Chapter Six
Carrot Top
The world around Harry melted as he held Hermione. The kiss beecaame more and more intense, then suddenly it stopped, bringing him back to the train. As they broke apart he tried to maintain his balance. He had never been kissed like that before.
"Harry-" Hermione began.
"I know, I'm sorry," Harry said miserably. "I didn't mean to, I just...just...like you." he finished in a defeated voice.
"Harry, I like you too," Hermione said, "A lot. I've liked you for years. I'd wouldn't mind if we were, you know, going together, I guess. I just can't stop thinking about Ron, but not in that way. You're always on my mind." Harry half smiled, then (to Hermione's great surprise) he grinned.
"Well, Ron wouldn't want us apart for him. At least he was trying to hook us up before you guys weent out. What do you say Hermione? Shall we gave Witch's Weekly something to talk about?" Hermione smiled for the First time that day, took Harry's hand, and they headed toward the coaches.
* * *
Ron gaped at the city before him. He thought they were primitive!
"What did I tell you. Sirius asked grinning. "You should see it in the day, everyones at home by now." As they started walking through Marigold, Ron remebered something.
"Sirus, you've been getting Harry's letters, right?" Sirius nodded. "Well then, why haven't you written back? Harry hasn't a letter from you since fifth year, and he was beginning think something really awful had happened..." Ron let the sentence hang and Sirius sighed.
"It's the law around here." he answered.
"You're-"
"Contact with humans is strictly forbidden." said Harmony. "Unless, of coarse, the human is accepted."
"You mean-"
"Yes, I'm breaking the law. Sirius has already been accepted."
"What do I have to do te be, er, accepted?"
"Well, you have to pass a series of tests." Sirius got rather uneasy at Harmony's words. "You could do it, you've already passed one."
"I have?" Ron asked in confused disbelief.
"You're not Dark," she explained. "Honestly, I'm the only one in Marrigold who realizes that not all human wizards are Dark. Anyway, I tell my dad that, he looks you over, and you take on some challenges." She made it sound very simple. "It only takes about half a moon."
"Moon?" Ron asked, more confused than ever.
"It's about a month," Sirius clarified. "Their calendar is based on nature; day, moon, star."
"Star?"
"A year. See, it takes one year for the earth to rotate until a certian star is in the same place in relation to the city it was. Understand?"
"I guess...Speaking of time, what's the date?"
"Date?" Harmony asked while Sirius chuckled.
"They don't use our system, Ron! I'd tell you, but I lost track a long time ago. I would guess that it's September, but to go into any further detail would be dangerous." September? That meant school was starting...
"If I get accepted, does that mean I can't send an owl to Harry or Hermione?"
"Yes," said Sirius sadly.
"I've been trying to get that law abolished." said Harmony. "Along with the 'No Human Contact' law. With two decent and accepted humans to show, it shoudn't be too difficult." By then they had reached the castle. They walked through the huge oak doors.
They were in a huge stone hallway with rooms and staairways branching off, just like the entrance hall. The entire laywout was strangely like Hogwarts.
"That's the main dining hall, it can also be used as a ballroom." said Harmony, pointing to the double doors on her left. Ron immediatly noticed that the room was exactly were the Great Hall would've been if they were at Hogwarts. He raised his eyebrows at Sirius, who nodded.
A breif tour proved Ron's theory correct. This was Hogwarts with bedrooms instead of classrooms. And also without Harry or Hermione. Ron felt homesick for them, especially in a castle nearly identical to the one in which they had been such good friends.
Ron's room didn't help, it was placed where the Gryffindor common room was. Sirius laughed out loud at this, but quickly developed a hacking cough at Harmony's quizzical look. They left, leaving Ron feeling more alone than ever.
* * *
Harry and Hermione pretended to enjoy the feast. They talked, but didn't laugh. They participated, but didn't want to. Finally the food was gone and Dumbledore stood up to make some last minute announcements.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," He said, smiling warmly. "May I just remind you of a couple things before you go up to bed. Absolutely NO turning teachers into toads-"
The hall erupted with laughter. Hermione and Harry couln't help but join in, remembering their last day of fifth year. The Weasley (Ron's older brothers) had turned Snape into a particularly warty toad. Even Ginny managed a smile. Snape, on the other hand, looked ready for murder.
"The Forbidden Forest is off limits. No magic on the corridors, and also..." Dumbledore rambled on animatedly before he caught Harry's attention again.
"Now I must address a very serious matter." said Dumbledore, suddenly looking very solomn indeed. "One of our students, a Gryffindor by the name of Ron Weasley, has gone missing. If anyone knows anything about his wherabouts, come see me immediatly." He looked around the hall, then smiled. "Now off to bed."
Harry and Hermione got up to lead the first years to the Gryffindor Tower. Hermione let out a small sob.
"What?" Harry asked with concern on his face.
"The new password's 'carrot top'." Harry remembered this as Hermione's pet name for Ron. He put his arm around her and they went up to the common room, then to their seperate dorms. Both were thinking about their red headed friend.
Carrot Top
The world around Harry melted as he held Hermione. The kiss beecaame more and more intense, then suddenly it stopped, bringing him back to the train. As they broke apart he tried to maintain his balance. He had never been kissed like that before.
"Harry-" Hermione began.
"I know, I'm sorry," Harry said miserably. "I didn't mean to, I just...just...like you." he finished in a defeated voice.
"Harry, I like you too," Hermione said, "A lot. I've liked you for years. I'd wouldn't mind if we were, you know, going together, I guess. I just can't stop thinking about Ron, but not in that way. You're always on my mind." Harry half smiled, then (to Hermione's great surprise) he grinned.
"Well, Ron wouldn't want us apart for him. At least he was trying to hook us up before you guys weent out. What do you say Hermione? Shall we gave Witch's Weekly something to talk about?" Hermione smiled for the First time that day, took Harry's hand, and they headed toward the coaches.
* * *
Ron gaped at the city before him. He thought they were primitive!
"What did I tell you. Sirius asked grinning. "You should see it in the day, everyones at home by now." As they started walking through Marigold, Ron remebered something.
"Sirus, you've been getting Harry's letters, right?" Sirius nodded. "Well then, why haven't you written back? Harry hasn't a letter from you since fifth year, and he was beginning think something really awful had happened..." Ron let the sentence hang and Sirius sighed.
"It's the law around here." he answered.
"You're-"
"Contact with humans is strictly forbidden." said Harmony. "Unless, of coarse, the human is accepted."
"You mean-"
"Yes, I'm breaking the law. Sirius has already been accepted."
"What do I have to do te be, er, accepted?"
"Well, you have to pass a series of tests." Sirius got rather uneasy at Harmony's words. "You could do it, you've already passed one."
"I have?" Ron asked in confused disbelief.
"You're not Dark," she explained. "Honestly, I'm the only one in Marrigold who realizes that not all human wizards are Dark. Anyway, I tell my dad that, he looks you over, and you take on some challenges." She made it sound very simple. "It only takes about half a moon."
"Moon?" Ron asked, more confused than ever.
"It's about a month," Sirius clarified. "Their calendar is based on nature; day, moon, star."
"Star?"
"A year. See, it takes one year for the earth to rotate until a certian star is in the same place in relation to the city it was. Understand?"
"I guess...Speaking of time, what's the date?"
"Date?" Harmony asked while Sirius chuckled.
"They don't use our system, Ron! I'd tell you, but I lost track a long time ago. I would guess that it's September, but to go into any further detail would be dangerous." September? That meant school was starting...
"If I get accepted, does that mean I can't send an owl to Harry or Hermione?"
"Yes," said Sirius sadly.
"I've been trying to get that law abolished." said Harmony. "Along with the 'No Human Contact' law. With two decent and accepted humans to show, it shoudn't be too difficult." By then they had reached the castle. They walked through the huge oak doors.
They were in a huge stone hallway with rooms and staairways branching off, just like the entrance hall. The entire laywout was strangely like Hogwarts.
"That's the main dining hall, it can also be used as a ballroom." said Harmony, pointing to the double doors on her left. Ron immediatly noticed that the room was exactly were the Great Hall would've been if they were at Hogwarts. He raised his eyebrows at Sirius, who nodded.
A breif tour proved Ron's theory correct. This was Hogwarts with bedrooms instead of classrooms. And also without Harry or Hermione. Ron felt homesick for them, especially in a castle nearly identical to the one in which they had been such good friends.
Ron's room didn't help, it was placed where the Gryffindor common room was. Sirius laughed out loud at this, but quickly developed a hacking cough at Harmony's quizzical look. They left, leaving Ron feeling more alone than ever.
* * *
Harry and Hermione pretended to enjoy the feast. They talked, but didn't laugh. They participated, but didn't want to. Finally the food was gone and Dumbledore stood up to make some last minute announcements.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," He said, smiling warmly. "May I just remind you of a couple things before you go up to bed. Absolutely NO turning teachers into toads-"
The hall erupted with laughter. Hermione and Harry couln't help but join in, remembering their last day of fifth year. The Weasley (Ron's older brothers) had turned Snape into a particularly warty toad. Even Ginny managed a smile. Snape, on the other hand, looked ready for murder.
"The Forbidden Forest is off limits. No magic on the corridors, and also..." Dumbledore rambled on animatedly before he caught Harry's attention again.
"Now I must address a very serious matter." said Dumbledore, suddenly looking very solomn indeed. "One of our students, a Gryffindor by the name of Ron Weasley, has gone missing. If anyone knows anything about his wherabouts, come see me immediatly." He looked around the hall, then smiled. "Now off to bed."
Harry and Hermione got up to lead the first years to the Gryffindor Tower. Hermione let out a small sob.
"What?" Harry asked with concern on his face.
"The new password's 'carrot top'." Harry remembered this as Hermione's pet name for Ron. He put his arm around her and they went up to the common room, then to their seperate dorms. Both were thinking about their red headed friend.