Thanks for all the reviews, people :):) Glad you like the story!
~
Hermione looked at her two friends cautiously over the Snap Flower that she was tending. Ron was red in the face, while Harry looked pale.
"You were nearly late!" She hissed. "What kept you?"
"Mal-" Ron was about to say when Harry elbowed him. "Hagrid! He wanted to show us a um, Skrewt."
"A Skrewt?" Hermione asked suspiciously. "I thought he disposed of all of those."
Harry glared at Ron.
"Oh, he did, didn't he? It was a picture." Ron said hastily, wincing at his answer.
"Hagrid showed you a picture of a skrewt?" Hermione said, looking unconvinced. "What were you going to say first, Ron? You said Ma or something."
"Malfunction!" Harry said quickly, "The anti-burglar charms had malfunctioned!"
Hermione shook her head. "Sometimes I don't get you." She said wryly, pulling her hand out of the way just as the flower attempted to bite her hand. "Why would Hagrid have anti-burglar charms?"
"To protect the griffins." Ron said automatically. "They're really valuable, you know. People use their feathers because if you hold a griffin feather, it strengthens your body and mind."
"You've actually been reading, Ron!" Hermione congratulated.
Ron flushed.
"Who'd want to get near those nasty creatures anyway? My griffin nearly tore my skin off. Nasty creatures, they are." Seamus said, over hearing their conversations.
"My griffin was pretty docile."
"I can't believe Hagrid made us work with the Slytherins!" Ron muttered.
"Actually, I think peace between Slytherins and the Gryffindors may be pretty good." Hermione thought aloud.
The others looked at her as if she was crazy. "Do you know what you're even SAYING?" Ron demanded. "You are saying that the Slytherins should be our friends! Snape should be NICE."
"I didn't say that." Hermione said calmly. "What I mean, is that if we don't punch each other out for a change, that doesn't mean we're half crazy. Its not like we want to launch into a major fight or anything."
Ron shook his head. "You're barking mad, Hermione. What did you do to yourself in summer?"
Hermione blushed.
Harry and Ron shook their heads. They knew perfectly well what had gone on 'that summer'.
~
Harry and Ron actually looked forward to the next Divination lesson. Ron was practically bouncing up and down all through Transfiguration, itching to get out of his seat the moment class ended.
"C'mon, Harry! Divination next!" Ron said, running.
Hermione walked past sedately. "I never knew you like Divination so much, Ron." She muttered.
"New interests." Harry said hastily, before Ron practically dragged him away.
Hermione looked after them with an odd expression on her face. "Ah." She said, shaking her head.
"You know what, Harry, I think you're actually a 'Seer'! You have talent for this, Harry." Ron said enthusiastically.
"I bet I do." Harry said, trying to drag Ron back.
They climbed the ladder, Ron practically falling off because he was bouncing too much.
"Geez, Ron. You're shaking the ladder!" Harry groaned, as his hand slipped off the rope again.
Unsurprisingly, they were the first ones in the classroom. "What are we learning today, Prof?" Ron asked Professor Trelawney eagerly.
"We're revising on Crystal Ball seeing techniques." Professor Trelawney said in a misty voice.
Ron bounded over to Harry. "Did you hear that, Harry? We're doing Crystal Balls again!"
"I can't wait."
When everyone came into class, Professor Trelawney handed out the Crystal Balls.
"I was crystal gazing yesterday, do you know what I saw?" Professor Trelawney asked mistily.
Parvati and Lavender looked enraptured, as did Ron. Harry noted tiredly.
"Death, my dears. Death was staring at me right in the face. It is looming over the castle, ready to take a fresh new victim." Professor Trelawney eyed Harry pointedly. "I think SOME of us should be more away of the clairvoyant vibrations going on around them. The tides are changing. Death is near, my dears!"
"Doesn't she ever get tired of saying that?" Harry muttered.
"Shh!" Ron said, "I'm trying to listen!"
Harry concluded that Ron was approaching insanity.
"Gaze into the crystal ball. Reach into the inner depths of your soul. See, my dears! Blank out your minds."
Harry saw a vision forming. It was Malfoy, looking troubled. He was staring at a photo of Hermione. Then there was Hermione, crying as she faced a beach. Krum appeared, dressed in his Quidditch uniform.
"There's something I need to tell you, Harry." Malfoy said softly at the same time Hermione and Krum spoke.
"Under power!" Krum was gasping. "Deceive."
"Run. Harry! RUN!!!!" Hermione screamed. Their voices echoed all around the crystal ball.
Suddenly, Harry saw dizzying visions. Hermione slapping Malfoy, striding away, then it changed to Hermione and Malfoy kissing passionately, while Krum watched on the sidelines, scowling. Suddenly, the visions vanished, replaced by a single white rose, held by Hermione. She placed it down on a coffin.
"Who killed him?" Harry heard someone say.
"Voldemort." Hermione whispered.
~
"Harry? Harry?" He felt icy cold water run down his face.
He tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. Someone slapped his face, shaking his shoulder.
All he could see was the crystal ball.
~
Harry had been in a coma for a month, now, never waking up.
Hermione constantly visited him, crying.
The Slytherin Quidditch team played the Ravenclaw team, but the Gryffindor team withdrew. They couldn't survive one minute in the Quidditch pitch without their Seeker.
"He's alive. His heart beats, he breathes." Madam Pomfrey told a troubled Dumbledore. "He's in a sleep. I don't know how to wake him up."
"This can't be for any longer." Professor McGonagall rapped out to the Gryffindor Quidditch team sternly. "We must hold trials to find a new Keeper and Seeker."
"But Professor-"
"I am as distressed about the incident as you are. It can't be helped." McGonagall said softly. "Think about it this way. Would Harry have wanted you to stop playing Quidditch?"
So the Gryffindor trials were held. Second years, 3rd years, 4th years, 5th years, 6th years, 7th years all flocked to try out for the glory of being the Seeker or the Keeper.
"Some of these dolts can't even catch." Angelina Johnson, who was the Quidditch captain, said exasperatedly as she threw a ball to an eager 2nd year.
Colin Creevy's broomstick went beserk as he tried to catch a ball. The Quaffle ended up hitting him on the head.
Even Ron tried out, catching the balls perfectly.
"I have talent for this!" Ron said.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Well, isn't it good that Harry's in a coma now?" She said sarcastically.
"I don't mean it that way." Ron said, flushing.
"Potter was never that good a seeker anyway." Said a 6th year Gryffindor with a swagger in his step, who turned his broom round and round before he caught any ball. Although he never missed, the Gryffindor team rejected him. They had no need for a braggart.
So the final decisions were made. Ron as seeker, Seamus was Keeper.
"Way cool, mate!" Seamus said, slapping hands with Ron.
"Well, isn't it so nice that Harry's in a coma now?" Hermione said shrilly, storming away.
All the Gryffindors watched as she stalked off, undoubtly to the hospital wing.
"She's got the idea totally wrong." Ron said flatly.
~
Hermione sat by Harry's bed, looking at him anxiously. "Harry, wake up!" She pleaded.
Looking around, she checked that no one was in, and then put her wand right at Harry's heart, sending red sparks.
Harry's whole body convulsed.
"Harry?"
Harry's eyes blinked. "Hermione? Hermione!"
"Harry! You're up!" Hermione said eagerly. "Listen. The Gryffindor team has chosen a new Seeker to replace you! You have to get up!"
Harry was murmuring something softly. Hermione had to put her ear right to his mouth to hear.
"Voldemort!" Harry whispered. "I saw you.Voldemort- has- plans- to- kill-"
Harry slumped back, eyes closed.
"Harry! HARRY!" Hermione gave a frustrated sigh. "Wake up! What did you just say?"
Ron and Seamus, who was listening at the Hospital Wing door, shook their heads. "Barking mad." Ron said.
~
Hermione raced straight to Professor McGonagall's office. "Harry woke, but he's fallen asleep again."
"He did?" Professor McGonagall said.
"Can I see Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"Did Potter say something." McGonagall said, eyes wide.
Hermione nodded.
"In that case, we have to go immediately." The Professor rose.
~
End of chapter!!!!!
The plot's thickening. Mystery deepens.
Ok. Stuffed up, but anyway! Please review. please, please, please. Even flamers!!!
Wev.
~
Hermione looked at her two friends cautiously over the Snap Flower that she was tending. Ron was red in the face, while Harry looked pale.
"You were nearly late!" She hissed. "What kept you?"
"Mal-" Ron was about to say when Harry elbowed him. "Hagrid! He wanted to show us a um, Skrewt."
"A Skrewt?" Hermione asked suspiciously. "I thought he disposed of all of those."
Harry glared at Ron.
"Oh, he did, didn't he? It was a picture." Ron said hastily, wincing at his answer.
"Hagrid showed you a picture of a skrewt?" Hermione said, looking unconvinced. "What were you going to say first, Ron? You said Ma or something."
"Malfunction!" Harry said quickly, "The anti-burglar charms had malfunctioned!"
Hermione shook her head. "Sometimes I don't get you." She said wryly, pulling her hand out of the way just as the flower attempted to bite her hand. "Why would Hagrid have anti-burglar charms?"
"To protect the griffins." Ron said automatically. "They're really valuable, you know. People use their feathers because if you hold a griffin feather, it strengthens your body and mind."
"You've actually been reading, Ron!" Hermione congratulated.
Ron flushed.
"Who'd want to get near those nasty creatures anyway? My griffin nearly tore my skin off. Nasty creatures, they are." Seamus said, over hearing their conversations.
"My griffin was pretty docile."
"I can't believe Hagrid made us work with the Slytherins!" Ron muttered.
"Actually, I think peace between Slytherins and the Gryffindors may be pretty good." Hermione thought aloud.
The others looked at her as if she was crazy. "Do you know what you're even SAYING?" Ron demanded. "You are saying that the Slytherins should be our friends! Snape should be NICE."
"I didn't say that." Hermione said calmly. "What I mean, is that if we don't punch each other out for a change, that doesn't mean we're half crazy. Its not like we want to launch into a major fight or anything."
Ron shook his head. "You're barking mad, Hermione. What did you do to yourself in summer?"
Hermione blushed.
Harry and Ron shook their heads. They knew perfectly well what had gone on 'that summer'.
~
Harry and Ron actually looked forward to the next Divination lesson. Ron was practically bouncing up and down all through Transfiguration, itching to get out of his seat the moment class ended.
"C'mon, Harry! Divination next!" Ron said, running.
Hermione walked past sedately. "I never knew you like Divination so much, Ron." She muttered.
"New interests." Harry said hastily, before Ron practically dragged him away.
Hermione looked after them with an odd expression on her face. "Ah." She said, shaking her head.
"You know what, Harry, I think you're actually a 'Seer'! You have talent for this, Harry." Ron said enthusiastically.
"I bet I do." Harry said, trying to drag Ron back.
They climbed the ladder, Ron practically falling off because he was bouncing too much.
"Geez, Ron. You're shaking the ladder!" Harry groaned, as his hand slipped off the rope again.
Unsurprisingly, they were the first ones in the classroom. "What are we learning today, Prof?" Ron asked Professor Trelawney eagerly.
"We're revising on Crystal Ball seeing techniques." Professor Trelawney said in a misty voice.
Ron bounded over to Harry. "Did you hear that, Harry? We're doing Crystal Balls again!"
"I can't wait."
When everyone came into class, Professor Trelawney handed out the Crystal Balls.
"I was crystal gazing yesterday, do you know what I saw?" Professor Trelawney asked mistily.
Parvati and Lavender looked enraptured, as did Ron. Harry noted tiredly.
"Death, my dears. Death was staring at me right in the face. It is looming over the castle, ready to take a fresh new victim." Professor Trelawney eyed Harry pointedly. "I think SOME of us should be more away of the clairvoyant vibrations going on around them. The tides are changing. Death is near, my dears!"
"Doesn't she ever get tired of saying that?" Harry muttered.
"Shh!" Ron said, "I'm trying to listen!"
Harry concluded that Ron was approaching insanity.
"Gaze into the crystal ball. Reach into the inner depths of your soul. See, my dears! Blank out your minds."
Harry saw a vision forming. It was Malfoy, looking troubled. He was staring at a photo of Hermione. Then there was Hermione, crying as she faced a beach. Krum appeared, dressed in his Quidditch uniform.
"There's something I need to tell you, Harry." Malfoy said softly at the same time Hermione and Krum spoke.
"Under power!" Krum was gasping. "Deceive."
"Run. Harry! RUN!!!!" Hermione screamed. Their voices echoed all around the crystal ball.
Suddenly, Harry saw dizzying visions. Hermione slapping Malfoy, striding away, then it changed to Hermione and Malfoy kissing passionately, while Krum watched on the sidelines, scowling. Suddenly, the visions vanished, replaced by a single white rose, held by Hermione. She placed it down on a coffin.
"Who killed him?" Harry heard someone say.
"Voldemort." Hermione whispered.
~
"Harry? Harry?" He felt icy cold water run down his face.
He tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. Someone slapped his face, shaking his shoulder.
All he could see was the crystal ball.
~
Harry had been in a coma for a month, now, never waking up.
Hermione constantly visited him, crying.
The Slytherin Quidditch team played the Ravenclaw team, but the Gryffindor team withdrew. They couldn't survive one minute in the Quidditch pitch without their Seeker.
"He's alive. His heart beats, he breathes." Madam Pomfrey told a troubled Dumbledore. "He's in a sleep. I don't know how to wake him up."
"This can't be for any longer." Professor McGonagall rapped out to the Gryffindor Quidditch team sternly. "We must hold trials to find a new Keeper and Seeker."
"But Professor-"
"I am as distressed about the incident as you are. It can't be helped." McGonagall said softly. "Think about it this way. Would Harry have wanted you to stop playing Quidditch?"
So the Gryffindor trials were held. Second years, 3rd years, 4th years, 5th years, 6th years, 7th years all flocked to try out for the glory of being the Seeker or the Keeper.
"Some of these dolts can't even catch." Angelina Johnson, who was the Quidditch captain, said exasperatedly as she threw a ball to an eager 2nd year.
Colin Creevy's broomstick went beserk as he tried to catch a ball. The Quaffle ended up hitting him on the head.
Even Ron tried out, catching the balls perfectly.
"I have talent for this!" Ron said.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Well, isn't it good that Harry's in a coma now?" She said sarcastically.
"I don't mean it that way." Ron said, flushing.
"Potter was never that good a seeker anyway." Said a 6th year Gryffindor with a swagger in his step, who turned his broom round and round before he caught any ball. Although he never missed, the Gryffindor team rejected him. They had no need for a braggart.
So the final decisions were made. Ron as seeker, Seamus was Keeper.
"Way cool, mate!" Seamus said, slapping hands with Ron.
"Well, isn't it so nice that Harry's in a coma now?" Hermione said shrilly, storming away.
All the Gryffindors watched as she stalked off, undoubtly to the hospital wing.
"She's got the idea totally wrong." Ron said flatly.
~
Hermione sat by Harry's bed, looking at him anxiously. "Harry, wake up!" She pleaded.
Looking around, she checked that no one was in, and then put her wand right at Harry's heart, sending red sparks.
Harry's whole body convulsed.
"Harry?"
Harry's eyes blinked. "Hermione? Hermione!"
"Harry! You're up!" Hermione said eagerly. "Listen. The Gryffindor team has chosen a new Seeker to replace you! You have to get up!"
Harry was murmuring something softly. Hermione had to put her ear right to his mouth to hear.
"Voldemort!" Harry whispered. "I saw you.Voldemort- has- plans- to- kill-"
Harry slumped back, eyes closed.
"Harry! HARRY!" Hermione gave a frustrated sigh. "Wake up! What did you just say?"
Ron and Seamus, who was listening at the Hospital Wing door, shook their heads. "Barking mad." Ron said.
~
Hermione raced straight to Professor McGonagall's office. "Harry woke, but he's fallen asleep again."
"He did?" Professor McGonagall said.
"Can I see Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"Did Potter say something." McGonagall said, eyes wide.
Hermione nodded.
"In that case, we have to go immediately." The Professor rose.
~
End of chapter!!!!!
The plot's thickening. Mystery deepens.
Ok. Stuffed up, but anyway! Please review. please, please, please. Even flamers!!!
Wev.