Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except for the plot.
A/N: Wow! I'm back in writing! I figured that I must finish something H/Hr. Apparently Intertwined Destinies is on a hold, so I'm going to try and complete this one. I wanted to post last week but my comp was done…SO…=/
Thanks to: SugarGirl (I'll also thank you for commenting on the story!), A Sailors Girl (sorry I didn't get to wait for your feedback-the thought's greatly appreciated), Anonymous, andrea, Violet Princess, Cay, and Kit for encouraging me during my block! This story would've been history without your wonderful support!
RECAP:
Hermione wakes up after some wedding fiasco to find that the world she woke up in is not the world where the wedding took place. The only person who seems to be from her world is Harry. Not even Dumbledore could help. Someone's out there to kill her, and tried to kill her once during a Quidditch match already. There are many clues waiting to be fit together. In the last chapter, Harry and Hermione were kissing while Padma finished taking her pictures and tells her crony that part I of master's plan is completed.
I wrote an extremely long chapter (in comparison with the others) for this one. Actually, to some of you it's still short, but I'm combining two chapters in one. So…yeah.
ENJOY!
The Magic of LoveBy: Katrina
Chapter Seven
Unexpected in Everyway
"Merry Christmas, Hermione," yawned Padma when she saw Hermione leaving the dormitory at the crack of dawn. "Aren't you up a bit, um, early?" She rubbed her eyes as she tried to squint through the still dark room.
Hermione was briskly buttoning her cloak. She was in an extremely good mood, even though she was usually cranky in the mornings. "I don't feel like sleeping," she lied, trying to think of an adequate excuse. "You know, I can't wait to open my presents."
Padma shrugged. "Good luck, then," she said, falling back asleep almost instantaneously.
Hermione smiled at the girl as she descended down to the common room with the only present she got. She wasn't surprised; after all, Harry was the only one she knew here. And anyway, for some reason, she was in high spirits. Well, actually I know why, Hermione thought with an unconscious grin. The memories of the previous day was still clear in her mind. Rather, the memories of the previous night. She sighed softly. It was incredible. She supposed that it must've looked weird, up there in the air on a broomstick and kissing, but it felt like heaven. And I supposed that's all that matters to me.
Harry told Hermione to meet him at the lake. The lake had always been one of their favorite spots for some reason. Hermione could recount every single thing she'd done with Harry by the lake. Especially those days during late seventh years, when the war was growing worse and worse. They'd always meet at midnight and just talk about whatever happens to come to their minds. Ron would be there too, joining in the conversation sometimes, but most of the times he fell asleep either on Hermione's or Harry's shoulder, leaving the two to talk through the night till the sun starts to rise, when they'd catch a few hours of sleep. And in this world, it was also their place of privacy. Nobody in their right mind would be up so early.
The snowstorm had done wonders to the Hogwarts ground. It looked like a picture on the Christmas cards Hermione cherished as a child. Tall pine trees were covered thickly, and the castle looked even more enchanting. Hermione smiled slightly. The sight seemed extremely precious, since it was rarely seen back in their real world. She held the present closer to her and hurried to the lake. It was so familiar a path that the darkness hardly delayed her. Before long she saw the slender figure of Harry Potter standing there.
For a moment, Hermione froze as she looked at him. The sun was rising, illuminating Harry's face. On his fifteen-year-old face, as innocent and carefree as it seemed, his eyes were the same war-worn eyes Hermione had grown accustomed to. He was staring across the frozen lake, his green eyes deep in thought, barely blinking. She waited a few moments, not knowing whether she should disturb him or not. However, when Harry didn't move after a few more minutes of waiting, Hermione timidly went up to him. "Merry Christmas," she said.
Harry turned to her. "Oh, you too," he said. "I liked your present very much. Extremely useful."
Hermione had done a bit of last-minute magical knitting, resulting in the production of a coarse-appearing yet hardwearing scarf, Christmas colors. Hermione hadn't meant to have some Slytherin color in it, but to accentuate Harry's beautiful green eyes it looked great. She nearly blushed at how adorable he looked. "You're welcome," she said generously. "And…thank you for your present."
She must've said the wrong thing, because Harry's warm eyes darkened. "I didn't give you your present yet," he said slowly. "Whoever gave you that present…he or she isn't me."
Hermione fingered the package with a frown. It was lavishly wrapped and decorated, promising something quite intriguing inside. But who on earth would bother to give me a present? The only person she could think of was Padma, or Lisa and Mandy, but she barely knew them. She decided to worry about this later. The present wasn't even real, after all. "So…Harry, what present do you want to give me?" she asked.
Harry's face broke out into an impish grin. "I thought I gave it to you last night," he teased. "But anyway. I thought these might help. Forgive me; I don't really have anything to give you, and this is the best I can come up with." He paused. "Or the worst."
Hermione looked hesitantly at the package he handed to her. "And this is…" her eyes widened with shock and mirth as the wrapping paper fell away. "Quidditch charts?" she spluttered out, unable to stop giggling. These weren't even serious Quidditch charts; just stick figures flying mixed with what little trigonometry Harry knew from Hermione's tutoring in the past. "I'm sure we'll steamroller you the next time."
"Dream on!" Harry laughed. "What? Don't you like it?"
Hermione hugged him and tucked it inside the pocket of her cloak. "Of course I like it," she said. "I love it. Because it's from you."
Their eyes locked. Each knew what was coming next. "Then perhaps you'll like this more," Harry said, pulling her into his embrace and kissing her on the forehead, slowly trailing down so that their lips met in a kiss.
It was a bitter winter day, in the early morning no less, but Hermione felt warm and fuzzy all over as she absorbed herself in the kiss. Harry was really one of a kind; his kisses were always a treat, not to harsh and not to light. Gentle and soothing. Their lips, however, did not part because of suffocation; instead, Hermione felt Harry's arms falter around her when she was aware of another presence.
Many thoughts flew through her mind at the time, but the thought that was screaming the loudest was that we've been found out! We've been found out! Hermione didn't dare to open her eyes that she closed as she enjoyed the sensation of the kiss, but when she did, she wished that she could fall in the lake and drown.
The steely gray eyes of Draco Malfoy stared back at them.
Harry held Hermione's arm protectively. "What do you want, Malfoy?" he asked softly.
Malfoy's eyes flashed dangerously, but he didn't say a Malfoy remark. After all, Hermione thought sardonically, he's supposedly this world's Harry Potter. "I don't want anything," Malfoy said, just as slowly and deliberately as Harry. "I was just here taking a walk, and what do you reckon I see? A Slytherin snogging Hermione."
Hermione was surprised at Malfoy's tone. He sounded rather defensive of her. He even said her name in a tender way. What's going on here?
"Is that a problem?" Harry hissed.
Malfoy shrugged. "I'm a Gryffindor, Potter, and I don't go for your lowdown cheats," he replied. "But if you don't mind, I'd like to borrow Hermione for a few seconds."
Harry crossed his arms. "And if I don't let you?"
This is not worth it for Harry to get into trouble for. Hermione brushed Harry's arms off her briskly. "I'll come with you, Ma-I mean, Draco," she said hurriedly. "Just don't do anything to Harry, all right?"
"Her-"
"Fine," cut in Malfoy. "Potter, off you go."
Gryffindor or not, he and Harry sure aren't lovers. Hermione grabbed Malfoy and pulled him away. "Come on, M-Draco, let's talk somewhere else." Act like you hate the boy. "I can't believe I'm actually caught with that bastard, you know?" Sorry. "It's like he owns the school or something."
"That's what I think too." Malfoy glanced at the snow. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"Well, it's not like I would do anything with him besides yelling at him," reasoned Hermione as truthfully as she could manage, "right?"
Malfoy looked at her. His gray eyes were warm and happy. "I know!" he said. "For a moment there, I thought you actually liked him."
I don't just like him. "Wow! You must be joking." Hermione laughed nervously. "Umm…why do you need to see me, Draco?"
Malfoy looked at the unwrapped package in her hands. "Do you like the present?"
Hermione's eyes nearly popped out of her sockets. Draco Malfoy, giving ME a present? Has hell froze over? After a long pause when she tried to gather her thoughts, she croaked out, "Merry Christmas and thanks."
Malfoy nodded. "Don't you want to know what it is?"
Hermione shrugged. I guess this isn't the real Malfoy, she decided sarcastically as she opened the package to reveal a jewelry case with a necklace inside. The necklace was a long silvery chain, quite delicate and exquisite, with the pendant H in gold and studded with tiny diamonds. She fingered the jewelry lovingly. It was beautiful. But it was from Malfoy, and she could not possibly take it. "I'm afraid this is too dear an item for me to accept," she said, putting the necklace back in the case and handing it back to Malfoy. "And I didn't give you a present, Draco. I can't possibly accept this. I thank you for the thought but-"
"I want you to have it." Malfoy was positively blushing. "I…I'd like…will you go out with me?"
Hell no! was Hermione's initial response, but she realized that this would help her strengthen her lies. Padma and Lisa weren't dumb, and they'd know soon enough that Hermione hadn't been meeting Malfoy yesterday but instead Harry the Slytherin instead. And I'm going to be back in the real world pretty soon, she tried to reassure herself. I'm sure if this Draco's nice he won't do anything bad to me. And I won't fall for him anyway. Yet still…she couldn't bring herself to say yes to the person who had degraded her "Mudblood" since the beginning. Not to mention that she and Harry had just admitted their love to each other. What kind of a soap opera am I in? Hermione could've laughed at the surrealism of everything. "Can I…think about it?" she asked hesitantly.
Malfoy smiled. Not the Slytherin smirk. Hermione blinked and swallowed. He looked almost cute like that. She could understand why Ginny and many other girls fell all over him in the later years. Even though he was only fifteen he looked so much manlier than Harry and Ron at this age, and very handsome. She was sure that she would've been drooling had her heart not been occupied with another person. "I'll be glad that you give this some consideration," Malfoy said. He looked shy and unsure. "Can I kiss you?"
Hermione nearly fell back again, but she didn't feel as revolted as she had when Malfoy asked her to go out with her. "Not on the lips yet," she was careful to warn him.
Malfoy tiptoed and kissed her on the cheek. And then, with his face flaming, he took off for the castle, leaving Hermione with the case. Hermione didn't know whether she should wear it or not. And Malfoy was just plain confusing. She stood there for awhile, feeling the rising sun's ray on her hair. Harry had come as soon as Malfoy disappeared, but he was quiet as he stared after him. "What happened?" he asked Hermione. "What's that?"
Hermione looked at him, feeling perplexed. "I have no idea," she said. "If I don't know better, Malfoy was hitting on me."
Harry stared at her, and then he started to laugh. Hermione stood, baffled, but soon saw the whole comedy of the situation. She joined in too, till they looked like buffoons, nearly rolling in the snow with laughter.
~*~
As soon as Hermione entered the Great Hall, however, she didn't feel like laughing at all.
There were a few apparent reasons for this.
First of all, as soon as she entered, the formerly bubbling with conversations Great Hall quieted down almost immediately, as if on cue. And as one entity, every pair of eyes, including the teachers and Filch, turned to stare at her, not exactly in a friendly way. The Gryffindors hardly masked their disgust of her, and the Slytherins were positively sneering, every single one of them, because Harry wasn't there. And the Ravenclaws…they looked downright ashamed that they had her as a Ravenclaw. Even though there were fewer students than usual, Hermione felt like three generations of Hogwarts students were glaring at her. And the way Ron and Ginny were glaring at her…she shuddered.
And then…when the students finally tore their eyes away and went about their normal business, Professor Flitwick walked over to her with his mouth set in a thin line, not looking particularly thrilled, very unlike the usually jolly professor. Hermione also noticed that the teachers and Filch never once let their eyes off her, and Dumbledore's warm blue eyes were an icy shade of turquoise. McGonagall and Snape looked murderous. If she hadn't known better that this wasn't the real world, Hermione would've turned on her heels and ran as far away from them as she could. "Miss Granger," said Professor Flitwick, beckoning to her. "Please join us at the staff table."
The third reason was the worst. Hermione felt the stealthy glances of her fellow students on her back as she walked toward the staff table. And when she arrived, her mouth nearly fell open. Lying neatly side by side were a whole roll of pictures. Pictures of her. Not just any picture of her, but pictures of her and Harry kissing. With captions attached to them. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see that every house table had a set of the same pictures, and people were eagerly examining them.
Uh-oh. This is not good.
Her mouth dry, Hermione stared down at the first picture in the group. It was of the Quidditch match when Harry caught her and kissed her briefly on the cheek. The picture taker had zoomed in on the two of them, with Harry's lips brushing against her cheek as the frozen motion, giving the effect that they had been snogging before. Underneath, the caption read So this is what really happened at the match. The next pictures were of her and Harry's first kiss after seeing Dumbledore. On all three of them, Hermione was leaning over to Harry and catching his lips in a kiss. Harry's arms were tightly wrapped about her. And on the last one, the taker had neatly taken captured the moment when their lips parted. The way Hermione's eyes looked back at Harry's was a dead giveaway. Whoa! Watch who you're kissing, A Slytherin and a Ravenclaw, and A Shame to Rowena were the captions to these.
But the last ones were the worst. They were of just yesterday, with Harry and her in the air on the broomstick. Hermione would've been somewhat grateful that somebody captured her moments of bliss had this not been the case. She winced as her pictorial self and Harry's pictorial body merged into one as they kissed seemingly interminably. The only thing she could be grateful for was that the pictures do not record sounds. Hermione averted her eyes, practically tearing them off the pictures, so they wouldn't have to read the last captions, which would definitely be more lurid than the first ones, if those weren't horrible enough.
"Miss Granger?" McGonagall's voice was cold. "I demand an explanation for this. I, and many of my colleagues here, are under the impression and you and Mr. Malfoy are going out."
Padma! Hermione's eyes widened. So it was Padma after all. It had been her who had done all of these things. The person who I thought was my friend was the one who took all these accursed pictures! Hermione would've stolen a glance at her "friend" but McGonagall's burning glare was holding her in place. She didn't know what to say. She supposed that she could've said something funny, like Oh I didn't know teachers care who students date! Or she could've asked straight out why dating a Slytherin was so bad. But all these words got stuck in her throat and what came out was, "We are!"
Why did I just say that? Hermione was horrified. She had lied. She was a lowly traitor like Peter Pettigrew, betraying both Malfoy and Harry! Well, she didn't know about Malfoy, but Harry…. Hermione knew she should've taken it back immediately, while the teachers were still in shock, but she wasn't able to think anymore. Mechanically, she took out the necklace. "Look," she said against her conscious wills. "Look! This is the Christmas present my boyfriend gave me. Why would I snog Harry Potter when I have Draco Malfoy?"
Professor Sprout stared. "But those pictures," she said, holding one up. "They can't be faked, can they?"
Hermione smiled. And what a smile it was. An sly and impish smile. "Well, it probably was of me and Draco kissing," she said. "I bet that horrid Potter replaced him with himself so that I could get into trouble and he could add me as another one of his whores on the list."
Was that her voice talking? Each word came out against Hermione's will. It was as if she was possessed, and she had no doubt at the moment that she was. Why was she saying all these things about Harry? Why was she blaming everything on him? And for goodness sakes! Poor Draco Malfoy was involved in the whole thing, and all he did was trying to ask Hermione out. Hermione closed her eyes in horror, wishing for her Time Turner.
The teachers were quiet for a moment. They looked at each other, seeming to contemplate. "Well, Miss Granger, I'll be sure to seek out Mr. Potter, then," Dumbledore cut in after a while, his face again benign and gentle. "I'm sorry for the troubles we've caused you."
Hermione's mind suddenly snapped. She was back in control. "But Professor!" she started to say, but Flitwick waved her protest down.
"Fellow students, this has been another lowly trick of Harry Potter's…" started Dumbledore, claiming Hermione's innocence.
Miserably Hermione looked at the other students as Dumbledore continued his speech. Many of them smiled at her and others shrugged at the pictures. It was so sudden. They were her friends again. Ron and Ginny, the two she had ached for because they were so mean to her, waved at her friendlily. Draco Malfoy did not protest when Dumbledore announced of his and Hermione's relationship, but instead grinned at Hermione. Hermione bit her lips to stop herself from screaming in frustration; that grin was so much like Harry's saucy grin. Once or twice she tried to interrupt, but she thought better of it.
Remembering Harry, she decided that she must do something about this. Hermione wanted to interrupt Dumbledore, but she knew she could not. Perhaps I can tell Harry in time to get him to think of a way out, she thought. Perhaps he can incriminate that damn Padma the same way I incriminated him. Hermione winced at the word incriminate. She didn't deserve to be Harry's friend, much less his potential girlfriend.
Even warning Harry was hardly possible. The morning dissolved in a fog. Hermione couldn't quite remember how she made it to the Ravenclaw table amidst the many apologies. She was only aware that once Padma squeezed her hand but she flinched automatically. Lisa and Mandy were gossiping away about the ills of Harry, Hermione could see, but she didn't know if she responded to them or not. All she knew was while she planned to go to the library, where Harry would be, to talk to him about the whole new mess she herself had caused, she was with Draco Malfoy outside the Gryffindor common room. The familiarity of the place gave her no pangs, like it would be; it only choked her with apprehension.
"Thanks for not, you know…giving me away I guess out there," said Hermione, shuffling her feet. She knew the way from the common room to the library like the back of her hand and she needed to go, dammit!
"You're welcome," Malfoy said. "Except I don't think I was lying then."
"Look, Draco, I must tell you something," Hermione began. She didn't know how to do this, but she certainly was not going to break two people's heart on the same day, Christmas Day no less. "I-"
"It's okay." Malfoy shrugged. "I mean, it's a bit soon, but we'll get to it. I promise I won't be a bad boyfriend. And anyway, nobody can accuse you of making out with Potter if we're dating, right?"
Is that a deal I hear? Hermione was at a loss for words as she stared into his sincere gray eyes. It was no wonder that he was the fake version of Harry Potter. He acted just like what Harry would. She closed her eyes, remembering Harry's figure in the early morning, waiting for her, looking so achingly cute wearing that scarf. Those Quidditch charts. Him holding her tenderly as he taught her flying. Who knows what was happening to him right now? And all because of me! Hermione's mind screamed. "Um, I would really like to talk to you, but I need to go," she excused herself. "I must go…"
"I'll come with you."
"No, Draco, I really must go somewhere alone…I need to take a hot shower…it's cold…" Hermione forced a smile. "Merry Christmas!" and with that, she ran off.
Hermione ran as quickly as she could, before whatever had possessed her earlier possessed her again. Her mind was surprisingly clear as she reached the library, panting. A snowstorm was brewing outside, so the few students that stayed were in the library. As quietly as she could, Hermione looked around at every table, walked through every bookshelf, looking for Harry.
He wasn't there.
NO! Harry, don't do this to me, not now! Hermione nearly screamed with frustration. What if something happened to him? What if- She was about to ask Madam Pince when she saw Harry walk in the library. Even ten feet away she felt the tension as the room positively froze. Behind him, she saw McGonagall leaving with a weird expression on her face, something that could be called hatred mixed with satisfaction. It can't be bad, can it? Hermione tried to convince herself. She wouldn't let a convict in the library, would she?
She stood rooted to her place, unable to speak. The eyes were still fixed on Harry as he looked around. Hermione noticed that there was an added frailty about him. His face seemed even paler and his green eyes were no longer emeralds. And was she imagining it or did his robes hang even loosely on him? How would that be possible? He only missed breakfast… Harry spotted Hermione. Hermione willed the upcoming sense of possessive energy again as she smiled slightly at him. Harry's eyes, which were usually warm and encouraging, were frigid, however. "Hermione," he said very slowly, stopping two feet away from her. "I beg your pardon."
Hermione felt all the eyes on her again. Yet this time she didn't care. What was Harry playing at? Is this some kind of a code? "Huh?"
Harry smiled. A sarcastic smile that chilled Hermione to the bone. "Professor McGonagall asked me to come here so I can beg your pardon. I am indeed indescribably sorry that I happened to manipulate those pictures in an inhumane way." Every word he was speaking was laced with heavy sarcasm and hurt. "And I must mention that I'm grateful only one hundred points are taken away from Slytherin and only two months of detention would I serve. Now, I must go and be secluded in my dormitory."
There was a long pause. Harry and Hermione faced each other. Harry's eyes were dark with anger at Hermione's betrayal, yet there seemed to be a glimmer of hope, that perhaps Hermione could somehow change everything. Hermione opened her mouth; she didn't know what she was going to say, but what came out of it wasn't what she'd planned at all. "I accept your apologies," she said coldly.
She closed her eyes when she heard Harry's footsteps leaving the room, hoping the eyes would leave her at last. Yet when Hermione dared to look again, she realized that only a total of five students were in the room, and none of them seemed a bit interested in the passing conversation. What has happened to me? Hermione wanted to wail out, but she caught herself in time. No, she was not going to lose her mind again. I am going to go to Harry and explain everything; and then I'll go apologize to Draco; and then explain everything to the teachers and students. Harry's friendship was worth a lot more than her reputation. Especially her reputation in this world, the world that had turned into her nightmare.
~*~
Hermione didn't get to see Harry till the late afternoon. By that time, the snowstorm had left yet another two layers of snow for the Hogwarts students to play with. Malfoy asked Hermione if she wanted to join with his fellow Gryffindors. As much as she wanted to be with Seamus, Dean, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati again, Hermione quickly declined, saying that she had a headache. When she was sure that hardly anybody would be around, Hermione started for the Slytherin common room.
She had never gone to that part of the school before. She knew that Ron and Harry had, but she never did. Hermione only remembered the many times she stared furiously at Malfoy and his boulders as they left the Great Hall. She traced the direction she remembered them taking, and for the rest of the way followed her own instincts. Which was frankly quite hard, because Hermione usually had no sense of directions. And the labyrinth of passageways were not helping at all. Wonder why I failed my driver's test every time, Hermione reflected.
And it was just her luck she bumped into McGonagall on the way. "Why aren't you outside with Mr. Malfoy?" she asked. Nosy teacher.
"I have a headache."
McGonagall's eyes softened. "I know what you've been through," she said understandingly. "I gave that Potter a lecture he's been deserving for quite a while. And he must've been shocked that someone decided to take charge of his wayward behavior! He barely talked back to me." She smiled at Hermione and shook her head. "Well, Miss Granger, I hope you feel better son."
Hermione should've realized that it was very uncharacteristic of McGonagall, but she was too busy worrying about how to get to the Slytherin common room without getting herself lost first that she took no notice. And the horror…she didn't dare imagine what McGonagall had told Harry. She could only imagine what he could feel when she said something to the effect of "and Miss Granger indicted you as well!"
Finally, though, Hermione managed to find the stretch of wall Harry had described to her after the Polyjuice Potion visit to that place in their second year.
Now all that's left was the password.
Hermione groaned. This is impossible, she thought, leaning against the wall. "Damn Hogwarts!" she cursed out loud, and to her surprise that was the password.
The wall slid open to reveal the rather gloomy Slytherin common room and Harry Potter, barely more than a shadow in the already dim common room. Hermione was glad that he was alone. She for the life of her couldn't think of another excuse. Harry was staring into the fire, not speaking, and his eyes seemed extra shiny. "Harry!" Hermione cried out, rehearsing again in her mind what she was about to say. "Harry!"
Harry looked up at her. His face was frozen. Hermione stepped back a few steps. Ginny had once drawn a picture of Tom Riddle, and Harry looked just like Riddle the way he looked at the moment. Swallowing, Hermione looked down and saw that Harry was clutching the scarf she'd given him. It gave her courage. "Harry," she tried to say.
"I'm supposed to be secluded. Go."
"Harry-"
"Do you want to get me into more trouble?"
"H-"
"I thought that you were the Hermione I knew. I really did." Harry's eyes flashed. "So all these time you were planted to break me like this? I should've known. I should've just dropped you that day when you were supposed 'gotten rid of'. I actually thought that you were the sweet and gentle friend I remembered. Little do I know that you are just as much a stinking traitor as everyone else." He turned. "The person I kissed is not you. She is the real Hermione Granger. Get out of here. It's bad enough what's happened."
"Harry, it really is me."
"I hardly believe you."
"Listen to me…look, I don't know what came over me-"
"Save your breath. Go to Malfoy. He'd be glad to hear your gentle voices. I don't need you to ruin my memories of my best friend like this. Go."
"HARRY! IT IS ME! I AM SORRY! I SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE TRUTH! I REALLY SHOULD HAVE!" Hermione was shrieking, hardly caring if anyone overheard. Good if they do!
"Shut up." Harry's voice was soft. Hardly audible in comparison to hers, yet the coldness was more than what Hermione could bear. "You didn't tell the truth. Don't tell me that you're really Hermione Granger. First Ron and now you. I don't need any of this. Tell your master he'll never break me. Got it?"
"Harry…"
He stood up and pointed the wand at her menacingly. "Leave before I earn myself another five years of detention," he hissed.
Hermione did start to leave, but it was only because she couldn't bear to see Harry staring at her like this.
"Oh, and take this. I don't need this to taint me even more."
Hermione was reminded of Sirius shouting at Peter as Harry threw the scarf back at her.
~*~
"Part II has been accomplished as well."
"Good. In that case, proceed to the final part."
"As you wish."
Two figures exited the Shrieking Shack, easily camouflaged by the brewing snow.
A/N: Whew! Does it even make sense? So you know what the pics are for, eh…and um, more will be explained later. I have spring break next week, so expect at least two updates by the end of the month. ^^
Well…hope you like it! Review and tell me! Please?
~Katrina
Thanks to the reviewers of C. 6
depth-smart reader you are!
FlowerBySea-no sex! Sorry. Aww your love has died? Like in real life? I'm sure things will be better if that's the case. Harry and Hermione will get together in the end, despite what this chapter seems to imply.
I-am-crazy-4-Dan-thanks! That means a lot.
E. C. R. Potter-thanks! Yeah Chapter six was one of my worst chapters.
MioneH/H556-now you find out!
ChristinaLupin01442-or I'll secretly order it…hmm…either way is applicable. ^^
HrryPttrFreak87-don't worry! The ending won't be freaky, if I'll ever get to it that is.
simplee-dazed-I am so honored! Sorry bout the wait.
Joan the Vampire Slayer-thank you so, so much, esp the encouragement.
Hien Nyugen-oh I'm sorry! I tried to update sooner, but back luck ensues…
