Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy
Author's Note: Hi! I've written a lot on this story lately...sorry if I've neglected other stuff you want written! I am just on a writing frenzy with this story...I seem to be having one idea after another. As for my other stories, well, those I am having writer's block. So until I run out of ideas here or finally get ideas there...well, I guess I'll be here for awhile.
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I'd be the happiest girl in the world. But I don't. And I'm not. So there.
Chapter Sixteen
"Attacked? With a knife?" Professor Snape scoffed. "What are you stammering about house-elf?"
"Miss Johnson in bathroom, sir! She went in...I heard screaming! Man says, 'you going to ruin it,' and he had a big, big knife!"
"Lead the way." Snape hurried after Dobby as the elf scampered away. Harry, as well as the rest of the class, followed. He felt his heard pounding in his chest and like a flood the dreams began pouring into his head. What if somebody was trying to take the plan a step further? What if they were just going to kill her, instead of just prevent her from telling him whatever is was she was going to tell him?
Because Harry had began to realize that, whatever it was they wanted hidden from him, it was Cory that would tell him...Cory was the one they were trying to keep away from Harry. But who, and why? What would Voldemort have against her?
His mind came back to him. They turned a corner quickly. Dobby was excitedly pointing to the closed lavatory door. "In there! She's in there!" Muffled thumps could be heard from the bathroom. Harry paled when he heard a shrill scream---a girl's scream.
Snape tugged at the door---it wouldn't budge. He pulled out his wand and attempted a spell, but the door remained closed. "A locking charm," Snape muttered in irritation, "perfect." Harry swallowed when another scream came.
"Go get Dumbledore!" Snape barked. "You, Longbottom. GO!"
Trembling, Neville ran away, watching over his shoulder. "Stand back." Snape said quickly. As a group the class stepped backwards a few steps from the door. Snape rose his wand and shouted. "Incinnerate!"
The door burst into flame and within seconds was no more than a pile of ash upon the floor. Harry gasped when the smoke cleared---a man in a death- eater's hood stood, pinning Cory against the wall with a hand that held the knife. She glanced over at Harry and Snape, a pleading look in her eyes. When the man saw the others, he clutched her harder about the neck. "Stay away!" he said angrily. "Or I'll kill the girl!"
"That wouldn't be wise." Snape said coldly. "Step away...before I am forced to hurt you."
Cory gasped as the man's hold tightened. Unconsciously Harry felt his hand clench tightly around his wand. The man began laughing coldly. "You think to beat me? I do not fear you---it is you who live in fear, Severus!"
"Leave her!" bellowed Snape. "Before I..."
"What, Severus?" the man mocked. He reached up with his free hand to pull the mask from his face. "You mean to kill an old friend?"
Harry felt a sickening sensation in his stomach and took a step back---he recognized the man. He was the only one besides Snape that did---it was Michael Avery...one of Voldemort's death-eaters. He had been there the night Voldemort was brought back to life...when Harry had once again escaped the clutches of death.
"Avery." Snape muttered, as if the name were filth itself. "What is this?"
"It is my duty, given to me by the Dark Lord himself!" he shouted. Cory blinked, and though Avery loosened his hold she made no motion to escape...Harry realized suddenly she had been paralyzed.
Snape shook his head and raised his wand quickly. Avery jerked. Realizing what Snape was doing, he pulled his wand from the folds of his robes and dropped the knife. Fiercely he shoved Cory aside. Harry watched in horror as she fell forward, cracking the base of her skull against a sink.
Without thought he rushed forward. A pool of blood was forming on the floor. From the corner of his eye he saw Snape and Avery preparing to duel- --a real duel, not of any sort any student in school had witnessed.
"Cory," Harry murmured, "Cory, wake up!" he said anxiously. She moaned, though her eyes remained closed. "Please, wake up!" he pleaded. "We need to get out of here." Slowly, her eyes flickered open.
"Harry?" whispered Cory. "Harry, what...what's going on?"
"I'll tell you in a minute." He said shortly. "I just need to get you out of here. It's too dangerous to leave you."
"I...I can't move." She groaned. Laying her head back on the cold floor, she closed her eyes. "It hurts..."
Hearing a shout, Harry glanced over. Snape was clutching his hand, which was bleeding profusely. Avery was smiling vindictively, and the knife was lying at Snape's feet. Harry didn't have to guess what had happened.
Crowding the doorway, the class was pressed in on one another, watching the spectacle unfold in varying degrees of horror and excitement. 'When will Dumbledore get here?' he thought nervously.
Cory groaned as Harry shifted her weight, pulling her over onto his shoulder. Her head slumped over to rest on his cheek. With a quick glance at Snape Harry pulled her up with him and began slowly making his way to the door, dragging her. Suddenly, to his utter relief, he felt the weight lessen. He glanced over at Ron, who had taken Cory by the other shoulder.
"Thanks." He said quickly. "Come on...let's get her to the door." He and Ron pulled her over to the doorway. The group parted as Harry, Ron and Cory cut through.
"The History of Magic classroom is just over here." Ron motioned to the door. "Let's get her there." They moved with her. Professor White was standing at the door, watching the fray.
"What is happening?" she said shortly. "I heard...oh, my." She put her hands to her mouth. "Get her inside, quickly." She followed them into the room and motioned them to lay her on top of her desk. "Rendere Movotum!" she whispered, her wand pointed at Cory. Cory shivered as motion came back to her. She slowly lifted a hand to her head and pulled it away, turning gray when she saw the blood.
"He...where is he!?" she gasped as she tried to sit up. Professor White pushed her back down onto the desk.
"Stay still." She murmured. "You've been hurt. Just rest, dear." Turning to Harry and Ron, she sighed. "I'm going to see what's happening...find the nurse and all that. Stay here with Miss Johnson." Quickly she exited. Harry watched for a moment before going over to Cory.
"Are you...all right?" he said, voice full of apprehension.
"Yeah..." she winced. "Just peachy. I love having my skull cracked open."
He smiled softly at her. "Yeah, you're just fine, aren't you?"
She looked back up at him, cracking into a small grin. "Yeah...whenever you're around Potter..." Harry returned the grin and bent down, giving her a small kiss.
After a moment, despite Harry's protests, she sat up. Harry defensively put his arm around her waist and looked over at Ron. "Erm...thanks, for helping. Really..."
"Don't mention it..." Ron stammered back, looking down at the floor. "I just..."
He never finished his sentence. At this moment Dumbledore, Snape, White and Madame Pomfrey all burst into the room. "Miss Johnson?" Dumbledore walked over to Cory. "You are not injured on any part of your person other than your head, are you?"
"No, Professor." She winced. "Unless you consider a bruised bum as a major malady."
Dumbledore smiled at her. "Not yet, I'm afraid. Poppy, prepare the ointment for her wound, will you?" The nurse nodded as she began rummaging through the large black bag she had brought with her. "Professor Snape, you were not around when Miss Johnson was attacked?"
"No, sir. She left my room without permission. I only arrived after the house-elf Dobby came and informed me of what was happening." Snape muttered. He was clenching a bloodstained handkerchief around his hand.
"What...what happened to Avery?" Cory said, glancing around.
"He has himself been knocked unconscious...and seeing as it was a very powerful charm, I don't believe he shall be waking any time soon." Dumbledore sighed. "This does not bode well. I believe I owe you an apology for this, Miss Johnson...so worried have I been in my safeguards for Harry, I have failed to ensure the safety of others here at Hogwarts."
Cory shook her head. "He would have gotten me. He would have gotten Harry next...I'm just lucky the house-elf came when he did. I'm not sure how he heard me...we were far from the kitchens."
"I'm just surprised Avery would risk his life to come and take this girl." Snape said with irritation. "Without at least coming after Potter first. What exactly is it that he wanted to do?"
Harry glanced up and began to speak, but nervously closed his mouth...what if Dumbledore thought his theory with the dreams was of no importance? But Dumbledore saw this and nodded at Harry. "Tell us what you know." He said patiently. Harry glanced over at Cory. She smiled softly at him.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the waiting group. "It's just that...well, since...since the last task of the Tournament, I've had dreams. I used to write...well, you know, everytime it happened, but they became so common I just stopped. I wake up, and my scar..."
"What does this have to do with the attack?" Snape muttered. Dumbledore gave him a harsh look.
"Let Harry speak." He simply said.
Giving Snape a dark look, he continued. "Well, I was just...I don't remember much of the dreams, but lately I've been sitting in class and I'll hear the voices from the dream...sometimes Voldemort, sometimes another, a woman. And always the same person talking to them...they said that they needed to keep the girl from telling me her secrets."
At this every person in the room turned to look at Cory, who was wearing a puzzled expression on her face. "Me?" she queried. "I...I don't have any secrets."
"Maybe it isn't what you know." Dumbledore said softly. "Maybe...it's what you are."
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Watching Cory sleep, Harry sat in the uncomfortable infirmary chair. A large white bandage was covering the back of her head, and her skin was white. His nerves were on edge, and he could only think one thing...that he had almost lost her.
True, she hadn't been friends with him for very long...he might not even be that close to her, or dating her, if it weren't for the feud with Ron and the other Gryffindors. But he felt as if he had known her forever. So it was with anxiety that he waited for her to wake up.
Madame Pomfrey walked in, looking sternly at Harry. She had only permitted him to stay because Dumbledore had requested it, and she had with greatest reluctance bade him permission to wait, but only until Cory woke up...after that, he would have to leave.
"Still no changes?" she said, looking down at the parchment she held.
"No, ma'am...she's been asleep ever since Dumbledore brought her here." Harry bit his lip as he waited for the nurse to say something. Instead, she just made a notation on the paper and, to his relief, left the room.
He was still sitting there, watching Cory, when he heard the door creak open. He turned to look. Neville was standing there, quite red indeed. "Harry...I've bought...people, who wanted to talk to you." He stuttered, stepping aside. Ron and Hermione were standing there, looking as nervous as Harry felt.
"Hi...hi Harry." Hermione said softly, her eyes flickering to where Cory lay. "Can we...can we come in?"
"Just so long as the nurse doesn't find you." He replied. Slowly Ron and Hermione entered. They sat down in the other chairs beside Cory's bed.
"Is she...?"
"She'll be fine." Harry said shortly. "They just thought she should rest. She's been asleep for about an hour."
"Oh...okay." Hermione looked down at the ground, nervously picking at the fabric of her robes. After a moment she looked up. "Uhm...Harry, Ron and I just..." she froze, turning bright red.
"You...just what?" Harry said, looking at the both of them.
Ron took a deep breath. "We just wanted to say...we're sorry. For everything. Especially me...I've apologized to Neville already. Listen, I just haven't been feeling right all year...I've just been really worried about everything..."
"That's okay." Harry said, eager to end the feud.
"No it isn't!" Ron hissed, standing. "I've been...well, a complete idiot. I know you've had it hard, Harry. You've had it worse...at least when we didn't have much we had each other...and I know you had the Dursleys."
"That isn't saying much, now is it?" Harry snorted. Ron gave him a weak grin.
"No, it isn't. It's just so...easy...to forget all that. You're the boy- who-lived, after all. You're famous...everybody knows your name. If anything were to happen---you suddenly didn't have any money, or something like that---you'd be the next big charity case." Ron shook his head. "And don't get mad, but...I guess it's kind of irritating to see you, when you have all that, and it's everything I want...and it doesn't even matter to you."
"Just like it's irritating to me to see that you've got all your family, and you take them for granted, sometimes." Harry sighed. "Ron, you and Hermione...you're the closest thing I have to a family, besides Sir--- besides Snuffles. "I just saw red when you said what you said to Neville because...because it seemed like you were saying it to me, too. Because, whether you understand it or not, Neville and I are a lot alike."
Ron's ears turned red and he looked down at the floor, scuffing his sneakers along the carpet. "Yeah...I guess I understand. We were both kind of stupid about this whole thing, weren't we?" he sighed.
"What...what made you figure this all out now?" Harry asked.
"Well..." Hermione blushed. "Cory...she said some pretty harsh things today, but she was right. But so were we...and we just started thinking that maybe it was time we got this all over with. You know..." she smiled slightly. "Join against a common evil."
"Which one?" Harry snorted.
Ron looked up, his expression full of hope. "Harry...does this mean...we can be friends again? You're not mad at me?"
"If you're not mad at me." Harry grinned. With that, the three of them started laughing and fell forward on each other, hugging and laughing merrily.
"I think I've missed something." Harry heard after a moment. The three turned. Cory was sitting up, her arms wrapped around her knees. "Just how long have I been asleep, exactly?"
Harry grinned at her and pulled her over into the group. "Come on, we've made up now...and you're part of the family."
Cory smiled. "It's about time...who knew my plan to almost get murdered by a psychopath would work out so well?"
Ron snorted. "You sure you want to include her, Harry? That was a pretty bad joke."
"Hey, be nice." Hermione grinned. "She almost got killed. That qualifies for, oh, I don't know...three days of agreeing with her."
"See...the know-it-all is right." Cory grinned, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "Hermione...sorry about what I said earlier. Ron..." she said, giving him a large, obnoxious smile, "Sorry about that smack I gave you."
"No problem." He replied. "But I think you've given Hermione ideas."
Harry smiled as the banter continued...and he felt the warm feeling inside his chest grow, even as the nurse came and expelled the three friends from the infirmary, leaving Cory waving at them as they left.
He parted ways in the common room and went back to his bedroom, yawning as he flopped down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Though he was happy...the happiest he had been since the stupid fight began...he couldn't help but think that everything was too perfect.
Because in Harry's life, things didn't stay perfect for long.
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'Avery has failed me.' Voldemort said angrily. A thin, gray hand reached out to stroke the silvery snake that hissed at his side. 'I trust that you will not do the same.'
'No, master...I will not fail. Do not worry...things shall soon come to pass. Potter will be punished...I will bring him to you. And the girl...'
'Do not kill her.' Voldemort sneered. 'After this...occurrence...I should like to do with her as I see fit. Soon, she will see...soon, she will learn what it is to be against a power such as me...'
'Yes, my lord...I shall see that it is as you wish. I shall make sure of it.'
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Author's Note: Hi! I've written a lot on this story lately...sorry if I've neglected other stuff you want written! I am just on a writing frenzy with this story...I seem to be having one idea after another. As for my other stories, well, those I am having writer's block. So until I run out of ideas here or finally get ideas there...well, I guess I'll be here for awhile.
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I'd be the happiest girl in the world. But I don't. And I'm not. So there.
Chapter Sixteen
"Attacked? With a knife?" Professor Snape scoffed. "What are you stammering about house-elf?"
"Miss Johnson in bathroom, sir! She went in...I heard screaming! Man says, 'you going to ruin it,' and he had a big, big knife!"
"Lead the way." Snape hurried after Dobby as the elf scampered away. Harry, as well as the rest of the class, followed. He felt his heard pounding in his chest and like a flood the dreams began pouring into his head. What if somebody was trying to take the plan a step further? What if they were just going to kill her, instead of just prevent her from telling him whatever is was she was going to tell him?
Because Harry had began to realize that, whatever it was they wanted hidden from him, it was Cory that would tell him...Cory was the one they were trying to keep away from Harry. But who, and why? What would Voldemort have against her?
His mind came back to him. They turned a corner quickly. Dobby was excitedly pointing to the closed lavatory door. "In there! She's in there!" Muffled thumps could be heard from the bathroom. Harry paled when he heard a shrill scream---a girl's scream.
Snape tugged at the door---it wouldn't budge. He pulled out his wand and attempted a spell, but the door remained closed. "A locking charm," Snape muttered in irritation, "perfect." Harry swallowed when another scream came.
"Go get Dumbledore!" Snape barked. "You, Longbottom. GO!"
Trembling, Neville ran away, watching over his shoulder. "Stand back." Snape said quickly. As a group the class stepped backwards a few steps from the door. Snape rose his wand and shouted. "Incinnerate!"
The door burst into flame and within seconds was no more than a pile of ash upon the floor. Harry gasped when the smoke cleared---a man in a death- eater's hood stood, pinning Cory against the wall with a hand that held the knife. She glanced over at Harry and Snape, a pleading look in her eyes. When the man saw the others, he clutched her harder about the neck. "Stay away!" he said angrily. "Or I'll kill the girl!"
"That wouldn't be wise." Snape said coldly. "Step away...before I am forced to hurt you."
Cory gasped as the man's hold tightened. Unconsciously Harry felt his hand clench tightly around his wand. The man began laughing coldly. "You think to beat me? I do not fear you---it is you who live in fear, Severus!"
"Leave her!" bellowed Snape. "Before I..."
"What, Severus?" the man mocked. He reached up with his free hand to pull the mask from his face. "You mean to kill an old friend?"
Harry felt a sickening sensation in his stomach and took a step back---he recognized the man. He was the only one besides Snape that did---it was Michael Avery...one of Voldemort's death-eaters. He had been there the night Voldemort was brought back to life...when Harry had once again escaped the clutches of death.
"Avery." Snape muttered, as if the name were filth itself. "What is this?"
"It is my duty, given to me by the Dark Lord himself!" he shouted. Cory blinked, and though Avery loosened his hold she made no motion to escape...Harry realized suddenly she had been paralyzed.
Snape shook his head and raised his wand quickly. Avery jerked. Realizing what Snape was doing, he pulled his wand from the folds of his robes and dropped the knife. Fiercely he shoved Cory aside. Harry watched in horror as she fell forward, cracking the base of her skull against a sink.
Without thought he rushed forward. A pool of blood was forming on the floor. From the corner of his eye he saw Snape and Avery preparing to duel- --a real duel, not of any sort any student in school had witnessed.
"Cory," Harry murmured, "Cory, wake up!" he said anxiously. She moaned, though her eyes remained closed. "Please, wake up!" he pleaded. "We need to get out of here." Slowly, her eyes flickered open.
"Harry?" whispered Cory. "Harry, what...what's going on?"
"I'll tell you in a minute." He said shortly. "I just need to get you out of here. It's too dangerous to leave you."
"I...I can't move." She groaned. Laying her head back on the cold floor, she closed her eyes. "It hurts..."
Hearing a shout, Harry glanced over. Snape was clutching his hand, which was bleeding profusely. Avery was smiling vindictively, and the knife was lying at Snape's feet. Harry didn't have to guess what had happened.
Crowding the doorway, the class was pressed in on one another, watching the spectacle unfold in varying degrees of horror and excitement. 'When will Dumbledore get here?' he thought nervously.
Cory groaned as Harry shifted her weight, pulling her over onto his shoulder. Her head slumped over to rest on his cheek. With a quick glance at Snape Harry pulled her up with him and began slowly making his way to the door, dragging her. Suddenly, to his utter relief, he felt the weight lessen. He glanced over at Ron, who had taken Cory by the other shoulder.
"Thanks." He said quickly. "Come on...let's get her to the door." He and Ron pulled her over to the doorway. The group parted as Harry, Ron and Cory cut through.
"The History of Magic classroom is just over here." Ron motioned to the door. "Let's get her there." They moved with her. Professor White was standing at the door, watching the fray.
"What is happening?" she said shortly. "I heard...oh, my." She put her hands to her mouth. "Get her inside, quickly." She followed them into the room and motioned them to lay her on top of her desk. "Rendere Movotum!" she whispered, her wand pointed at Cory. Cory shivered as motion came back to her. She slowly lifted a hand to her head and pulled it away, turning gray when she saw the blood.
"He...where is he!?" she gasped as she tried to sit up. Professor White pushed her back down onto the desk.
"Stay still." She murmured. "You've been hurt. Just rest, dear." Turning to Harry and Ron, she sighed. "I'm going to see what's happening...find the nurse and all that. Stay here with Miss Johnson." Quickly she exited. Harry watched for a moment before going over to Cory.
"Are you...all right?" he said, voice full of apprehension.
"Yeah..." she winced. "Just peachy. I love having my skull cracked open."
He smiled softly at her. "Yeah, you're just fine, aren't you?"
She looked back up at him, cracking into a small grin. "Yeah...whenever you're around Potter..." Harry returned the grin and bent down, giving her a small kiss.
After a moment, despite Harry's protests, she sat up. Harry defensively put his arm around her waist and looked over at Ron. "Erm...thanks, for helping. Really..."
"Don't mention it..." Ron stammered back, looking down at the floor. "I just..."
He never finished his sentence. At this moment Dumbledore, Snape, White and Madame Pomfrey all burst into the room. "Miss Johnson?" Dumbledore walked over to Cory. "You are not injured on any part of your person other than your head, are you?"
"No, Professor." She winced. "Unless you consider a bruised bum as a major malady."
Dumbledore smiled at her. "Not yet, I'm afraid. Poppy, prepare the ointment for her wound, will you?" The nurse nodded as she began rummaging through the large black bag she had brought with her. "Professor Snape, you were not around when Miss Johnson was attacked?"
"No, sir. She left my room without permission. I only arrived after the house-elf Dobby came and informed me of what was happening." Snape muttered. He was clenching a bloodstained handkerchief around his hand.
"What...what happened to Avery?" Cory said, glancing around.
"He has himself been knocked unconscious...and seeing as it was a very powerful charm, I don't believe he shall be waking any time soon." Dumbledore sighed. "This does not bode well. I believe I owe you an apology for this, Miss Johnson...so worried have I been in my safeguards for Harry, I have failed to ensure the safety of others here at Hogwarts."
Cory shook her head. "He would have gotten me. He would have gotten Harry next...I'm just lucky the house-elf came when he did. I'm not sure how he heard me...we were far from the kitchens."
"I'm just surprised Avery would risk his life to come and take this girl." Snape said with irritation. "Without at least coming after Potter first. What exactly is it that he wanted to do?"
Harry glanced up and began to speak, but nervously closed his mouth...what if Dumbledore thought his theory with the dreams was of no importance? But Dumbledore saw this and nodded at Harry. "Tell us what you know." He said patiently. Harry glanced over at Cory. She smiled softly at him.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the waiting group. "It's just that...well, since...since the last task of the Tournament, I've had dreams. I used to write...well, you know, everytime it happened, but they became so common I just stopped. I wake up, and my scar..."
"What does this have to do with the attack?" Snape muttered. Dumbledore gave him a harsh look.
"Let Harry speak." He simply said.
Giving Snape a dark look, he continued. "Well, I was just...I don't remember much of the dreams, but lately I've been sitting in class and I'll hear the voices from the dream...sometimes Voldemort, sometimes another, a woman. And always the same person talking to them...they said that they needed to keep the girl from telling me her secrets."
At this every person in the room turned to look at Cory, who was wearing a puzzled expression on her face. "Me?" she queried. "I...I don't have any secrets."
"Maybe it isn't what you know." Dumbledore said softly. "Maybe...it's what you are."
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Watching Cory sleep, Harry sat in the uncomfortable infirmary chair. A large white bandage was covering the back of her head, and her skin was white. His nerves were on edge, and he could only think one thing...that he had almost lost her.
True, she hadn't been friends with him for very long...he might not even be that close to her, or dating her, if it weren't for the feud with Ron and the other Gryffindors. But he felt as if he had known her forever. So it was with anxiety that he waited for her to wake up.
Madame Pomfrey walked in, looking sternly at Harry. She had only permitted him to stay because Dumbledore had requested it, and she had with greatest reluctance bade him permission to wait, but only until Cory woke up...after that, he would have to leave.
"Still no changes?" she said, looking down at the parchment she held.
"No, ma'am...she's been asleep ever since Dumbledore brought her here." Harry bit his lip as he waited for the nurse to say something. Instead, she just made a notation on the paper and, to his relief, left the room.
He was still sitting there, watching Cory, when he heard the door creak open. He turned to look. Neville was standing there, quite red indeed. "Harry...I've bought...people, who wanted to talk to you." He stuttered, stepping aside. Ron and Hermione were standing there, looking as nervous as Harry felt.
"Hi...hi Harry." Hermione said softly, her eyes flickering to where Cory lay. "Can we...can we come in?"
"Just so long as the nurse doesn't find you." He replied. Slowly Ron and Hermione entered. They sat down in the other chairs beside Cory's bed.
"Is she...?"
"She'll be fine." Harry said shortly. "They just thought she should rest. She's been asleep for about an hour."
"Oh...okay." Hermione looked down at the ground, nervously picking at the fabric of her robes. After a moment she looked up. "Uhm...Harry, Ron and I just..." she froze, turning bright red.
"You...just what?" Harry said, looking at the both of them.
Ron took a deep breath. "We just wanted to say...we're sorry. For everything. Especially me...I've apologized to Neville already. Listen, I just haven't been feeling right all year...I've just been really worried about everything..."
"That's okay." Harry said, eager to end the feud.
"No it isn't!" Ron hissed, standing. "I've been...well, a complete idiot. I know you've had it hard, Harry. You've had it worse...at least when we didn't have much we had each other...and I know you had the Dursleys."
"That isn't saying much, now is it?" Harry snorted. Ron gave him a weak grin.
"No, it isn't. It's just so...easy...to forget all that. You're the boy- who-lived, after all. You're famous...everybody knows your name. If anything were to happen---you suddenly didn't have any money, or something like that---you'd be the next big charity case." Ron shook his head. "And don't get mad, but...I guess it's kind of irritating to see you, when you have all that, and it's everything I want...and it doesn't even matter to you."
"Just like it's irritating to me to see that you've got all your family, and you take them for granted, sometimes." Harry sighed. "Ron, you and Hermione...you're the closest thing I have to a family, besides Sir--- besides Snuffles. "I just saw red when you said what you said to Neville because...because it seemed like you were saying it to me, too. Because, whether you understand it or not, Neville and I are a lot alike."
Ron's ears turned red and he looked down at the floor, scuffing his sneakers along the carpet. "Yeah...I guess I understand. We were both kind of stupid about this whole thing, weren't we?" he sighed.
"What...what made you figure this all out now?" Harry asked.
"Well..." Hermione blushed. "Cory...she said some pretty harsh things today, but she was right. But so were we...and we just started thinking that maybe it was time we got this all over with. You know..." she smiled slightly. "Join against a common evil."
"Which one?" Harry snorted.
Ron looked up, his expression full of hope. "Harry...does this mean...we can be friends again? You're not mad at me?"
"If you're not mad at me." Harry grinned. With that, the three of them started laughing and fell forward on each other, hugging and laughing merrily.
"I think I've missed something." Harry heard after a moment. The three turned. Cory was sitting up, her arms wrapped around her knees. "Just how long have I been asleep, exactly?"
Harry grinned at her and pulled her over into the group. "Come on, we've made up now...and you're part of the family."
Cory smiled. "It's about time...who knew my plan to almost get murdered by a psychopath would work out so well?"
Ron snorted. "You sure you want to include her, Harry? That was a pretty bad joke."
"Hey, be nice." Hermione grinned. "She almost got killed. That qualifies for, oh, I don't know...three days of agreeing with her."
"See...the know-it-all is right." Cory grinned, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "Hermione...sorry about what I said earlier. Ron..." she said, giving him a large, obnoxious smile, "Sorry about that smack I gave you."
"No problem." He replied. "But I think you've given Hermione ideas."
Harry smiled as the banter continued...and he felt the warm feeling inside his chest grow, even as the nurse came and expelled the three friends from the infirmary, leaving Cory waving at them as they left.
He parted ways in the common room and went back to his bedroom, yawning as he flopped down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Though he was happy...the happiest he had been since the stupid fight began...he couldn't help but think that everything was too perfect.
Because in Harry's life, things didn't stay perfect for long.
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'Avery has failed me.' Voldemort said angrily. A thin, gray hand reached out to stroke the silvery snake that hissed at his side. 'I trust that you will not do the same.'
'No, master...I will not fail. Do not worry...things shall soon come to pass. Potter will be punished...I will bring him to you. And the girl...'
'Do not kill her.' Voldemort sneered. 'After this...occurrence...I should like to do with her as I see fit. Soon, she will see...soon, she will learn what it is to be against a power such as me...'
'Yes, my lord...I shall see that it is as you wish. I shall make sure of it.'
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