A/N: Hi! Chapter eight… woohoo… This is cool. Is it a cliffhanger? I'm not sure. Well, here it is. And if you have any questions, just ask. Oh, I made up an Archery class with teacher Arturo Alexis. That might come back, like this innocent watch. MUCHCHACHA. Sry. That one escaped me.

Disclaimer: Lalala… song… lalala… don't own Harry Potter… lalala… read my poetry!



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Dear Hermione,

Greetings, dearest! I have a wonderful surprise for you! Of course you remember the Dorsets. Why, you and Little James Dorset used to be inseparable. Well, Elena Mae is bringing James and her husband and their new baby, Stephanie, to spend your one-week vacation with us. I have received special permission to have you spend the holiday with us, rather than stuck at Hogwarts. I'm coming to pick you up tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.—I know it's early, but darling, we have a long trip, with several stops—through a portkey located behind dear Hagrid's shack. Be prompt, and pack well!

Love and kisses, Mom



"Love and kisses, Mom," Guy mocked, letting his owl Oakley nip at his knuckles. "Be prompt, and pack well."

"How do you turn this thing off?" Hermione snapped, beckoning to Guy and blushing slightly as she shot daggers at him. "Oh, I see the switch!" Guy grimaced as Hermione jabbed him hard in the side. Then, she turned to Harry. "I'm sorry we can't spend vacation together, Harry," she said with a meaningful gaze. Their fingers interlocked under the table.

"I know," quipped Harry, crestfallen. "I'll miss you, every day. For seven days."

"You know all I'll do is think of you."

"Okay, drama fest 2002," Guy said loudly, causing Hermione and Harry to jump apart. "Crimity! Calm down, before I get the fire extinguisher and hose you two down. It's getting bloody hot in here, I swear."

"Guy!" Hermione blushed, trying to scowl but much too embarrassed to do so. "We're just going to miss each other. Honestly. But I've longed to see Mother and Father. And the Dorsets! How long has it been… since I saw Jimmy Dorset."

Harry's eyes open wide suddenly with alarm. "Jimmy Dorset… you mean…? Let me see that!" Harry snatched the parchment that Hermione had just been delivered via owl and scanned it once more. "Mione, wasn't he…?"

"Harry, Harry," Hermione shook her head with a chuckle, "he was just a childhood crush. We were neighbors until we were fourteen. He moved to France."

"Oh, a French guy," Guy teased, enjoying every minute that Harry's face was growing hot. "I bet he'll romance her again with his 'mon cherie's and 'mi amor's. Harry, here, can speak English. Oh yes, and Parselmouth. How romantic is the language of snakes!" Guy proceeded to make puppy dog eyes while producing hissing sounds.

"Guy, SHUT UP!" Harry said, looking about to explode. Hermione still chuckled, as did Guy. "Just shut up, okay?"

"Harry, you have nothing to worry about," Hermione assured, hugging an arm around his waist as they pushed their chairs back and stood up. "Guy is just being a jerk because Jennifer Lee broke up with him this morning. And I love you, not James Dorset."

"Mean that, Herm?"

"No."

Harry's face turned white.

"I'm only kidding!" Hermione laughed. "Ease up, Har. I'd better get packing. I'll see you at dinner, okay?"

"What about Archery?" asked Harry as Guy gave the password to Sir Cadogan: "Venutian Sprouts."

Hermione just stared for a moment, frazzled, and then broke into an easy smile. "Oh, right. Archery. I'm a bit out of it today, don't you think?"

Harry kissed her lightly on the head and ushered her into the girls' dorm. "Get some sleep. I'll tell Professor Alexis that you came down with something, okay?"

"Thanks, Harry," she said, smiling gratefully. He closed the door to the girls' dorm and leaned against it, grinning.

And why shouldn't he grin? For the first time in months, Harry Potter was happy. Truly, genuinely, I'm-no-faking-this-smile happy. He was in love with his girlfriend, Hermione Bridget Granger, was passing all of his classes (yes, Potions included!), had made some great new friends, and not one person had mentioned his summer mishap in over a week. Yes, with the exception of Ron, life was pretty damn grand, if Harry did say so himself. And he did say so. Quite often, in fact.

Harry leaned his head against the sofa. The leather felt cool against the back of his neck, and he let himself sink into it, further and further and—

"Harry!"

Harry groggily opened his eyes. "What, Dean?"

"Come on, it's time for Archery. You coming or not?"

"But Dean," said Harry trying to lift his head up, "we still have fifteen minutes."

"Had," Dean corrected, motioning towards the clock. "You've been sleeping for twenty. Now come on, we're going to be late."

With a groan and a heave here and there Harry managed to hoist himself up and stumble to his feet. "I haven't been this tired in… I can't remember ever being this tired," said Harry. "Are you sure I was asleep?"

"Out like a light," Seamus nodded as he propped up the door for Harry. Harry, being languid, was passed by Dean, Nar, Guy, and even Nev before he stumbled out the door and into the corridor. "Out like a fat kid playing dodgeball."

"A fat kid playing what?" asked Nev, very bewildered.

"I hate Archery," Guy said loudly, ignoring Nev's question. "I hate it so much that I think we should skip it."

"You're just saying that because Jennifer Lee's in your group for Archery. Last week, you loooooooooooved Archery," Dean smirked, then being shoved in the shoulder by Guy.

"Nuh uh."

"Nice comeback, Guy," Nar laughed.

Harry, meanwhile, was on a planet of his own. A planet where he was exhausted and confused. Where was Hermione? Shouldn't they wait for Ron? Since when did he take Archery?

"Guys," he said, stopping suddenly, "you know, it wasn't nice to leave Ron there. I'm going back for him."

There was pause before they all exploded with laughter. "Good one, Harry," said Seamus, clapping Harry on the back. "And while you're at it, go rest by the Whomping Willow."

"That's ridiculous," Harry stated. "The Whomping Willow is very dangerous. I would never go sit by it, let alone against it. Now, is anyone coming with me to get Ron?"

"Harry," Dean said slowly. "Harry, don't you remember? Ron hates all of us. He's practically a Slytherin."

Harry blinked for a minute as the rest of them remained deadly silent. "Oh. Oh, yes, that's right, isn't it? I'm sorry, my mind's out the window today. Where are we going, anyway?"

"Archery, Harry," Nev said cautiously.

"I know, but…"

"But what, Harry?"

"I don't know."

The boys were genuinely concerned. "Guys," Nar whispered, as if to prevent Harry from hearing them, "I think we should take Harry to the infirmary. He's a bit dotty."

"I'm fine!" Harry insisted. "Let's go find Hermione, okay? I'm perfectly fine."

"Harry, not twenty minutes ago you told Hermione to sleep through Archery because she was sickly. We're going to the infirmary, now." Dean grabbed Harry's forearm and yanked, but Harry refused to move. "Harry…" Dean said testily.

"I'm fine. Just fine! Gerrof me, Dean!"

"Sorry, Harry," said Nar, stepping in. "Nullify!"



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Harry sat up with a start in the infirmary by popping up in bed and screaming, "No, Nar!"

Madame Pomfrey heard the ruckus and swooped in, sitting on the edge of Harry's bed. "No, child, you've been nullified."

"I've been what?"

"Nullified," Pomfrey said a bit less patiently. "Narcissus Litkins knocked your mind unconscious so that he could bring you here—against your will, I presume."

"I'm fine," said Harry through gritted teeth as he made a second attempt to sit down. Pomfrey easily fended him back down. "I really am."

"You're not," she simply stated, bustling back up and smoothing down her starchy white uniform. "You don't remember waking up before now, do you?"

"No. I didn't."

"You did," she hummed very casually. "About an hour ago, you bolted upright. Headmaster Dumbledore did some questioning. Of course you don't remember; it's the spell."

"What spell?" asked Harry urgently, his mouth going dry.

"Well," said Madame Pomfrey, wetting her lips with her tongue like a schoolgirl eager to gossip, "you didn't hear this from me… oh dear. Well, Dumbledore figured out that a spell was placed on you after lunch today in the common room. It did a sort of Novocain to your mind."

"I don't understand," Harry spat angrily as he finally struggled to sit up in bed successfully. "Don't you think I would realize if someone put a spell on me?"

Madame Pomfrey chose to seemingly ignore his question as she plucked a book off the shelf and returned to sit on the side of his bed. Harry watched as she flipped several pages and thrust the book in front of him. At this exact moment, the door opened—it didn't burst nor creak, it simply was open and that was that.

"Mione," Harry breathed.

She stood, framed in the doorway. Her features seemed tired and pale, but illuminated. She was so beautiful. Her long, tousled hair hung down her light blue blouse and seemed to bring out a slight sparkle in her eyes. She was disturbingly beautiful.

"Harry, I just wanted to say goodbye," she said softly, but very calmly. She was so calm, and yet she seemed to choke back tears.

"It's 5 a.m. already?" Harry checked his Muggle watch contraption that Seamus had given him for his birthday.* It was five past five. "I must've been out for longer than I thought."

"I've got to go now, Harry," she said. And then she walked rigidly over and gave him a small kiss on the forehead.

"Don't cry," Harry whispered, giving Madame Pomfrey a look that let her know that it was time to excuse herself. "Listen, Herm, you'll be back in just one week."

"Just one week," she echoed, and suddenly smiley brightly added thoughtfully, "Love you."

"You too, Herm." He held her hand and let it drop as she walked backwards. Soon she was gone, disappeared out of the infirmary and his life for a week.

Harry turned his attention back to the book. "Novocain: The Spells for the Numbing of the Body," read Harry, moving from the title to the passage. "Novocain spells vary, but all basically do the same thing. A Novocain spell is omitted from a mind to another, and as long as the appropriate wand is used it is not necessary to have the target in the line of vision. It first takes its effect by relaxing the person, making them feel tired and carefree. The person is awake but takes the appearance of a dormant sleeper with his/her eyes closed and his/her muscles relaxed. However, he/she is fully aware to the events going on around them, but does not seem to notice or think anything of them. To paraphrase, the person is oblivious to the fact that he/she should be aware of what is going on. Then, the person will have memory lapses and perhaps fuzzy logic until the spell is lifted. Novocain spells have been used in bank robberies and hijackings."

Madame Pomfrey had returned, staring intently at Harry and waiting for some sort of reaction. "But Dumbledore doesn't know why it was put on you. Nothing nor no one is missing," she announced, as if reading Harry's mind.

"I'm sorry if I act a bit defensive," warned Harry, choosing his words carefully, "but if someone has been messing with my mind, shouldn't I be worried?"

"You're fine," she snapped, rolling her eyes tactlessly. "Professor Dumbledore would have sent you to the Ministry if there was any serious damage. And besides, Professor Dumbledore lifted the spell. You'll be able to leave after you sleep off today."

"Why can't I get up?"

"Look at you!" Pomfrey exclaimed dramatically, throwing the quilt back over him. "You're exhausted! A real nightmare! Now sleep, child, sleep."

"I'm quite alright," Harry insisted, taking the quilt off of his head. It was cozy, though. "Maybe I'll just sleep for a couple hours."

"That's the spirit," she replied cheerfully, and bounded off into her office.

"Weirdo," Harry muttered. He was being paranoid now, because the last time he had become quite cozy into a pillow it had been because he was spellbound. "Whatever," Harry thought. This time, however, he knew that he was genuinely tired and let himself drift off into sleep.

At the same time in the castle, a flask lay shattered, unnoticed on the cold floor.



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*Props to whoever remembers this watch.



A/N: Yay! Hope you enjoy, and thanks for reviewing. Only fifteen this time, but oh well. I'll take what I can get, right? :o( :o)



Emili Potter, tickled.pink, Melly08, Jaimie C. JC, ssj Kinara, lonolella, meg, hazeleyez, Miss Spinn, HarryNZ, FleneBean, Noodlejelly, CrimsonPhoenix, ssjguyver, heath and sar. Responses to you all coming later!!!



And I'm out…