"Bittersweet"
Author's Note: This chapter was difficult to write, so excuse it if it isn't up to your usual standards. I didn't get reviews for the last chapter, surprising me. That was my first ever foreshadowing chapter in a story. Isn't that special?
IV. Bitter
***
Harry shoved his trunk out of the way as the four friends settled into their seats on the Hogwarts express. Hermione's Prefect Badge glittered on her chest as she shifted back and forth.
As the games of Exploding Snap and Quidditch talk progressed, Hermione became engrossed in her book and Ginny fell asleep, head on Harry's shoulder. He slipped an arm around her waist, smiling, as the compartment door slid open, and Dean and Seamus stepped in, a Prefect badge shining on Dean's robes. They grinned at Harry and Ginny, whose head was still on his shoulder. He flushed. "Way to go, Potter. Quite an accomplishment filled summer you've had." Seamus commented dryly. Harry raise an eyebrow, but relaxed when Seamus and Dean both laughed.
The two boys joined them in exploding snap, and after that the train trip was uneventful, not counting when Neville came in a dropped Trevor, his face falling, at Ginny's sleeping figure leaning against Harry, or when Malfoy came in.
Malfoy walked in, followed by...no one, for once. He sneered, put his hands on his hips, and glared at them all, his eyes resting on Harry. "Why, it's the Boy-Who-Does-Everything!"
The rest of the compartment looked at Harry for his reaction. Harry was smiling. "Why, Mr. Draco Malfoy, what a surprise! Let me guess- you insult us, we insult you back, you glare menacingly, and swing out, muttering about your father?"
Draco's face very much resembled a fish at that moment.
***
Dumbledore stood up, beaming at the mass of students in front of him. "We left on a sad note indeed last year. But we have returned on an even happier one. Harry Potter defeated Voldemort!" Harry flushed bright red as the school burst into cheers. He sunk as far down in his seat as was humanly possible. "Well, I would ask for him to say a few words, but as so many of us know, Harry is not a grand public speaker." Dumbledore concluded.
Ron yelled out, "He may not be a good speaker, but he is a damn good fighter! Last year in DADA we were practicing stunning charms, and he blew me clear out the window!"
Harry's face could have rivaled the Hogwarts express.
***
Ron and Hermione jogged miserably to the Portrait Hole. Snape had given them both a detention for "breathing too loudly." They had to kill armadillos and extract their bile because Snape apparently needed more.
"Carpe Diem." Hermione wheezed at the Fat Lady. "Be careful, I think a fight is going on." The plump portrait warned. Ron nodded, as he exchanged looks with Hermione.
The portrait hole opened to reveal a rare sight indeed.
Standing in front of the fireplace, red in the face, Harry and Ginny were having a blazing row, eerily similar to Ron and Hermione's own Yule Ball fight.
"Well, Harry, if you don't like it, you know what I have to say, right!" Ginny screamed, her hair coming out of the bun.
"No, I don't! Why don't you clue me in?" Harry yelled back, obviously ending on a sarcastic note.
"Swallow your pride and tell me, Harry! You know what the answer will be!" Ginny screeched back.
"No, I don't know, Gin! And I don't need to swallow my pride! I already told you!"
Ginny's eyes flashed dangerously. "It's really amazing, Harry! It really is! You don't consider yourself a hero, and you give yourself no credit! And when people try to reach you, you pull back!"
"What does that have to do with anything? And I do not pull back!" Harry stated, wholly bewildered.
"It has to do with everything, Harry!"
"I don't understand why you are being so stupid, Ginny!" Harry let his anger get a hold of him and do the talking.
Ginny eyes filled with tears. "If I'm guilty of being stupid in any way, it was in falling for you, Harry!" She turned on her heel and fled up the stairs. Harry blinked. And blinked again. And swallowed. And blinked again. A look of utter confusion was on his face. A moment later, it hit him, and he blushed bright red.
Ron was literally shaking with suppressed laughter. **They say me and Hermione are bad! At least we aren't incredibly CORNY when we fight!**
***
It was Harry's turn for a break.
After Fred and George had really taken the mick and had a large banner float behind him saying, "Yes, I am as conceited as people think I am, though I don't know about this sign, and I'm being an idiot about a girl, just thought you should know......" and the- Harry winced- fight with Ginny, which Harry was still unclear on, he needed a break.
Ginny had been steadily avoiding him, and he didn't blame her. Calling her stupid was not the greatest idea. Hermione had become slightly colder towards him as well, thought Ron hadn't cared, saying he had said way too many stupid things to count and he shouldn't blame anyone for saying something stupid too, even though his stupid words weren't as corny as Harry and Ginny's stupid words. Or something to that effect.
"How am I supposed to apologize if I can't be around her for more than two bloody seconds?" Harry said in frustration. Ron slung a brotherly arm around his shoulders. "Harry, corner her if you have too. And if all else fails, go for the kiss." Harry shoved Ron's arm off his shoulders, muttering to himself, flushing red. Ron snickered, having an unholy amount of fun with the torture he was putting his best friend through.
Katie had been elected captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and was leading the group out to the field to discuss who would be the new keeper. Ron and Hermione were with them because they wanted to see the practice, and Ron was getting trained for keeper tryouts. Secretly, of course, as no Gryffindor wanted to hear that the team already had a favorite.
They were about to step on the field as the group realized that their seeker was missing. They turned to se Harry, face pale, eyes unmoving on the middle of the pitch.
Harry had frozen as soon as he saw the field. His eyes focused on the exact spot where the Triwizard Cup had been. His breathing came in as shallow gasps as he began to replay that night in his mind.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in a worried voice. Harry began shaking his head over and over the cup. "No.....Wormtail....kill.....Cedric...no...." His friends realized what had happened and rushed at him, shaking his shoulders. But Harry didn't see them. He saw a graveyard, he heard...
"Kill the spare."
Harry Potter's world spun as everything went black.
***
"Lord have mercy!" said Madame Pomfrey as the group filtered in, Harry floating unconscious in the middle of them. Fred set Harry down on a bed as Madame Pomfrey shot something silver out of her wand and out the door. A moment later, Professor Dumbledore stepped in, his eyes sweeping over Harry. "What happened?" he asked the group. "When Harry saw the Quidditch Pitch, he started shaking and he said something about Cedric...." Dumbledore (a/n: I'm just calling him Albus from now on) nodded in his all- knowing way, and began to speak in a low voice to Madam Pomfrey, who began preparing potions.
Albus turned to face the group of worried friends. "When Harry saw the Quidditch Pitch, everything came crashing down on him- the guilt he feels, the pressure from the media, plain old peer pressure, the threat of Lucius Malfoy- and he had a nervous breakdown. I was expecting this to happen. Harry can't handle everything that is thrust at him. I was actually hoping this would happen, as Harry will be more able to face everything." Ron nodded, before turning to the rest of the group.
"Harry won't want this all over the school. Here's the plan. Apparently, Fred and George thought it would be hilarious to bewitch the Bludgers to be feather light and to hit only Harry's head. The feather light charm backfired, and they became heavier, resulting in Harry getting knocked unconscious for who knows how long. When you walk in the common room, Angelina, Alicia, and Katie will be yelling at Fred and George about it. Saying things like 'I'm sure the two big lumps Harry has on his head appreciated it!' and 'brilliant idea, if only you could do a simple feather light charm!' will help people believe it. Ok?" The group looked at Ron, rather shocked, until Katie nodded. "Let's go. Let the screaming begin." So the three girls ushered the twins out, yelling about Bludgers.
Hermione looked at Ron, rather impressed. "That was pretty good." Ron grinned. "Not my first time." Hermione raised her eyebrows at him, but his grin just widened. They dragged two chairs up too Harry's bedside, while Albus and Madame Pomfrey continued to flit about, waiting for Harry to wake up, or for Ginny to rush in, so they could tell her what really happened.
They didn't have to wait long, as Ginny ran into the room, face pale and eyes livid. "Fred and George now officially have two black eyes. Now, how is he?"
***
Author's Note: This chapter was difficult to write, so excuse it if it isn't up to your usual standards. I didn't get reviews for the last chapter, surprising me. That was my first ever foreshadowing chapter in a story. Isn't that special?
IV. Bitter
***
Harry shoved his trunk out of the way as the four friends settled into their seats on the Hogwarts express. Hermione's Prefect Badge glittered on her chest as she shifted back and forth.
As the games of Exploding Snap and Quidditch talk progressed, Hermione became engrossed in her book and Ginny fell asleep, head on Harry's shoulder. He slipped an arm around her waist, smiling, as the compartment door slid open, and Dean and Seamus stepped in, a Prefect badge shining on Dean's robes. They grinned at Harry and Ginny, whose head was still on his shoulder. He flushed. "Way to go, Potter. Quite an accomplishment filled summer you've had." Seamus commented dryly. Harry raise an eyebrow, but relaxed when Seamus and Dean both laughed.
The two boys joined them in exploding snap, and after that the train trip was uneventful, not counting when Neville came in a dropped Trevor, his face falling, at Ginny's sleeping figure leaning against Harry, or when Malfoy came in.
Malfoy walked in, followed by...no one, for once. He sneered, put his hands on his hips, and glared at them all, his eyes resting on Harry. "Why, it's the Boy-Who-Does-Everything!"
The rest of the compartment looked at Harry for his reaction. Harry was smiling. "Why, Mr. Draco Malfoy, what a surprise! Let me guess- you insult us, we insult you back, you glare menacingly, and swing out, muttering about your father?"
Draco's face very much resembled a fish at that moment.
***
Dumbledore stood up, beaming at the mass of students in front of him. "We left on a sad note indeed last year. But we have returned on an even happier one. Harry Potter defeated Voldemort!" Harry flushed bright red as the school burst into cheers. He sunk as far down in his seat as was humanly possible. "Well, I would ask for him to say a few words, but as so many of us know, Harry is not a grand public speaker." Dumbledore concluded.
Ron yelled out, "He may not be a good speaker, but he is a damn good fighter! Last year in DADA we were practicing stunning charms, and he blew me clear out the window!"
Harry's face could have rivaled the Hogwarts express.
***
Ron and Hermione jogged miserably to the Portrait Hole. Snape had given them both a detention for "breathing too loudly." They had to kill armadillos and extract their bile because Snape apparently needed more.
"Carpe Diem." Hermione wheezed at the Fat Lady. "Be careful, I think a fight is going on." The plump portrait warned. Ron nodded, as he exchanged looks with Hermione.
The portrait hole opened to reveal a rare sight indeed.
Standing in front of the fireplace, red in the face, Harry and Ginny were having a blazing row, eerily similar to Ron and Hermione's own Yule Ball fight.
"Well, Harry, if you don't like it, you know what I have to say, right!" Ginny screamed, her hair coming out of the bun.
"No, I don't! Why don't you clue me in?" Harry yelled back, obviously ending on a sarcastic note.
"Swallow your pride and tell me, Harry! You know what the answer will be!" Ginny screeched back.
"No, I don't know, Gin! And I don't need to swallow my pride! I already told you!"
Ginny's eyes flashed dangerously. "It's really amazing, Harry! It really is! You don't consider yourself a hero, and you give yourself no credit! And when people try to reach you, you pull back!"
"What does that have to do with anything? And I do not pull back!" Harry stated, wholly bewildered.
"It has to do with everything, Harry!"
"I don't understand why you are being so stupid, Ginny!" Harry let his anger get a hold of him and do the talking.
Ginny eyes filled with tears. "If I'm guilty of being stupid in any way, it was in falling for you, Harry!" She turned on her heel and fled up the stairs. Harry blinked. And blinked again. And swallowed. And blinked again. A look of utter confusion was on his face. A moment later, it hit him, and he blushed bright red.
Ron was literally shaking with suppressed laughter. **They say me and Hermione are bad! At least we aren't incredibly CORNY when we fight!**
***
It was Harry's turn for a break.
After Fred and George had really taken the mick and had a large banner float behind him saying, "Yes, I am as conceited as people think I am, though I don't know about this sign, and I'm being an idiot about a girl, just thought you should know......" and the- Harry winced- fight with Ginny, which Harry was still unclear on, he needed a break.
Ginny had been steadily avoiding him, and he didn't blame her. Calling her stupid was not the greatest idea. Hermione had become slightly colder towards him as well, thought Ron hadn't cared, saying he had said way too many stupid things to count and he shouldn't blame anyone for saying something stupid too, even though his stupid words weren't as corny as Harry and Ginny's stupid words. Or something to that effect.
"How am I supposed to apologize if I can't be around her for more than two bloody seconds?" Harry said in frustration. Ron slung a brotherly arm around his shoulders. "Harry, corner her if you have too. And if all else fails, go for the kiss." Harry shoved Ron's arm off his shoulders, muttering to himself, flushing red. Ron snickered, having an unholy amount of fun with the torture he was putting his best friend through.
Katie had been elected captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and was leading the group out to the field to discuss who would be the new keeper. Ron and Hermione were with them because they wanted to see the practice, and Ron was getting trained for keeper tryouts. Secretly, of course, as no Gryffindor wanted to hear that the team already had a favorite.
They were about to step on the field as the group realized that their seeker was missing. They turned to se Harry, face pale, eyes unmoving on the middle of the pitch.
Harry had frozen as soon as he saw the field. His eyes focused on the exact spot where the Triwizard Cup had been. His breathing came in as shallow gasps as he began to replay that night in his mind.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in a worried voice. Harry began shaking his head over and over the cup. "No.....Wormtail....kill.....Cedric...no...." His friends realized what had happened and rushed at him, shaking his shoulders. But Harry didn't see them. He saw a graveyard, he heard...
"Kill the spare."
Harry Potter's world spun as everything went black.
***
"Lord have mercy!" said Madame Pomfrey as the group filtered in, Harry floating unconscious in the middle of them. Fred set Harry down on a bed as Madame Pomfrey shot something silver out of her wand and out the door. A moment later, Professor Dumbledore stepped in, his eyes sweeping over Harry. "What happened?" he asked the group. "When Harry saw the Quidditch Pitch, he started shaking and he said something about Cedric...." Dumbledore (a/n: I'm just calling him Albus from now on) nodded in his all- knowing way, and began to speak in a low voice to Madam Pomfrey, who began preparing potions.
Albus turned to face the group of worried friends. "When Harry saw the Quidditch Pitch, everything came crashing down on him- the guilt he feels, the pressure from the media, plain old peer pressure, the threat of Lucius Malfoy- and he had a nervous breakdown. I was expecting this to happen. Harry can't handle everything that is thrust at him. I was actually hoping this would happen, as Harry will be more able to face everything." Ron nodded, before turning to the rest of the group.
"Harry won't want this all over the school. Here's the plan. Apparently, Fred and George thought it would be hilarious to bewitch the Bludgers to be feather light and to hit only Harry's head. The feather light charm backfired, and they became heavier, resulting in Harry getting knocked unconscious for who knows how long. When you walk in the common room, Angelina, Alicia, and Katie will be yelling at Fred and George about it. Saying things like 'I'm sure the two big lumps Harry has on his head appreciated it!' and 'brilliant idea, if only you could do a simple feather light charm!' will help people believe it. Ok?" The group looked at Ron, rather shocked, until Katie nodded. "Let's go. Let the screaming begin." So the three girls ushered the twins out, yelling about Bludgers.
Hermione looked at Ron, rather impressed. "That was pretty good." Ron grinned. "Not my first time." Hermione raised her eyebrows at him, but his grin just widened. They dragged two chairs up too Harry's bedside, while Albus and Madame Pomfrey continued to flit about, waiting for Harry to wake up, or for Ginny to rush in, so they could tell her what really happened.
They didn't have to wait long, as Ginny ran into the room, face pale and eyes livid. "Fred and George now officially have two black eyes. Now, how is he?"
***