare. It took Dumbledore five minutes to calm everyone and by the time the food arrived everyone had lost their appetites," Hermione said, then looked over at Ron. "Well, almost everyone's appetites," she added with a grin.
Before Ron could comment on that true statement, a cold voice made them twirl around.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Fancy seeing you here, Hermione."
She knew that voice. The one that made her heart freeze over, the one that kept her up at night, the one that she was terribly afraid of. "Back off, Parzatti," Harry and Ron growled.
"No need to get all defensive. I just wanted to say hi to your little mudblood," Anthony smiled cruelly at them. He gave a slight bow to Hermione, swirled around with a swish of his coat and was gone down the opposite hallway.
"It's all right, Harry," Hermione touched his arm.
"I'm going to kill him!" he spat viciously. A struggling Ron was holding him back.
"No, you can't. I'm fine really. Let's just go."
Harry looked down at her and stopped his angry protests at Ron. "Are you sure?" he asked, his face going back to it's regular tan color.
"Hermione gave him a warm smile and nodded. "Sure I'm sure."
He looked down the hallway Anthony had disappeared from and started to walk away with his friends, reluctantly. "Okay ..."
"I'm glad your face turned back to it's normal color. Red doesn't suit you, mate," Ron said, the tension dissolving into happy laughter.
Even though Harry would not kill Anthony, for Hermione's sake, he would go to Dumbledore.
A~N: Hey peoples! I'm finally done with this chapter!! Yes! I typed so fast, I think my fingers might fall off ... Anyway, I'm sorry for the huge delay, hope I made up for it :) I want to thank all my reviewers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Until the next chapter ~ Yours truly, Sweet*Heart