Chapter3: the letter
Winter break was approaching, and it was time for Hermione and Ron to
decide whether they were staying or not. Ron thought that this year might
be a good year to go home, especially since it would only be him and Ginny
at home. So, he decided to go home while Hermione decided to stay.
Harry received many gifts for Christmas this year and he enjoyed the Christmas feast with Hermione. A few days later, before school started back, Harry received a letter at breakfast. It looked like it had traveled a long way and Harry could barely make out what it said:
Mr. Potter, I'm sorry I haven't been able to write sooner, but I have been awfully busy. Before you ask, you do not know me, but believe that I know you; all to well I'm afraid. I don't know the exact correct way to say this, so I will just tell you the truth. I want to meet you. I have a business proposition for you. Simply fly over the Dark Forest, due North. You will know when you find me, for I will be waiting. You have until January 31st. That should insure that you get this letter in time. If you do not arrive by the above date, I will be forced to come get you. You may think you are safe in those walls, and you are safe from most, but not me, I have ways. Do NOT, and I repeat do NOT take this note to any type of authority at all. If you do, I will surely find out, as I said before I have my ways, and I will come for you. Also, do not attempt to respond to this letter, for I move around a lot and cannot be found easily.
- sincerely yours, your new best friend.
Harry looked up at Hermione with terror in his eyes. Heremione asked, "What is it, Harry? What does it say?" Harry answered, " That's exactly it, I don't know what it says." He handed the letter to Hermione, who quickly read it. She then looked up at it, Harry? What does it say?"
Harry answered, " That's exactly it, I don't know what it says." He handed the letter to Hermione, who quickly read it. She then looked up at Harry and responded, "You know you have to take this to Dumbledore immediately. It could be one of u-know who's followers." "No, I can't! He said no authority," Harry said quietly so know one would hear. Hermione looked as if she was going to respond, but then decided it better not to.
Harry kept reading the letter all day, he didn't know what to do about it. He wanted to take it to Dumbledore, or even write to Sirius, but this person seemed to know everything that happened at Hogwarts, and Harry was very afraid of the consequences. Hermione didn't say much for once. She seemed to be just as confused as Harry. When Ron and the rest of the school came back from break, Harry nor Hermione told him about the letter.
So a few weeks went by and all Harry could think about was that letter. So, one Sunday morning, before the sun rose, Harry grabbed his broom and headed outside. He was determined to go whether it was dangerous or not. As he walked out to the edge of the forest, he heard someone scream. He turned around to find Hermione following him, she had been watching him waiting for him to try to sneek off. He begged her not to go, but in the end the two of them flew off. After a while, they came to a clearing, and Harry saw a tall, dark man standing there.
Harry told Hermione to stay back so as not to be seen, and he went down. The man saw Harry, "Ah, Potter I'm glad u could make it." "Who are u?" Harry asked. The man stared at him with an evil look, and walked a little closer, "Why, as I said in my letter, I'm your new best friend, Steven Gibbs! Nice to meet you!" Harry stood back. So, Steven began talking, he said he worked for Voldermort, but was getting tired of the man, he wanted to help Harry and spy on Voldermort for him!
Harry didn't trust this guy, "Why didn't you go to the Ministry?" he asked. "B/c think Harry, Voldermort would find out! Don't you think he still has spies! Honestly, I thought you were smarter than that!" Gibbs answered. Harry thought for a few minutes, he was right. Before Harry knew it, he heard Hermione scream, "Harry look out!" Harry turned and looked back at the man, who was pulling out his wand, "I thought I said no one else Potter!"
And before Harry knew it, a spark flew out of his wand and hit Hermione, she fell instantly to the ground. "Hermione!" Harry screamed, but he dare not turn his back on this man again. He stared right at Steven, "What do you want from me!" Steven stared evilly at him, "I wanted to help, but apparently you don't trust me." He hopped on his broom, "I'll be in touch. We'll talk again when you're ready to listen!" And with that he flew off.
Harry waited a minute to make sure he was gone and then ran over to where Hermione had fallen. Harry rolled her over and looked at her brused face, "Oh, Hermione. Why are you always trying to help!" He picked her up. Gently holding her, he managed to get on his broom, and flew immediately to the Hospital wing.
He told Madame Pomfrey that they had been practining Dueling on broomsticks, and Hermione had taken a bad hit. She seemed to buy the story. Harry immediately went to Ron, who had just woken up. Ron wasn't too happy, "I can't believe you didn't tell me, your best friend, and you didn't say a BLOODY word!" (Ron always says bloody)
So, Harry made it through they day ok. Ron never really got over it though. Sunday afternoon, he decided to go see Hermione, without Ron. Harry approached the room and noticed Hermione was standing near the window, "Hermione?" She seemed startled, but turned and looked at Harry, "Hi." "How are you feeling?" "Ok, I guess."
Harry walked closer, "Hermione, I came because I wanted to tell you something." Hermione still stood at the window. Harry walked closer, he could tell she was upset about everything that had happened. "What Harry." " I wanted to tell you, I'm sorry." Hermione looked up at him, "Sorry for what?" Harry mumbled, "Well, for everything. I should never have let you get involved."
Hermione smiled, "that's ok." She turned and looked out the window again. Harry walked closer and put his hand on her shoulder, "There's something else.. When I saw you fall to the ground, for a brief moment I thought that maybe, just maybe you were dead. And when I had that thought, I couldn't breath Hermione, I couldn't think, I couldn't move. It had never occured to me that something like that could ever happen. Then when I picked you up and realized you were ok, I was sooo relieved. I thought the whole time flying back, about how my life would be without you, I couldn't bear it."
Hermione turned and looked at him oddly. "I'm trying to say, Hermione..that. I love you." Hermione stared at him longer, "Harry?" He smiled. Her eyes feeled with tears, "You know that crush I used to have on you, I never told you this, but it wasn't just a crush Harry." Harry hugged her before she could say anymore. Then he kissed her forhead. They're foreheads touched, "Hermione, this may be the last time I can do this."
He slowly and softly kissed her, and she kissed back. "We can't do this again, Hermione." He walked away from her. "Harry, you mean we can't tell each other how we feel." "No, you know why. I can't risk putting you in danger again. If anyone knew, you'd be on the top of the list to kidnap or hurt or kill even!" Hermione let the tears fall, "Harry, I know, but it doesn't seem right, why do we have to suffer!" She ran closer to him, he grabbed her, kissed her again, and then stared at her for a minute, "I love you. Don't ever forget that." Hermione smiled, "I love you, too."
Harry walked out of the Hospital wing very happy, on to the grounds where Ron was hanging out with Ginny and some Slytherins were around too. Ron looked very upset as he walked toward Harry. "Hey Harry!" Harry looked over, "What's up Ron?" Before Harry knew it, Ron was pushing Harry. "Ron?" "Why did you have to go and do that Harry? You knew I liked her!" Harry looked confused. "I saw you idiot!" Harry's stomach dropped, the window, Ron must have seen them, oh no. "Ron, I can explain." "No, I don't want an explanation, I want to VENT MY ANGER, on you!"
Malfoy seemed to have heard, "What's this, Potter stole poor, poor Weasley's girlfriend?" They both screamed, "Shut up Malfoy!" He laughed. Harry confronted Ron, "Look, I'm sorry, I'm not going to fight you Ron." Ron said, "Fine," and with that Harry felt a hard punch in the face. When he awoke, he heard Malfoy laughing continuosly, and Ron over him, "Are you ok?" Harry managed a "Yeah." "Good," and with that Ron was gone.
Harry received many gifts for Christmas this year and he enjoyed the Christmas feast with Hermione. A few days later, before school started back, Harry received a letter at breakfast. It looked like it had traveled a long way and Harry could barely make out what it said:
Mr. Potter, I'm sorry I haven't been able to write sooner, but I have been awfully busy. Before you ask, you do not know me, but believe that I know you; all to well I'm afraid. I don't know the exact correct way to say this, so I will just tell you the truth. I want to meet you. I have a business proposition for you. Simply fly over the Dark Forest, due North. You will know when you find me, for I will be waiting. You have until January 31st. That should insure that you get this letter in time. If you do not arrive by the above date, I will be forced to come get you. You may think you are safe in those walls, and you are safe from most, but not me, I have ways. Do NOT, and I repeat do NOT take this note to any type of authority at all. If you do, I will surely find out, as I said before I have my ways, and I will come for you. Also, do not attempt to respond to this letter, for I move around a lot and cannot be found easily.
- sincerely yours, your new best friend.
Harry looked up at Hermione with terror in his eyes. Heremione asked, "What is it, Harry? What does it say?" Harry answered, " That's exactly it, I don't know what it says." He handed the letter to Hermione, who quickly read it. She then looked up at it, Harry? What does it say?"
Harry answered, " That's exactly it, I don't know what it says." He handed the letter to Hermione, who quickly read it. She then looked up at Harry and responded, "You know you have to take this to Dumbledore immediately. It could be one of u-know who's followers." "No, I can't! He said no authority," Harry said quietly so know one would hear. Hermione looked as if she was going to respond, but then decided it better not to.
Harry kept reading the letter all day, he didn't know what to do about it. He wanted to take it to Dumbledore, or even write to Sirius, but this person seemed to know everything that happened at Hogwarts, and Harry was very afraid of the consequences. Hermione didn't say much for once. She seemed to be just as confused as Harry. When Ron and the rest of the school came back from break, Harry nor Hermione told him about the letter.
So a few weeks went by and all Harry could think about was that letter. So, one Sunday morning, before the sun rose, Harry grabbed his broom and headed outside. He was determined to go whether it was dangerous or not. As he walked out to the edge of the forest, he heard someone scream. He turned around to find Hermione following him, she had been watching him waiting for him to try to sneek off. He begged her not to go, but in the end the two of them flew off. After a while, they came to a clearing, and Harry saw a tall, dark man standing there.
Harry told Hermione to stay back so as not to be seen, and he went down. The man saw Harry, "Ah, Potter I'm glad u could make it." "Who are u?" Harry asked. The man stared at him with an evil look, and walked a little closer, "Why, as I said in my letter, I'm your new best friend, Steven Gibbs! Nice to meet you!" Harry stood back. So, Steven began talking, he said he worked for Voldermort, but was getting tired of the man, he wanted to help Harry and spy on Voldermort for him!
Harry didn't trust this guy, "Why didn't you go to the Ministry?" he asked. "B/c think Harry, Voldermort would find out! Don't you think he still has spies! Honestly, I thought you were smarter than that!" Gibbs answered. Harry thought for a few minutes, he was right. Before Harry knew it, he heard Hermione scream, "Harry look out!" Harry turned and looked back at the man, who was pulling out his wand, "I thought I said no one else Potter!"
And before Harry knew it, a spark flew out of his wand and hit Hermione, she fell instantly to the ground. "Hermione!" Harry screamed, but he dare not turn his back on this man again. He stared right at Steven, "What do you want from me!" Steven stared evilly at him, "I wanted to help, but apparently you don't trust me." He hopped on his broom, "I'll be in touch. We'll talk again when you're ready to listen!" And with that he flew off.
Harry waited a minute to make sure he was gone and then ran over to where Hermione had fallen. Harry rolled her over and looked at her brused face, "Oh, Hermione. Why are you always trying to help!" He picked her up. Gently holding her, he managed to get on his broom, and flew immediately to the Hospital wing.
He told Madame Pomfrey that they had been practining Dueling on broomsticks, and Hermione had taken a bad hit. She seemed to buy the story. Harry immediately went to Ron, who had just woken up. Ron wasn't too happy, "I can't believe you didn't tell me, your best friend, and you didn't say a BLOODY word!" (Ron always says bloody)
So, Harry made it through they day ok. Ron never really got over it though. Sunday afternoon, he decided to go see Hermione, without Ron. Harry approached the room and noticed Hermione was standing near the window, "Hermione?" She seemed startled, but turned and looked at Harry, "Hi." "How are you feeling?" "Ok, I guess."
Harry walked closer, "Hermione, I came because I wanted to tell you something." Hermione still stood at the window. Harry walked closer, he could tell she was upset about everything that had happened. "What Harry." " I wanted to tell you, I'm sorry." Hermione looked up at him, "Sorry for what?" Harry mumbled, "Well, for everything. I should never have let you get involved."
Hermione smiled, "that's ok." She turned and looked out the window again. Harry walked closer and put his hand on her shoulder, "There's something else.. When I saw you fall to the ground, for a brief moment I thought that maybe, just maybe you were dead. And when I had that thought, I couldn't breath Hermione, I couldn't think, I couldn't move. It had never occured to me that something like that could ever happen. Then when I picked you up and realized you were ok, I was sooo relieved. I thought the whole time flying back, about how my life would be without you, I couldn't bear it."
Hermione turned and looked at him oddly. "I'm trying to say, Hermione..that. I love you." Hermione stared at him longer, "Harry?" He smiled. Her eyes feeled with tears, "You know that crush I used to have on you, I never told you this, but it wasn't just a crush Harry." Harry hugged her before she could say anymore. Then he kissed her forhead. They're foreheads touched, "Hermione, this may be the last time I can do this."
He slowly and softly kissed her, and she kissed back. "We can't do this again, Hermione." He walked away from her. "Harry, you mean we can't tell each other how we feel." "No, you know why. I can't risk putting you in danger again. If anyone knew, you'd be on the top of the list to kidnap or hurt or kill even!" Hermione let the tears fall, "Harry, I know, but it doesn't seem right, why do we have to suffer!" She ran closer to him, he grabbed her, kissed her again, and then stared at her for a minute, "I love you. Don't ever forget that." Hermione smiled, "I love you, too."
Harry walked out of the Hospital wing very happy, on to the grounds where Ron was hanging out with Ginny and some Slytherins were around too. Ron looked very upset as he walked toward Harry. "Hey Harry!" Harry looked over, "What's up Ron?" Before Harry knew it, Ron was pushing Harry. "Ron?" "Why did you have to go and do that Harry? You knew I liked her!" Harry looked confused. "I saw you idiot!" Harry's stomach dropped, the window, Ron must have seen them, oh no. "Ron, I can explain." "No, I don't want an explanation, I want to VENT MY ANGER, on you!"
Malfoy seemed to have heard, "What's this, Potter stole poor, poor Weasley's girlfriend?" They both screamed, "Shut up Malfoy!" He laughed. Harry confronted Ron, "Look, I'm sorry, I'm not going to fight you Ron." Ron said, "Fine," and with that Harry felt a hard punch in the face. When he awoke, he heard Malfoy laughing continuosly, and Ron over him, "Are you ok?" Harry managed a "Yeah." "Good," and with that Ron was gone.