*A/N: Yay, I'm better (I was really sick previously) but now I'm not
as sick so I can write more! I should really be writing this on some of my
other fics, but whatever. Anyway, I'm addicted to writing more of this fic!
It's almost as interesting to me as an author than to me as a reader!
(Actually, that makes hardly any sense. But who cares, right?) Enjoy
chapter!
~*~
The next few days weren't exactly thrillingly fun for Hannah, or anyone else. However, the nights were dreamless and peaceful. Until...
"Ahhh!" Hannah screamed. "The dream again?" Hermione asked, turning on the light. They had made an escape plan.
"I hope we don't get in trouble again. I wonder when we'll get our detention slips." Hermione said as they walked to the commons.
"Three, two, one...boom." Hermione continued. Ron and Harry entered the common room, almost like on cue.
"Same dream again? This is just too creepy. I say we go in for a DNA testing."
"Hermione! Shut up!" Harry said. "Let the girl talk."
Everyone took his or her normal position. They could hear it raining outside - the usual October rain.
"See, here's how it went. We were all inside when we heard it, like, boom or something. And then, it, like..."
"What's with the likes? Just get to the story!"
Hannah glared at Harry. "I am, I am. Now, it boomed and everyone was really scared. And then McGonagall sent me and Harry to go see what it was, for some reason. And when we got there, we were like whisked away to this place. And then after that, everything's kind of fuzzy. Oh, oh yeah. Voldemort was there. He was all mean and icy and he tied us up with absolutely no respect towards my manicure or anything! And then he started talking to us about how he was back and more powerful and this time he would get us."
Everyone looked at Harry when they realized Hannah was done. "I had the same dream," he said, nervous from all the stares that were aimed at him.
There was a silence and all anyone heard was the steady rhythm of the rain, the normal October rain.
There was a flash of lightning and as the common room was lit up for a split-second, like a bolt out of the blue, everyone knew Harry and Hannah were actually, totally and completely, fraternal twins.
"I still say we take a DNA test. Just to make sure and be on the safe side. Just...you know. In case..." Hermione said.
Hannah, however, was looking up at Ron and smiled. She hoped there would be a gesture, or a smile, or a sign, or something to ensure her that he didn't care if she and Harry were related - and at the wedding there would be no problems.
But he just turned away from her. Her green eyes filled with tears, but she didn't let them fall. It was dark, no one could tell.
"Should we stay here?" Hermione asked. "Just in case?"
"Yeah," Hannah said. "If we could, that'd be great."
"We all know that we can't!" Hermione hissed. "It was bad enough that McGonagall saw us. What happens if Snape came or something?"
"And the chances that the Slytherin dude will be in a Gryffindor common room are like, what, 90 to nothing?" Hannah pointed out.
Ron, meanwhile, wanted so badly to stay. He really missed not talking to Hannah, but he was afraid to. If by any chance she found out that he liked her, he would absolutely die. He wouldn't make it through his fifth year.
He wanted to look at her. He felt his eyes slowly drifting towards her...but at the moment they were about to, his conscience would pull them back.
Hermione noticed, though. They had turned on a lamp and the room was filled with light - finally. Hannah's tears glistened like rain or glitter, and Ron was obviously dying to talk to her.
"I think...I think we should stay..." Harry said, noticing Ron and Hannah's look. "So what if no one notices? I mean...we'll just wiggle out of it. Hannah, you're like a natural escape artist?"
She smiled at that. "Yeah, everyone says I can escape out of something faster than Houdini in a buttered bikini. Anyway, I can think of something. But...I'd really like to stay here. If it's all right."
Hermione noticed the looks of the two blooming lovebirds and smiled. "Sure, why not?"
Ron, though, was scared. He didn't know what he might be tempted to do to Hannah. She was so pretty, with her brown hair flooding from her ponytail holder. He knew he wouldn't do anything stupid. But risky, maybe.
"No, I don't think we should," Ron said. Harry and Hermione gave him a questioning look. "Well, it's okay. Hannah will get us out of it."
He looked down at her without realizing it. She smiled up at him, but he didn't smile back. He was safe.
They talked for hours about anything in the world, but never about Voldemort. Slowly, though, they dropped like flies.
Ron and Hannah were the only ones still awake though. "Hannah, I need help," she said. "With what?" she asked.
"With girls. I mean, I just don't know. I really like this one girl, but she doesn't like me. I really don't think she does. I mean everyone says she does but I know she doesn't. Please help me."
Hannah smiled. Disappointed that she wasn't the girl he really liked but willing to help him in case he learned to like her, she sighed and agreed.
"What do I do to...to make her notice me? I mean what do girls like?"
Hannah didn't know what to say. "I'm not...like the rest of the girls, so I don't know how I could help you. Tell me who it is, then I'll definitely be able to help you."
"I can't," Ron said. "I just can't."
"Why not, it's not like it's that bad. I mean I won't tell her. Is it Lavender? Or Hermione? Because I know that Harry is, like, in love with Hermione. But I wasn't supposed to tell you that."
"I'm not telling you. Just tell me what you'd like. I'm sure you're not as different as you think."
This was a hilarious idea to Hannah, her not being as different as she thought, but she let it pass. "Well...girls like guys...that make them feel special. You know, that make them feel like they're the best things on the planet. You know? Compliment her and really, really make her feel loved. If she starts flirting with you, then you know she likes it and possibly you. And if she doesn't and dismisses you, then you can just go right on ahead and find another girl. She obviously isn't as good as what you deserve, then."
"That's what you'd like."
"That's what most girls like."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm so serious."
"What about you, though? What if this girl I like, what if she's not like most girls? I mean what if she's really, really different. Kind of like you."
"She probably only seems different to you because you like her. Because she's special to you. But, I'm pretty sure every girl likes a compliment or two. Unless they're total idiots." Ron smiled at that. "Look, I can't tell you exactly what to do. Just follow your heart. It'll tell you what to do."
He smiled at her. "Thanks, you're the best. I will love you forever for this."
This suddenly scared him. Did she think...?
"Yeah, I know." She said nonchalantly, so Ron knew she didn't think too much of the statement.
"Listen...Ron...umm...now I have a question for you. What do you look for in a girl? I mean, what do guys look for in a girl?"
He smiled at her. "Do you know?" she said, feeling nauseated.
"Know what?" he asked.
"Stop pretending to be stupid."
"I'm not pretending!"
"You know who I like, don't you?"
He was about to say no but then all the sudden there was a crash outside that awoke Harry and Hermione.
Hannah's pulse quickened and her heart was beating almost 500 beats a second. (Okay, that's an exaggeration) "Do...do you think it's...Voldemort?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "It is. He's here. We have to go, Hannah."
"No, Hannah, you aren't going anywhere!" Ron said. Hermione knew he was obviously embarrassed and, she helped him cover for it.
"I know, it's not safe."
"But it's not like I can't do it, I have to do it." Hannah said. "Do what?" Ron asked.
"That's just it. I don't know. But whatever it is, I have to." Ron didn't want her to at all.
"No. I'm sorry, but no." Hannah got up but Ron put his hand on her shoulder. She was shaking. "You aren't going!" he turned around and held her in his arms.
She held him the same way, and they stood there like that for a long time. "I can't lose you," he said. "I just can't."
Harry looked at them. "Hannah...I don't know what else we'll do..."
Hannah started blabbering, like she did whenever she was nervous. "You know maybe it wasn't Voldemort because there's a great chance it wasn't and even if it was maybe he took a wrong turn or maybe he meant to make a U-ie you know because my mom did that a lot in America whenever we were driving somewhere you know what I'm talking about and maybe if we just held on a little longer..."
"Hannah..." Harry said in a warning tone. "What else can we do?"
An eerie yet familiar flash of green shone through the windows. Hannah burst into tears. "I don't want to go!" she said and started crying into Ron's shoulder.
Harry looked at Ron with a You-Have-To-Let-Her-Go look that Ron knew so well. Harry had so many Looks that everyone had memorized them.
"I...I...I...I'm not letting her go. I don't know what you have to do but she isn't going to do it." Ron said. Hannah looked up at that.
"Ron, I don't want to go either, but I have to. I mean...I just do."
Ron sighed. He wanted to tell her that he loved her...but he couldn't. "Okay," he said. "Go."
She looked at him. If she didn't come back, then...then what would she do? She wouldn't have told him how she felt. But if she did and he didn't return the feelings, then would it have all been stupid in the first place?
"Bye," she said. She wanted so badly to tell him, or at least kiss him or do something...but all that came out was "Bye".
"Come on," Harry said.
Tears formed behind Hannah's eyes but she didn't cry...she just waved bye to them with her wand in hand.
Hermione and Ron both watched with tears as well.
"I didn't even say bye to her," Ron said as he sat back down on the couch. "It's okay," Hermione told him. "They'll come back. I mean, Harry has the past few times, hasn't he?"
"But Hannah hasn't," Ron pointed out. "She's never done this before except for maybe that one time back then fourteen years ago. But do you know how she is? She couldn't survive that!"
Hermione didn't say anything. "Why are you crying?" Ron asked her. "I...I didn't say bye to Harry, either."
"So someone likes Harry as more than just a friend?" Ron teased. They were both still crying, but they were trying to ignore it.
They agreed to go back to their dormitories. But they couldn't help it - they were both aching for their true loves.
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"Dude! You so totally cannot do this, I mean, this is a new blouse and everything!" Hannah screamed. Harry rolled his eyes. "Do you know how much I paid for this? I paid over a hundred dollars. Does that not mean anything to you?"
The hideous sight of Voldemort looked at her. "No, because I don't even know what a dollar is," he said.
"Well, it's, like, money. A lot of money! And for your information, I hope you realize that I have insurance on this ring. If you mess it up, I can so sue." She was lying but she hoped it would get her somewhere.
"I don't care about your stupid little ring!" Voldemort said and pulled it off and threw it in the dirt. He also tore the necklace she was holding out of her hands and in the dirt.
"You...you can't do that...that was..." Hannah's eyes filled with tears again. It had been a gift from Ron. She wasn't supposed to know and he didn't know she knew, but she knew anyway.
She would have bent down to reach it but she was tied to the wall. "You are such a loser!" she screamed.
"Harry, you needn't worry. I don't want you. I thought I did, but I don't. What I really want is your bratty little twin sister."
"So we are twins? Oh, my, God, how freaky is that?" Hannah asked.
"I remember that one fateful night...it was your sister that ruined it all...not you, despite what everyone thinks." Voldemort continued.
"Dude, leave me alone. I didn't do anything to you. Can you give me my necklace back?" Hannah said. It was funny how she could be herself, even in the face of danger.
"Have the stupid necklace!" he said, giving it back to her. "Okay!" she said and held it in her hand, since she couldn't put it back on.
The rest isn't worth reporting on. It was just Hannah whining and complaining and referring to Voldemort as "dude" and "loser", as well as "freak".
Then, of course, Voldemort had had enough. There was a flash of blue light and Hannah screamed.
"Dude! You are SUCH a loser freak! You ruined my top with your laser light thingy! Though those FX could be really cool for a party. How do you do that?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
"Mr. Weasley, where are your friends Miss Taylor and Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked when Ron walked into the room.
Thinking about Harry and Hannah hurt - deeply. They still weren't back, though Ron had heard the scream Hannah emitted right before she started in on the "laser light thingy".
"I don't know," Ron said truthfully. "Out fighting you-know-who, probably."
No one believed him, which was a good thing. He didn't want anyone to believe him.
"Sorry, did I miss anything?" a familiar voice said. Ron perked up. Was it her? "I didn't mean to really. But Voldemort totally ruined my top with his laser woo-woo light thingy and I just had to change. Incredibly sorry, but, I already have detention, and besides, I'm not officially late yet. So can you just chill about the double detention thing? I promise it'll never happen again."
Ron couldn't see her, but he knew she was there. She walked into the classroom. Harry followed her. "HANNAH!" he yelled when he saw her. He ran up to hug her. "Are you okay?"
"You could ask the same thing of my top and my ring. My necklace is okay, though," she said, showing it to him. "I wonder who gave it to me."
He smiled to himself. "Are YOU okay?"
"Duh," she said. "Otherwise, I would so not totally be here at the moment."
Yeah well, everything would be okay, Ron thought. No worries.
For now, at least.
~*~
The next few days weren't exactly thrillingly fun for Hannah, or anyone else. However, the nights were dreamless and peaceful. Until...
"Ahhh!" Hannah screamed. "The dream again?" Hermione asked, turning on the light. They had made an escape plan.
"I hope we don't get in trouble again. I wonder when we'll get our detention slips." Hermione said as they walked to the commons.
"Three, two, one...boom." Hermione continued. Ron and Harry entered the common room, almost like on cue.
"Same dream again? This is just too creepy. I say we go in for a DNA testing."
"Hermione! Shut up!" Harry said. "Let the girl talk."
Everyone took his or her normal position. They could hear it raining outside - the usual October rain.
"See, here's how it went. We were all inside when we heard it, like, boom or something. And then, it, like..."
"What's with the likes? Just get to the story!"
Hannah glared at Harry. "I am, I am. Now, it boomed and everyone was really scared. And then McGonagall sent me and Harry to go see what it was, for some reason. And when we got there, we were like whisked away to this place. And then after that, everything's kind of fuzzy. Oh, oh yeah. Voldemort was there. He was all mean and icy and he tied us up with absolutely no respect towards my manicure or anything! And then he started talking to us about how he was back and more powerful and this time he would get us."
Everyone looked at Harry when they realized Hannah was done. "I had the same dream," he said, nervous from all the stares that were aimed at him.
There was a silence and all anyone heard was the steady rhythm of the rain, the normal October rain.
There was a flash of lightning and as the common room was lit up for a split-second, like a bolt out of the blue, everyone knew Harry and Hannah were actually, totally and completely, fraternal twins.
"I still say we take a DNA test. Just to make sure and be on the safe side. Just...you know. In case..." Hermione said.
Hannah, however, was looking up at Ron and smiled. She hoped there would be a gesture, or a smile, or a sign, or something to ensure her that he didn't care if she and Harry were related - and at the wedding there would be no problems.
But he just turned away from her. Her green eyes filled with tears, but she didn't let them fall. It was dark, no one could tell.
"Should we stay here?" Hermione asked. "Just in case?"
"Yeah," Hannah said. "If we could, that'd be great."
"We all know that we can't!" Hermione hissed. "It was bad enough that McGonagall saw us. What happens if Snape came or something?"
"And the chances that the Slytherin dude will be in a Gryffindor common room are like, what, 90 to nothing?" Hannah pointed out.
Ron, meanwhile, wanted so badly to stay. He really missed not talking to Hannah, but he was afraid to. If by any chance she found out that he liked her, he would absolutely die. He wouldn't make it through his fifth year.
He wanted to look at her. He felt his eyes slowly drifting towards her...but at the moment they were about to, his conscience would pull them back.
Hermione noticed, though. They had turned on a lamp and the room was filled with light - finally. Hannah's tears glistened like rain or glitter, and Ron was obviously dying to talk to her.
"I think...I think we should stay..." Harry said, noticing Ron and Hannah's look. "So what if no one notices? I mean...we'll just wiggle out of it. Hannah, you're like a natural escape artist?"
She smiled at that. "Yeah, everyone says I can escape out of something faster than Houdini in a buttered bikini. Anyway, I can think of something. But...I'd really like to stay here. If it's all right."
Hermione noticed the looks of the two blooming lovebirds and smiled. "Sure, why not?"
Ron, though, was scared. He didn't know what he might be tempted to do to Hannah. She was so pretty, with her brown hair flooding from her ponytail holder. He knew he wouldn't do anything stupid. But risky, maybe.
"No, I don't think we should," Ron said. Harry and Hermione gave him a questioning look. "Well, it's okay. Hannah will get us out of it."
He looked down at her without realizing it. She smiled up at him, but he didn't smile back. He was safe.
They talked for hours about anything in the world, but never about Voldemort. Slowly, though, they dropped like flies.
Ron and Hannah were the only ones still awake though. "Hannah, I need help," she said. "With what?" she asked.
"With girls. I mean, I just don't know. I really like this one girl, but she doesn't like me. I really don't think she does. I mean everyone says she does but I know she doesn't. Please help me."
Hannah smiled. Disappointed that she wasn't the girl he really liked but willing to help him in case he learned to like her, she sighed and agreed.
"What do I do to...to make her notice me? I mean what do girls like?"
Hannah didn't know what to say. "I'm not...like the rest of the girls, so I don't know how I could help you. Tell me who it is, then I'll definitely be able to help you."
"I can't," Ron said. "I just can't."
"Why not, it's not like it's that bad. I mean I won't tell her. Is it Lavender? Or Hermione? Because I know that Harry is, like, in love with Hermione. But I wasn't supposed to tell you that."
"I'm not telling you. Just tell me what you'd like. I'm sure you're not as different as you think."
This was a hilarious idea to Hannah, her not being as different as she thought, but she let it pass. "Well...girls like guys...that make them feel special. You know, that make them feel like they're the best things on the planet. You know? Compliment her and really, really make her feel loved. If she starts flirting with you, then you know she likes it and possibly you. And if she doesn't and dismisses you, then you can just go right on ahead and find another girl. She obviously isn't as good as what you deserve, then."
"That's what you'd like."
"That's what most girls like."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm so serious."
"What about you, though? What if this girl I like, what if she's not like most girls? I mean what if she's really, really different. Kind of like you."
"She probably only seems different to you because you like her. Because she's special to you. But, I'm pretty sure every girl likes a compliment or two. Unless they're total idiots." Ron smiled at that. "Look, I can't tell you exactly what to do. Just follow your heart. It'll tell you what to do."
He smiled at her. "Thanks, you're the best. I will love you forever for this."
This suddenly scared him. Did she think...?
"Yeah, I know." She said nonchalantly, so Ron knew she didn't think too much of the statement.
"Listen...Ron...umm...now I have a question for you. What do you look for in a girl? I mean, what do guys look for in a girl?"
He smiled at her. "Do you know?" she said, feeling nauseated.
"Know what?" he asked.
"Stop pretending to be stupid."
"I'm not pretending!"
"You know who I like, don't you?"
He was about to say no but then all the sudden there was a crash outside that awoke Harry and Hermione.
Hannah's pulse quickened and her heart was beating almost 500 beats a second. (Okay, that's an exaggeration) "Do...do you think it's...Voldemort?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "It is. He's here. We have to go, Hannah."
"No, Hannah, you aren't going anywhere!" Ron said. Hermione knew he was obviously embarrassed and, she helped him cover for it.
"I know, it's not safe."
"But it's not like I can't do it, I have to do it." Hannah said. "Do what?" Ron asked.
"That's just it. I don't know. But whatever it is, I have to." Ron didn't want her to at all.
"No. I'm sorry, but no." Hannah got up but Ron put his hand on her shoulder. She was shaking. "You aren't going!" he turned around and held her in his arms.
She held him the same way, and they stood there like that for a long time. "I can't lose you," he said. "I just can't."
Harry looked at them. "Hannah...I don't know what else we'll do..."
Hannah started blabbering, like she did whenever she was nervous. "You know maybe it wasn't Voldemort because there's a great chance it wasn't and even if it was maybe he took a wrong turn or maybe he meant to make a U-ie you know because my mom did that a lot in America whenever we were driving somewhere you know what I'm talking about and maybe if we just held on a little longer..."
"Hannah..." Harry said in a warning tone. "What else can we do?"
An eerie yet familiar flash of green shone through the windows. Hannah burst into tears. "I don't want to go!" she said and started crying into Ron's shoulder.
Harry looked at Ron with a You-Have-To-Let-Her-Go look that Ron knew so well. Harry had so many Looks that everyone had memorized them.
"I...I...I...I'm not letting her go. I don't know what you have to do but she isn't going to do it." Ron said. Hannah looked up at that.
"Ron, I don't want to go either, but I have to. I mean...I just do."
Ron sighed. He wanted to tell her that he loved her...but he couldn't. "Okay," he said. "Go."
She looked at him. If she didn't come back, then...then what would she do? She wouldn't have told him how she felt. But if she did and he didn't return the feelings, then would it have all been stupid in the first place?
"Bye," she said. She wanted so badly to tell him, or at least kiss him or do something...but all that came out was "Bye".
"Come on," Harry said.
Tears formed behind Hannah's eyes but she didn't cry...she just waved bye to them with her wand in hand.
Hermione and Ron both watched with tears as well.
"I didn't even say bye to her," Ron said as he sat back down on the couch. "It's okay," Hermione told him. "They'll come back. I mean, Harry has the past few times, hasn't he?"
"But Hannah hasn't," Ron pointed out. "She's never done this before except for maybe that one time back then fourteen years ago. But do you know how she is? She couldn't survive that!"
Hermione didn't say anything. "Why are you crying?" Ron asked her. "I...I didn't say bye to Harry, either."
"So someone likes Harry as more than just a friend?" Ron teased. They were both still crying, but they were trying to ignore it.
They agreed to go back to their dormitories. But they couldn't help it - they were both aching for their true loves.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
"Dude! You so totally cannot do this, I mean, this is a new blouse and everything!" Hannah screamed. Harry rolled his eyes. "Do you know how much I paid for this? I paid over a hundred dollars. Does that not mean anything to you?"
The hideous sight of Voldemort looked at her. "No, because I don't even know what a dollar is," he said.
"Well, it's, like, money. A lot of money! And for your information, I hope you realize that I have insurance on this ring. If you mess it up, I can so sue." She was lying but she hoped it would get her somewhere.
"I don't care about your stupid little ring!" Voldemort said and pulled it off and threw it in the dirt. He also tore the necklace she was holding out of her hands and in the dirt.
"You...you can't do that...that was..." Hannah's eyes filled with tears again. It had been a gift from Ron. She wasn't supposed to know and he didn't know she knew, but she knew anyway.
She would have bent down to reach it but she was tied to the wall. "You are such a loser!" she screamed.
"Harry, you needn't worry. I don't want you. I thought I did, but I don't. What I really want is your bratty little twin sister."
"So we are twins? Oh, my, God, how freaky is that?" Hannah asked.
"I remember that one fateful night...it was your sister that ruined it all...not you, despite what everyone thinks." Voldemort continued.
"Dude, leave me alone. I didn't do anything to you. Can you give me my necklace back?" Hannah said. It was funny how she could be herself, even in the face of danger.
"Have the stupid necklace!" he said, giving it back to her. "Okay!" she said and held it in her hand, since she couldn't put it back on.
The rest isn't worth reporting on. It was just Hannah whining and complaining and referring to Voldemort as "dude" and "loser", as well as "freak".
Then, of course, Voldemort had had enough. There was a flash of blue light and Hannah screamed.
"Dude! You are SUCH a loser freak! You ruined my top with your laser light thingy! Though those FX could be really cool for a party. How do you do that?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
"Mr. Weasley, where are your friends Miss Taylor and Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked when Ron walked into the room.
Thinking about Harry and Hannah hurt - deeply. They still weren't back, though Ron had heard the scream Hannah emitted right before she started in on the "laser light thingy".
"I don't know," Ron said truthfully. "Out fighting you-know-who, probably."
No one believed him, which was a good thing. He didn't want anyone to believe him.
"Sorry, did I miss anything?" a familiar voice said. Ron perked up. Was it her? "I didn't mean to really. But Voldemort totally ruined my top with his laser woo-woo light thingy and I just had to change. Incredibly sorry, but, I already have detention, and besides, I'm not officially late yet. So can you just chill about the double detention thing? I promise it'll never happen again."
Ron couldn't see her, but he knew she was there. She walked into the classroom. Harry followed her. "HANNAH!" he yelled when he saw her. He ran up to hug her. "Are you okay?"
"You could ask the same thing of my top and my ring. My necklace is okay, though," she said, showing it to him. "I wonder who gave it to me."
He smiled to himself. "Are YOU okay?"
"Duh," she said. "Otherwise, I would so not totally be here at the moment."
Yeah well, everything would be okay, Ron thought. No worries.
For now, at least.
