Feallan Steorra
Chapter 9: Lonely
Author's jibberish: Nothing to say really. I'm really appreciative of all those who review, though! I know that's what I do ever chapter but I can't help it! Thanks!
Harry looked up as he saw the portrait door fly open. He was sitting in the common room which was full of people. It was near curfew time when he was reading the latest Daily Prophet.
Hermione came in, looking tense.
Harry stood and slowly met Hermione at the dark entrance. Ever since the ball, rumors have spread about the deterioration of the Gryffindor trio. Malfoy was especially giddy about this. There were even rumors of a Harry/Hermione/Orion triangle. What was wrong with his luck? Last year, the gossip involved Krum and now since he's out of the picture, Orion's there to fill space. Harry ignored everything as best he could.
"How is he?" Harry asked quietly.
"Fine," Hermione looked out the dark foyer to see who was in the common room. "Madam Pomfrey got rid of his shiner."
"So where did you go after class?"
"With Orion," was all she said.
Ok, time to explain what happened with Ron. "Listen, Hermione, about Ron--."
"Oh don't," Hermione hissed. "I can't even think about him, that's all. Giving Orion a black eye, attacking him…it's an outrage."
"But you don't know the whole story. Ron and I were at lunch," Harry began, "and Ron left a few seconds before I did. The time between him and me was too short for Orion to get punched and develop a black eye without me seeing it. I saw his face, Hermione; there was no trace of a black eye until after he fell."
"Ron's stupefy--."
"How could Orion receive a black eye when he was stupefied, falling on his back?"
"He told me Ron did it…why would he lie?"
"Who knows," Harry shrugged. "Why would he tell Ron awful things?"
"Like what?"
Harry sighed, regretful. "It was something around the lines of 'get used to not talking to each other, it's going to soon be permanent'."
"Orion said that?" Hermione shook her head. "No he wouldn't. That's not like him."
"You didn't see his face, Hermione. He looked…well…let's just say Malfoy would cower in fear."
"You don't know him, Harry; I do. He wouldn't--."
"Then explain to me why he said such things?"
"I can't explain something that's far from truth."
"Hermione," Harry tried another angle. "It sounds as if Orion threatening to take you from us."
"So you believe Ron?" she asked.
And slowly, Harry nodded. "I can't forget what I saw. I'm sorry."
Hermione looked down and nodded. "It's not like I'm in love with him…I just think this is all wrong. It's a strange feeling…"
"What is?"
"This empty feeling…last time I felt it was before I came to Hogwarts," she looked at him and he could see the tears welling in her eyes.
"Hermio--."
She sped up to the dormitories.
"Hi Orion," Harry greeted after Potions. "How is your eye?" Maybe talking to him will start some understanding.
"Better, thanks. Madam Pomfrey did a good job."
"Yeah. She took care of all my injuries during the Triwizard Tournament."
"Oh right! You had a run-in with Lord Voldemort at the end didn't you?" Orion asked.
Harry raised an eyebrow. Did Orion actually say his name? "Um…yeah."
"And you escaped," Orion smiled. "Wow, Harry, you just have all the luck."
Luck? Was it luck that Voldemort didn't kill him in that graveyard?
The wand chooses the wizard…
Harry couldn't help but hear Ollivander's words. So it was luck for him to be destined to a wand that shared a core with Voldemort?
"Yeah…I'm lucky," Harry nodded.
"Say, what class does Gryffindors have next?" Orion asked.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Harry told him.
"Good. Maybe I could go meet her after class," Orion thought out loud. "Will you tell her for me that I'll be waiting in the library?"
"Um…sure…" Harry watched Orion walk towards the Slytherin House.
Harry sat beside Ron, waiting for Lupin to come into class. His chat with Orion had been bothering him and he carried the burden to class.
"What is it Harry?" Ron asked, seeing his tense face.
Harry turned to him. "Can you say Voldemort's name?"
Ron went pale. "You know I can't! No one can! Well, besides Dumbledore, you, Snuffles…I know Dumbledore said not calling him by name is silly but it's not like You-Know-who is history. He's-he's still around."
"Exactly. They call him 'Voldemort'."
"Harry! Even hearing his name is going to make my ears bleed…"
"And his followers call him by 'Lord'…like how Malfoy addressed him as 'the Dark Lord'."
"This better be getting somewhere," goosebumps formed on Ron's arm.
"Orion said 'Lord Voldemort' as casually saying his own name."
Ron's eyes narrowed. "You're serious?" Harry nodded. "This is creepy…how can anyone say You-Know-Who's name as if it were nothing?"
"I don't know…" they stopped talking as Professor Lupin came in.
"Good afternoon, class," Professor Lupin greeted. "Please take out your short essays I assigned. Now, who can tell me the methods of slaying vampires: muggle and non-muggle means?" Slience. "Anyone?" No hand was in the air; very strange in a Hufflepuff-Gryffindor class. He turned to a girl sitting two seats away from Harry. "Ms. Granger?"
Hermione looked up. She had her essay in front of her, just numbly gazing at it. "Sorry?"
"Muggle and non-muggle means of killing vampires?" Professor Lupin repeated. "Did you do the assignment?"
"Y-yes."
"Good. You worried us for a moment. Well?"
"Stake," she answered, her voice detached. "Stake to the heart."
"Very good. Ten points to Gryffindor. Anyone else?" he asked.
Susan Bones raised her hand. "Holy water?"
"Yes, it burns the undead's skin. If one drinks it, it is fatal. Good. Ten points to Hufflepuff. So, moving along…"
Harry
turned his eyes to Hermione. Her eyes were red and her face was flushed. Had
she been crying?
After class, Hermione threw
her books in her bag and sped off. Harry chased after her.
"Wait!" he called. He forgot to retrieve his books and left them in the classroom. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Hermione, wait…"
She swallowed. "Y-yes, Harry?" Her eyes were to her books, cradled in front of her.
"Um…" Great Merlin, she looks so sad…He hated this; he didn't like the feeling of not being able to talk to her, especially after the good times they shared during Christmas. "Have you been crying?"
"Don't be silly," she said.
"Hermione please talk to me," Harry pleaded. "I don't like this." He leaned over, tilting his head, trying to make some sort of eye contact. Without thinking, he cradled her face in his hand, forcing her to look up. "Why do you keep running away?"
They gained some spectators in the hallway, hearing some hoot and hollers.
"Prefect-girl and Scar-boy are having a lover's quarrel, eh?" Draco snickered. The Slytherins followed example.
A couple of Ravenclaw girls were watching and Cho had a slight shocked expression. Harry's throat felt dry, seeing Cho in such way.
Harry slowly pulled his hand away from her face. "Orion said he'd wait for you at the library."
But Hermione's eyes were on him still and Harry felt a wave run through him. What was that? He watched as she unlocked her gaze and broke through the crowd.
