Chapter Seventeen: Detention and Deception

One of the other reasons that Harry wasn't worrying about the match with Slytherin was because he had something else to worry about - exams were drawing near again. Studying for his O.W.L.s was even nastier then for his normal exams, but Harry found help once more in both Ron and Hermione, whose new ability to work together passed onto him. Despite missing the previous year's exams, he had also studied more in some subjects as well to aid him in the Triwizard Tournament.

This meant he could study on those areas he was unsure of, one of which was always potions. No matter how many times Hermione explained a recipe or Ron mixed it with him, Harry was having a terrible time attempting anything. In his classes it seemed Snape's delight to torture him about this, resulting in one lesson where his cauldron melted instead of Neville's. The Potions teacher had then taken full advantage of Harry's misery to give him a detention as well, instead of letting him study for his other subjects.

'Miserable git,' Ron snarled repeatedly as he and Harry tried to study for Divination. Not only would they have to mix Seeing Potions for Trelawney this year, they also had to foretell an event in cards, something else Ron was not looking forward to. 'I can't decide which is going to be worse, the Potions or Divination exam.'

'For now let's just assume my detention will be the worst thing to happen this term,' Harry said, 'Then there's one less thing to predict for the exam.' He left later on, saying goodbye to Ron and Hermione as he went, before making his way down to the dungeon and Snape's classroom.

'Get cleaning,' was all Snape said to him as Harry entered, gesturing at the row of desks covered in the remains of various potions. From the mix Harry guessed it had been a first year class, actually amazed that he could now remember the ingredients to the Forgetfulness Potion. He was so busy scrubbing at one stain (which he thought resembled a slug) that he didn't notice the other person joining him in the detention until they tried to scrub the same desk.

'That's my slug,' Ginny remarked, her eyebrows narrowing as she examined the stain they were both trying to clean.

'What were you doing with them?' Harry asked, moving onto a different desk, 'I can't help but notice they've exploded everywhere.'

Ginny giggled and earned a glare from Snape, but he continued writing at his desk and let them keep on talking. 'We kind of had a slug fight with the Slytherins in our group,' she said, her face beaming in despite the darkness of the dungeon, 'I was deemed the ringleader when one of mine landed on his desk.'

Harry bit back a laugh and also tried to avoid Snape's glare as his concentration was broken once more by them. 'One more laugh, Potter, and I'll get you to clean the desks every day for the rest of this year.' His voice was icy and calm, and for once Harry believed he would carry out his threat so they continued cleaning in silence. 'Go,' Snape said, not even looking up from his work when they finished, 'and don't ever consider doing something like that again.'

They managed to get up to the Entrance Hall before they burst out laughing, collapsing onto each other to stand up. Drawing himself up, Harry pulled a sour face before letting out a harsh cackle, 'Never do that again!' he managed before laughing out loud again. By now Ginny was laughing so hard that she sank to the floor, clutching her stomach as Harry tried to do the impression again but failed miserably, dissolving into laughs.

Wiping tears from his eyes, Harry managed to control his laughs and put a hand out to help Ginny up, but with a small tug she pulled him down in a flurry of robes to sit beside her, prompting another burst of laughter. Watching Ginny as she gained control of her laughs until they were just giggles, Harry felt the familiar warmth in his heart that came from being with her. Then he realised that it was not just emotional warmth, but something else as well.

Reaching into his robes, he pulled out the Liefgema that she had given him. The colours inside swirled and jumped, and warmth was flowing from the object, another giggle from Ginny sent a wave of heat into his hand as he held the gem. Seeing Harry do this, Ginny suddenly noticed the same warmth on her skin, and pulled out Harry's Liefgema, where once more the colours blazed and danced inside.

Catching his eye, Ginny saw the same wonder and excitement that she felt, as the gems danced in unison she felt as if Harry's own heart was beating with hers. Staring back into her soft brown eyes, Harry saw the same exhilaration, and the same elusive emotion that had been around her since the summer.

Abruptly their senses disconnected as a harsh footstep broke the bond between Harry and Ginny, and as Ginny flinched Harry felt a flash of ice through her Liefgema. Standing quickly he put a finger to his lips and ushered her into the corner, keeping an arm around her protectively. Hiding behind a statue, they looked out in time to see Snape walk out from the corridor they'd come from. A few seconds later Harry heard another person walk down the stairs, and pulled Ginny back into the shadows with him.

'Well?' Snape hissed, looking around anxiously, and Harry's breath caught in his mouth as Kilmorie stepped into the light of the hall.

'It will be soon, I know that much.' He replied, not at all anxious and this seemed to pass onto Snape who calmed visibly.

'You're sure of that, because we need results soon - I think he'll start suspecting something otherwise.'

'So what? That won't affect me at all, I can handle this.' Kilmorie trailed off though, turning to look away from Snape.

'What?' Snape pressed, 'What is it?'

Kilmorie sighed before turning back, 'I just don't know if I'm ready to.'

Snape spat viciously before his eyes locked on Kilmorie, 'You've killed before, and don't give me that 'redeemed' act.'

'This is different,' Kilmorie replied, breaking Snape's gaze, 'and you know it. What I've done before is nothing compared to this. Nothing.' He sighed once more before continuing, 'I'm not sure if I want to be responsible for the murder of two children.'

'Potter and Weasley are no children,' Snape replied angrily, 'don't forget that. Just do what you were hired to do. No mistakes.' With a whirl of his cape, Snape stalked back down the corridor, leaving Kilmorie alone by the stairs.

Drawing aside his cloak the Professor pulled out a long dagger, stared into the light from the torches as it glanced off the blade. 'No mistakes.' he whispered, then sheathed the dagger and pulled his cloak about him. Orange eyes flashing in the darkness, he walked up the stairs with light footsteps, leaving the hall in silence once more.

After a few minutes Harry emerged from the shadows of the statue, walking slowly until he sat on the bottom steps of the staircase. Ginny followed, her face pale and nervous, her eyes darting around anxiously as if expecting something to happen. 'Harry?' she whispered, tugging at his cloak as he sat, staring at the ground, 'Harry let's go.please Harry.'

In the ice cold gem she held, Ginny felt a flash of warmth and found Harry staring back at her. Before she could say a word he took her hand and led her back upstairs. His movements were sure, but from the gem Ginny could still only feel ice, and in her heart only a feeling of dread.

* * *

After getting back to the common room Harry had let go of Ginny's hand and walked straight upstairs, even ignoring Ron and Hermione who had waited in chairs for the two of them. As he climbed the stairs, he was vaguely aware of Ginny breaking into tears as a puzzled Hermione walked over to her. Going up the dormitory he sat down on his bed and drew the curtains shut, lying back just as he heard Ron running through the door.

Harry turned over, but was surprised when Ron drew back the curtains and grabbed him roughly by the shoulders, lifting him up and pushing him against the headboard with surprising force. 'Give me a reason why I shouldn't,' he snarled, balling a fist. Looking into Ron's eyes, Harry saw a fierce hate that he didn't recognise, but also the anger that had spurred Ron into going after him.

Trying to answer, Harry found he could not speak, his throat choked him and his lips wouldn't form the words. Putting a hand up, Harry tried to pull Ron's arm away from his collar, but instead found himself being dragged out of his bed and slammed into the cabinet beside his bed. Pulling back his fist, Ron prepared to launch himself at Harry, but was pulled backwards by Dean and Seamus who had leapt out of their beds after hearing the crash of Harry impacting on the cabinet.

'What the hell are you doing?' Seamus cried, pushing Ron so that he sat on Harry's bed, while Harry, still trying to sound out words collapsed onto the floor.

'He did something to Ginny,' Ron snapped, 'and I want to know what.'

To Harry's shock, Seamus backed away, as did Dean, but Ron didn't go for him again. 'Harry, what did you do?' Seamus asked, his face now slightly paler.

Leaning against the cabinet, Harry tried to form words, his hand held at his throat but despite moving his mouth he could not say a thing. Kneeling down Seamus pulled Harry's hand back, but there was no mark on him. 'Ron, did you hit him?'

'No, but I bloody will in a minute.' He retorted, rising from the bed.

'Back off Ron,' Dean muttered angrily, shoving him back down quickly.

'Something's wrong,' Neville commented quietly as he joined them, 'look at his eyes.'

The door to the dormitory flew open again and Professor McGonagall walked through with Hermione and Ginny, tearstains visible on her face. Walking immediately over she took in the panicked Harry and red-faced Ron, eventually turning to the latter. 'Explain.'

'I didn't touch him,' Ron replied, still angry, but keeping it controlled.

'He didn't Professor,' Neville added when she looked to dismiss Ron's claim, 'Seamus and Dean pulled him back before he could hit Harry.'

'He didn't do anything!' Ginny yelled suddenly at her brother, 'He was just protecting me! Why did you do that!' and then she ran out of the room, before McGonagall or Hermione could stop her. Ron could only look from his departing sister to Harry, he glanced at Hermione then back to Harry, then put his face into his hands.

'You boys,' McGonagall said to the other three, 'help me get Potter down to the hospital wing, Hermione, stay with Ron.' Moving carefully Seamus and Dean lifted Harry who was now gasping as he tried to speak. Bustling out quickly McGonagall and Neville followed, leaving Hermione standing opposite Ron, who was now shaking as he sat there.

Moving slowly, she sat beside him on the bed, then put an arm around him until the shaking slowly stopped. Looking up at her, she saw where tears had fallen down his face and gently wiped them away. 'I didn't.I didn't know.' he mumbled, then let her pull him into an embrace as fresh tears ran down his face once more.