Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Warner Brothers bought me out.
As Harry walked back into the Gryffindor commons after Divination the next day, he saw something he had never seen before. Hermione was sitting by herself staring into the fire – usually she was off in a corner working on homework. While she was apparently thinking now, it was pretty clear she wasn't contemplating her schoolwork.
"Everything alright there, Hermione?" Harry asked hesitantly.
Hermione grimaced. "Yes. I just got done talking with Viktor through the floo. He can't make the Christmas dance."
Harry snorted. "Well, I guess that will make Ron happy."
Hermione looked back at him and asked, "You didn't know?"
"Didn't know what?" Harry asked confused, "That Viktor can't come? How – you just told me."
"Not that," Hermione explained. "Ron's already got a date to the dance."
"Who?" Harry couldn't help but ask. After all, he couldn't very well ask Ron since they weren't really speaking to each other.
"Nobody knows," Hermione said, "although Fred and George will tell anyone that will listen that it's Allison."
"Allison?" Harry asked, confused.
"Allison Woodward. You know, the veela."
Harry couldn't banish the image of Ron dancing with a little first year – he'd be the laughing stock of the school. "Well, then who are you going with to the dance?"
Hermione was thrown at the question. "Well, I hadn't even thought about it."
Suddenly, Harry had an evil idea, not knowing Ron had the exact same idea several days back. "Well, I don't have anyone to go with, either. Do you want to go with me?"
"What?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Just as friends," Harry quickly amended.
Hermione looked at him quizzically, and Harry couldn't help but joke, "Wasn't it you who brought me to a jewelry store to buy a ring for you?"
"Very funny," Hermione replied, shaking her head.
"Well?" Harry asked, "Or was there someone else at Hogwarts you wanted to go with…"
"Fine," Hermione sighed. "But I hope Ron won't be too upset at this."
Harry nodded, but thought I don't… I'm counting on it.
Harry sat down in potions, resigning to another hour of torture. Snape was acting his usual self, but Harry wondered about this. He knew that before him sat an 'orb wizard', yet he really hadn't reacted to it. Harry looked carefully at the potions professor sitting at his desk and tried to decipher his motives. Harry was pretty sure that Snape knew what an orb wizard was, but desperately wanted to know whether he relayed the information on to Voldemort. Of course, he couldn't exactly go up and ask.
"Potter, I believe you should be working on your Teleporting Tonic. If you can't pay attention, I'll have to take even more points from Gryffindor, which I assure you your house can't afford."
Harry grudgingly turned back to his cauldron, wondering even more what was going on in Snape's mind.
As he left the class, he suddenly found himself under assault, by the most usual of means.
"Hello, Harry," cooed a blond-haired girl a foot shorter than him.
Harry felt his mind spinning a little and his mouth couldn't seem to find any words.
"You're cute," continued the girl, "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me?"
Of course I do! Harry's mind screamed, but another voice cut through the haze and coldly said It's Allison and her veela charm.
Harry's mind battled, and he the only sound that escaped his lips was a tortured gurgle. Allison saw this and gently put her arm around Harry's waist and whispered, "You're really cute!"
She's the most beautiful woman I've ever met! Harry's mind cajoled, until his other half shouted, She's using you! And she's not beautiful – she's 11 years old!
"Well," Allison purred, now tracing patterns on his robe with her finger.
Just as Harry was on the verge of mental collapse, a sound cut through the silence – it sounded like a door being shut. For a moment, Allison lost her attention, and Harry quickly gathered himself and said, "No."
Allison looked a little upset at her momentary loss of focus and redoubled her energy on the boy-who lived. "Are you sure?" she coyly said.
Fortunately, Harry was saved by another person entering the corridor. Harry smiled with relief when he saw it was Hermione. "Yes, I'm sure," he managed, and made his way over to Hermione.
"What's going on here?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I was asking Harry if he knew anything about Swelling solutions," Allison stammered.
"No," Harry said vindictively, "She tried asking me to the dance. Or more accurately, her Veela Charm tried asking me to the dance. But I said no."
At this Allison smiled. "This time." After these words, she turned and left.
Harry collapsed against the wall, shaking his head. "Did you need something, Hermione?"
"Yes," Hermione quickly said. "We're gathering a S.P.E.W. meeting."
"Ugh," Harry groaned, and then jokingly called out, "Wait up, Allison. I'm coming with you."
"Oh, very funny, Harry," Hermione replied sarcastically. "I can't believe I've let this go for so long!"
Hermione hauled Harry up from his spot, and Harry gamely followed along. "Harry," Hermione asked, "I was wondering if you could help me with something."
"What is it," Harry asked, curious. It wasn't usual for Hermione to ask for help in anything.
"Last month, did you notice the house points?"
"Er, no," Harry said. "I usually don't worry about it. Why? Did we lose a bunch?"
"No," Hermione said in confusion as they walked through the dim corridors. "We gained points. A lot – around 150."
"Wow!" Harry said, surprised. "Who gave them to us?"
"That's what I don't understand!" Hermione complained. "I've talked with every instructor, and no one will tell me who gave us the points, or even who earned them. And Dumbledore seemed to be rather amused at the situation."
Dumbledore Harry thought, and then realized exactly where those points came from. He involuntarily laughed.
"What!" Hermione demanded. "Do you know who got us the points?"
"Er, no," Harry quickly said. "I just thought it was funny that you've been thinking about that the entire month."
Hermione looked at Harry closely, wondering if he was telling the truth, and they both came to the abandoned classroom Hermione had decided to use. Harry threw open the door and looked inside.
"Ron," Harry remarked dully, seeing the only other member Hermione had managed to wrangle into her meeting. He guessed he shouldn't be that surprised.
"Harry," Ron replied coldly.
Hermione looked back and forth at the two of them and shook her head in exasperation. "Let's get the first meeting of this year underway. Treasurer?"
Harry sat a moment before he realized that he was supposed to be the treasurer. "Er, nothing to report."
"Well, I guess we should get to open forum," Hermione authoritatively said. "I had an idea on a new tact we could take with the organization."
Harry and Ron both groaned, but Hermione didn't notice. "I've been reviewing some of the other humanitarian causes throughout the ages – I think we need to use some of their approaches."
"Of course," Ron deadpanned. "We can duplicate their success because our cause is so similar."
"Exactly," Hermione brightly replied, missing the sarcasm.
"Er, Hermione," Harry cautiously said, "House elves don't want freedom."
Hermione's eyes flashed, and she said, "That's one of our goals – to educate them on their situation."
Ron looked confused and asked, "What is their situation?"
Hermione quickly said, "They work for no wages or compensation, and get very little respect for their sacrifices."
"But why?" Ron asked, "After all, that's what they want. So how do you plan on educating about something they want?"
Hermione thought for a minute, before responding, "You're right." For one brief and glorious moment, Harry and Ron thought that Hermione had abandoned her cause. However, it was ended when she finished, "We first need to figure out what caused them to like their situation."
"No," Harry groaned, "Not the library again."
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Well, at least Harry's being a jerk back to Ron, now… This is scary. I'm already submitting chapter 16, and I haven't even got to Christmas.
Penda: Hehe, I'm sorry. Well, look at it this way – I'm shooting for having the trilogy done before then, anyway. To tell you the truth, I don't know what I'm going to do with Ginny. I don't think she's going to be a large part of the the rest of this story (I could change my mind), but I think she'll probably play a role in the next.
Kaelli: Yeah, Ron's a jerk. But I don't feel sorry for Harry.
MicroChick: Thanks!
Katani: I'm not really a fan of horror, but I might rent it sometime.
Feel free to review
