Here's the next chapter everyone! Sorry it took so long to put up, it's because I decided to put both chapters into this one! So it took twice as long as it usually does. If any of you want to talk to me on msn, my email for it is: MadisonBettle@hotmail.com or! newgurl77@hotmail.com Only if you want to email me about the story that is! Don't send me any forwards...that email (MadisonBettle) is really only for reviews. A lot of hard work went into the making of this fanfiction, so please take the time to review. Flamers are not welcome because everyone SHOULD be clear on the fact that there IS slash, and the "typical" ending, ISN'T going to happen. =D! Thanks to all my loyal reviewers! And I'm terribly sorry again for the very long delay! On with the show!
Chapter 9- The Miscalculation
"It's because I'm bi isn't it?" Draco looked at Harry, trying to get his attention away from the ceiling, because everyone was still looking at them.
"Harry." Draco hissed, imploring for Harry to look at him. Harry did look at him, and then remembered that he was being watched. Harry quirked an eyebrow, and Draco did his best not to laugh at the beautiful Gryffindor. Harry was a tease.
"What's the matter? Even the great Malfoy isn't used to so much attention?" His tone was teasing, but Draco's eyes narrowed. He turned on his heel, and headed for the Slytherin table. Harry laughed loudly, to anyone else it seemed as though he was having a good time. But Draco could hear the nervous edge to his laugh, if it hadn't been Harry, he would have thought the boy to be cracking.
"Awww come on Draco, don't be a puss!" the great hall gasped at his language, and Ron balked, and Hermione chuckled under her breath. "Honestly, after what we've been through you'd think you'd be a little less shy?" Now everyone could hear it. The voice which cracked every time he spoke and his speech increased in speed, and it became a higher pitch. Harry was losing it. Draco waved his hand for Harry to sit down, and gave him a look that said "I'll talk to you later." Harry frowned and walked over to his seat, still feeling all eyes on him as he dug into breakfast. He was so furious at Malfoy. He said he loved him. Then he goes and embarrasses him in front of the entire school by calling out his name. The worst enemies in school were on first name bases, so what did that mean? Harry raised his eyes to the questioning stares and said loudly: "It means that even enemies can find something in common." Everyone's head whipped towards Malfoy as he choked extremely loudly on his drink. What the hell was Harry trying to do? They needed to talk before he planned to tell the entire school that he was gay and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with the boy who lived. Draco's eyes widened and suppressed a whimper from deep in his throat. The rest of his life!!!?? Draco's head almost collapsed onto the table as everyone turned around and looked back at Dumbledore expectantly. Draco caught Harry's eye, and smirked. Harry smirked one of his own smirks back. Draco frowned. He was rubbing off on Harry. Mmm….he began to think about rubbing off on Harry when Dumbledore cleared his throat and Draco snapped his head up and looked at Dumbledor as well.
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Potter for that excellent display of inner house relationships." A murmur swept through the great hall, and Draco almost fell off his chair laughing, and Harry looked at him, still smirking. "That was an introduction to tonight's Yule Ball." Cheers were heard, and everyone began clapping. "A reminder students: All prefects shall be going together, as well as head boy and girl. There will be a surprise, so make sure you're all there!" he cast his gaze toward Harry, and winked. Harry wondered what was going on. But he didn't have much time to think when Hermione grabbed both him and Ron and shot out of the great hall. Harry felt Draco's eyes follow him, and for once, out of every time he wished he was with Hermione…he wished he was with Draco.
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They sat in the common room, with Harry constantly checking the clock. Harry was thinking about how he didn't have to worry about watching over Hermione anymore because Draco had admitted that he loved him. Draco Malfoy loved him! Harry Potter! Harry sighed and looked at Hermione and Ron. They were looking at him with a curious expression on their face. Harry was in a good mood, so he decided to fill them in.
"Malfoy said he loved me." Ron's eyes widened, and Hermione looked at him blankly. Harry looked at Hermione and felt his heart wrench against his chest. He still loved her though. He wasn't sure if he loved Malfoy….he didn't even think he wanted to, not if it meant he was going to lose Hermione. Harry nodded at them both, not really wanting to say anymore. Ron looked at Harry as though he understood, and for once, Hermione was almost clueless to everything. Ron cleared his throat.
"Well Harry…I'm sure you probably want to be alone, I'm going to go get changed for the Yule Ball." He then looked at Hermione, who smiled and waved slightly to him.
"I'll be going to change shortly Ron! I'm just going to stay here and read for a bit. If that's ok with Harry." Hermione turned her attention to the raven haired boy, and he glanced at Ron, who nodded, and then he smiled weakly at her.
"Course it's alright. I don't mind." Harry smiled at her in spite of himself, and she smiled back and then blew Ron a kiss, and they both blushed.
"See you soon 'Mione…" Ron whispered. Hermione smiled shyly. Ron then left up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and seemed a lot happier. Hermione turned her head back to Harry. His head was in his hands, and she could hear his breath come in shaky pants. Her eyebrows furrowed. What was wrong with Harry?
"Harry?" she asked tentatively, moving closer to him on the couch. He groaned softly and lifted his gaze to hers. His eyes were pleading, but for what she did not know.
"Yes 'Mione?" He waited for her question expectantly. He wondered if she remembered anything about the conversation he had with her earlier that day when Malfoy had taken over her body. Harry almost let a smirk form on his mouth. God if she DID remember! That would be creepy. Well…he didn't know if she actually didn't remember, so he shouldn't be getting ahead of himself and the situation. She was giving him a look…a knowing look. But it wasn't a complete knowing look. The ones where they think they know what's up, but there is still something missing? Yah! That was it. She cocked her head to the side a bit, and Harry almost gulped, looking at her slightly parted lips. It was at these times he was glad he had never attended church. God was pissing him off TOO much.
"This morning….when we were talking? It's kind of blurry…I remember seeing myself talking…but I don't think I heard anything I was saying…" she trailed off, and she stared off, as though in her own world. She blinked once, then again. Then suddenly, Harry saw horror creep into her eyes. Oh my god! He thought. She knew! How COULD she know?! He was SO going to hurt Malfoy! Harry regarded her with fear in his eyes, and he tried desperately to keep a cool composure. Maybe he could make her think that she was imagining things? God…Hermione imagining things? Like she would believe that….Hermione's face snapped towards his, and she was blushing beet red. Harry sighed inwardly…she knew…ah screw it, it was about time he told her how he felt anyway.
"Hermione." Harry began, but he was cut off by her excessive rambling.
"Harry!! I kissed Ron!!! Remember this morning??? I remember now!! It was! Oh my god!! I can't believe I did that! He said he liked me! And I acted all…oh my god! Harry! Then after he left for breakfast I walked over to you and I…" she gulped loudly, blinking rapidly. Harry would have smirked if the situation had been different. He knew what she was getting at. Yah…the studious Hermione…first almost giving a hand job to the enemy…kissing Ron and acting like a tease…then try and hit it off with his best friend? Of course she'd be upset. She didn't mean for any of that to happen. Although Harry was sure she probably enjoyed hearing Ron say he liked her, and become putty in her hands. What girl wouldn't like to see Ron like that? He could be a stubborn thick head at times, but god, he was horny as hell for Hermione. Harry cleared his throat loudly.
"Look Hermione…I need to tell you something about myself…" Harry was going to tell her. She'd probably never talked to him again once he told her about his feelings for her. Why would she? She only thought of him as a friend, and couldn't even bother to care about him. He then saw comprehension flicker in her eyes.
"So…you're gay…?" Harry frowned. No that wasn't it. He shook his head and then corrected her.
"I'm Bi." Was it just him, or could he have sworn he saw hope in those cinnamon brown eyes. He definitely was out of it. Her eyebrows knit together; he could tell she was deep in thought.
"There's…a girl…." Harry figured she was piecing the memories of earlier that morning together. He nodded his head slowly. Luckily he hadn't told her then who exactly the girl was. He didn't think Draco would have been able to hold back Hermione from freaking out on him. Whoa whoa whoa!! Draco?? Yup, he was definitely not having a good day. He would NOT think about Draco as Draco. Malfoy as Draco. Shit!!!
Hermione was looking at him strangely. He swore silently. He was staring at her.
"Yes, a girl, Hermione. A girl and my worst enemy. I know this girl quite well actually, you could say she's one of the reason's I'm alive. Along with the man she happens to be in love with. But that's all very complicated, and I have no idea what the hell I'm going to do about Malfoy. I don't even know if the prat loves me! Hell…I don't even know how I feel about him!" Harry sighed loudly and got up from the couch and began to pace, while Hermione watched him quietly, with growing unease.
"What about the other girl? Surely you know whether or not she feels something for you?" Harry stopped abruptly, and turned directly to face her. She was giving him one of the most innocent looks, little realizing what exactly she could have very well been implying. But her eyes were questioning, and he knew she did not know about the girl he desired most. Although….he had made it extremely obvious…Harry turned his back to her and faced the fireplace, allowing himself a small smile. His Hermione…his beautiful…smart….wonderful Hermione….was completely clueless to how he felt about her. God it was just weird. It would certainly be a new experience for her once she found out that she hadn't known. He sighed inwardly and turned to face her, feeling a new courage which surely had come from the Gryffindor paintings on the walls who were giving him encouraging smiles. Harry almost laughed at one of them. Sir Richard Lion Heart the third had been giving him the thumbs up and mouthing 'Go for it!" He walked slowly towards her, and stopped when the toes of his shoes were up against hers. He was looking down into her warm cinnamon eyes, and she turned her head up to him. Oh God her lips…he groaned inwardly, trying to keep his eyes from glazing over from just thinking about kissing those lips. Those pink…luscious…soft…
"Harry?" He almost shook his head violently, awakening from the trancelike stare he had gone off to. She must have thought he wasn't feeling well because her face bore a concerned expression. When she knew she had his attention, she resumed speaking. "Who is the girl?" Time had stopped again for Harry as his breath came out in short little pants as though he were drowning, trying to keep his lips and nose above water. His eyes partially closed, ever so slightly, and he leaned his head forward down towards her mouth, and he thought….for that one brief and shining moment… that she felt the same way. But he was wrong. She raised her hand to his chin, and looked him squarely in the eye and asked pointedly:
"Who is she?" Harry looked at her for a moment or two, watching her expression closely. In her eyes…he saw it flicker once or twice…that longing…the longing feeling for something….or someone…and maybe…just maybe…it could have been him. He threw caution to the wind and leaned down, closing the distance completely between them and barely brushed his lips against hers.
"Hermione…" he breathed. Hermione's head shot up when she heard loud laughing coming from the boy's dormitory. Ron, Seamus, Neville, and Dean were walking down in their dress robes, having gotten dressed extremely early; figuring that they might as well, since there was nothing else to do. They were talking about having a chess tournament before the ball, and were arguing over how much the champion should win.
"10 galleons, 5 sickles, and 3 knuts!" Neville shouted heatedly. What the devil did they think they were doing?
"Scared you might lose Neville?" asked a gloating Seamus who believed himself to be the most prominent chess player in Gryffindor.
"No, but I know you are. Ever time Ron plays you; he beats the pants off you!" Neville laughed along with Dean, as Ron's ears turned red at the obvious compliment but laughed along with them as well.
"Alright fine! 5 sickles then!" Dean said exasperatedly.
"No way!" shouted Ron. Clearly he knew he was going to win, and he thought he could desperately use the money.
"That's because you're going to win!" Seamus shouted, laughing loudly along with the rest of the boys.
"Let's ask Harry, shall we?" All the boys turned to a very dazed looking Harry, and an anxious looking Hermione. Ron raised an eyebrow, and Harry shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Bit early to be changed?" It sounded more like a question than a statement. Harry smiled at his friends, waiting to hear about the tournament.
"So we don't have to worry about changing later!" Dean shouted excitedly, running over to the chess set that was always left on the table to the left of the fireplace.
"Yah!" the other boys chorused together and went to join Dean, except Ron, who walked over to Harry and Hermione.
"Shouldn't you be getting changed….love?" Ron's question hung in the air, he had almost decided against using that word, but from the signs he had been getting from her, he thought that she would have been flattered, and he was right. He was rewarded by a small blush that crept slowly up her neck, and covered her cheeks, suddenly forgetting about Harry's strange mood.
"I should go and get ready now….I've got a lot to do." She flashed them both a broad smile, and Ron grinned back, giving her a small wave. Hermione returned the wave, and ran over to her prefect's portrait hole near the stairs on her toes, turning around midway, and blowing a kiss. Harry could have sworn he saw her eyes shift to him when she had carried out the gesture…but he didn't have time to contemplate on the matter, because Ron had slapped him playfully on the back, and was giving him one of those dopey grins, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Harry could only offer him a small smile before he was pulled over to the group of boys who had already started the match. Harry didn't have to play anyone for another couple matches, so he told the group that he was going to change as well. They all waved absentmindedly at him, not looking at him, and Harry smiled as he began walking towards the staircase. He stopped abruptly when a delightful smell greeted his nose, and he tilted his head back, shutting his eyes, and concentrated on the smell. Mmm… It was coming from….Harry squeezed his eyes shut tight to block out all other sense but his smell. His eyes then snapped open and looked at a portrait of a young Gryffindor girl around his age. She was giving him a funny look. The smell was coming from Hermione's room….
Harry had to get inside, the smell was so addicting he tried to sniff up all the air around him. Luckily the other boys weren't paying attention at all and hadn't noticed that he was still there. He stepped closer to the portrait and looked at the girl, trying to figure out the password. Knowing Hermione…it could have been an Arithmetic equation. Harry had wanted a prefect's room, but Dumbledor had said otherwise, and Harry knew precisely why that was. He feared for his safety, and although Harry loved Dumbledore like a grandfather….he wanted to move up in life without having someone else look after him. Harry recalled back in his memory to a time where he had thought he had heard her say the name. It was an H sounding kind of password, and it wasn't just one word. That he knew. He allowed himself think about the possibility of her making the password both their names…it would have been wonderful…except it would have never happen.
"Yah right…Hermione and Harry." Suddenly the young girl on the portrait curtseyed and swung open to permit him, Harry was so completely amazed that he didn't even bother to allow himself the pleasure of knowing that she had made the password that and quickly slipped inside. The smell was more potent and his eyes were becoming clouded over with lust. God how he wanted her…craved her….needed her…..and that's when he saw her. Standing on a small pedestal in front of a full body length mirror in the most beautiful dress he had ever seen. He thought it had nothing to do with the dress though, but the girl who was wearing it. Hermione had curled most of her chocolate brown hair into small ringlets and were piled neatly on top of her head that were interlaced with a small tiara that sat upon the centre of her head, just above her brow. The rest of the hair fell down perfectly straight and were covered with gold sparkles. Her dress was blood red, and it hung off her shoulders, and was completely backless. Hermione's creamy back seemed to go on forever, and Harry's eyes finally connected with the part just above her bottom. It was such a teasing outfit, her beautiful arms were covered with a red lace shawl, and he could see in the mirror that she had red lip stick on, and her eyes looked smoky and mysterious. She had placed a small layer of shiny pink lip gloss over the red lip stick. Her smell was everywhere in the room and Harry thought he would collapse with overcoming desire. Her body shifted towards him and then he was staring into her eyes; those eyes which were opened and wide and so very innocent. Her mouth was parted slightly, and he could hear her breath just barely above the beating of his own heart. She was waiting for him to say something. This was his chance to tell her how he really felt, since he had just barely missed before.
"My god Hermione…" he barely breathed, "You look….gorgeous." Had he really said that? He tried to focus his concentration level to see if she had any reaction at all. Her face was smiling, and her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed. God she really did look gorgeous.
"Mmm…Thanks Harry." Had she really made that noise? Or was that his imagination running away with him again? She didn't ask any questions as to why he was in her room or how he had gotten the password but simply stepped down off the pedestal and walked towards him. The scent was becoming too powerful for him, he either needed to get the hell away from her room, or stay here…and…give into his desires…what one would ANYONE choose?! He must have been staring at her and holding his breath for a long time, because she inclined her head slightly and gazed at him with a bit of an amused smiled. Harry was starting to wonder how the hell he got himself into these situations.
"You haven't changed yet," she said quietly, beginning to circle him. The smell circled with her and Harry felt his knees weaken and begin to bend.
"Yes…" he barely whispered as her fingers happened to brush against his thigh. His eyes…his goddamn eyes were so bloody hazy; he could barely see where she was. Then he knew, he concentrated on the sound her dress made as it glided over the floor. She was near, a little too near if he wanted to keep his control in tact. She was standing in front of him, looking up into his own emerald green eyes. Her smell was imprinted on him now, he just knew it. It seeped into his brain, filled his blood and spread out over his skin. He would never get enough of her and he wanted so very much…wanted her so much that it was painful…He had to muster up all the strength he had left to string his next sentence together.
"I better get back to my dorm to...change…" Harry blinked very rapidly to try and see if her expression changed, he managed to catch a small smile from her lips, and heard a low chuckle escape her throat. What was so funny?
"I don't think you'd be able to Mr. Potter…" Hermione purred near his ear. He lost all control once she continued. "…I have your clothes right….here…" Harry shuddered as his bottle green robes appeared in her hands. He didn't know how she got them; he never ever left his trunk unlocked. Besides, not even alohamora opened his trunk. Dumbledor had gotten him a special one. It was bottomless and he could put just about anything in there, including his firebolt. Nothing a little shrinking spell couldn't fix of course. But Harry wasn't thinking about this at all as he watched Hermione's fingers smooth down the folds of the material. He was starting to grow hot as he imagined her hands smoothing down his robe…when it was actually on him….
"Hermione…" he barely got out, why was he always speechless? It was starting to sicken him. He was the boy who lived! Yah…imagine if the entire wizarding world got word of it. "The famous Harry Potter gets tongue-tied over a Muggle Born!" He felt his body begin to stir as her eyes raked over his figure. God…it felt like she was undressing him with her eyes. Harry was starting to wonder if Malfoy had managed to get into her body again. He searched desperately in her eyes, but could only find truth…longing…and…desire…was this it then? Was this the moment where he would tell Hermione that she had been the girl he had wanted all along? It felt so right…her head was tilting up towards him, and her eyes fluttered ever so slightly. Harry had watched Seamus and Dean kiss Pavarti and Lavender before, and that's what their eyelashes would do if it was one of those special moments. Could this be one of those special moments? Oh god stop thinking! And that's precisely what he did. Hermione tilted her mouth upwards towards him and Harry felt her warm breath against his lips. Oh this was heaven…and then…a loud knocking was heard from the door, and Hermione had pulled away as if it had been nothing and walked towards the portrait hole and opened it. Harry swung around to see Ron, with a large smile on his face, until of course he saw Harry. Hermione normally never let him inside, and Ron's eyes instantly narrowed. Harry felt very uncomfortable. Was there a reason why Hermione could look so incredibly calm, yet still make him want to drag her to the floor and ravage her like he almost had? Harry suppressed a shiver as he thought about the word ravage. That's more like something Malfoy would do…
"I thought you said you were going to change." Ron was looking over at Harry, not seeming to have noticed how extraordinary Hermione looked. Harry didn't like that at all. He was going to show Ron how to properly treat a lady, especially one as beautiful as Hermione. When did he begin to care about girls feelings anyway? Not girls….a girl…Hermione.
"Did you even look at Hermione, Ron? You didn't even tell her how wonderful she looks." Harry was playing the best friend again, the one he had always been playing? Not the rival of Ron for Hermione, of course. Of course not. He was simply Harry! The boy who lived, trying to get his two best friends together already so that everyone in Gryffindor could stop talking about it. Ron's eyes turned to Hermione and both Hermione and Harry heard him gasp as he took a shaky breath and blinked rapidly, making sure that she real. Ron's cold eyes melted at the sight of Hermione and his thin lipped mouth was replaced with a dreamy smile. Hermione blushed slightly and shifted on her feet, switching Harry's robe to her other hand. Ron's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Why are Harry's robes in your hand?" Ron asked haltingly, only staring at Harry though. Harry gulped nervously. Why was she holding his robes? Harry searched frantically for an answer but Hermione came to his rescue.
"Something in his trunk must have ripped one of the seams, it fell to pieces, and Harry did not know how to mend it," she replied calmly moving gracefully over to Harry's side and placed his robes in his hands. Ron didn't look pleased.
"How come I didn't see you come back down then?" Ron asked suspiciously. Harry replied this time.
"You were too busy with your game." Seamus, Dean, and Neville came up behind Ron.
"What the devil is taking you this long Ron? We would like to get there already!" Dean was impatient to meet his girlfriend in Ravenclaw. Ron turned his attention to Hermione, completely ignoring Harry. Harry knew it was going to be a long night. He didn't know how right he was though.
"You coming, 'Mione?" Hermione cocked her head the side slightly, so slightly Harry had thought he had imagined it. What was she up to?
"In five minutes. I have to finish something with Harry's robes, and I want to go over everything for the Yule Ball, Harry can be forgetful at times." Hermione flashed a brilliant smile, and Ron chuckled. Harry didn't find this amusing at all, but then when Ron turned to talk to the other three boys, Hermione caught his glance and gave him an apologetic look and at this Harry couldn't help but smile broadly at her. Ron managed to turn around in time just to see the exchange but then Dean grabbed his sleeve and pulled him out of the door and he called out,
"I'll meet you down stairs Hermione!" Then the portrait hole swung closed, leaving a nervous Harry, and a composed looking Hermione. Why was it fate dealt him cards that he couldn't use? It was as if everyone was mocking him. Everyone wanting him to screw up. The fucking Boy Who Lived! Harry hated this, hated the fact that he wasn't allowed to screw up, how everyone expected him to do what he was told, go along with destiny without any argument and continue on with his life after his destiny had been fulfilled. And what would happen to him if he did complete his destiny? Harry's eyes narrowed as he watched Hermione's figure approach the mirror again and step onto the pedestal. Silently. Always silent. The silence was pounding in his ears. It was a deafening sound, a sound that Harry would never admit to hearing. The silence protruding on his soul as time slowed down for him as he thought about his paths. He did have two paths to choose from. To fulfill the destiny of the Boy Who Lived, the famous bloody Harry Potter, defeating Lord Voldemort, saving the entire world from complete destruction, to become the future Minister of Magic, or the most powerful auror, or everything Dumbledor was. At that moment, Harry hated and loved Dumbledor. Loved him for the important role in his life and the similar paths he had chosen in his own past. He hated him for making him choose on his own, just like he had once done. For once, couldn't the great Harry Potter step back and let someone else save him? Or was he doomed for the rest of his life to save everyone while he himself was drowning in his own solitude. His loneliness. His fame, his fortune, and his future overwhelmed him. He never let it show, of course he didn't. He was the great Harry Potter. Famous fucking Potter. Why was he starting to sound like Malfoy?
Malfoy. He could feel him everywhere now. Malfoy was all around him, near him, inside him. Harry shivered at the last thought and wondered how he could possibly have dragged Hermione into his. Hermione…he blinked and suddenly realized that she was in front of him. Gazing at him with that knowing smile. She had done the switching robe spell. His black ones had been replaced with his green ones. She was still giving him that knowing smile. The one that he saw Draco wore often, as if he too, knew the burden that Harry bore. Hermione knew of it, Ron was oblivious to it, and everyone in his entire life would admire, want, or despise him. He was uncertain of what Hermione wanted him of him. He knew that she constantly wanted him to do well, and it was then that Harry realized he should start taking his academic career more seriously. He had enough power to overcome anything. Why should he waste it? To Hermione, it would have seemed very selfish. At least, that's what he would have thought she assumed of him. But no, that wasn't Hermione at all. She did extraordinary at school and managed to be as popular with the students as she was. There was no girl like her, none whatsoever. Harry did want her for his own, but in the end, in the deep crevices of his soul where he stored the thoughts of his parent's leave of him, and the heavy weight bestowed upon him, he knew it was not meant to be. But he would not let her go to Malfoy. Ron would have her. Harry smiled back at her then. And she took his arm, and led him out of the portrait hole, into the common room. Everyone had already departed down the stairs, and for this, Harry was relieved. Harry would never dream of taking Hermione from Ron, but he would not let Malfoy get a hold of her. Why did Malfoy want to ruin his life anyway? Harry's eyebrows drew together in deep concentration as they exited the common room and entered the hallway. It was silent, and Harry's heart swelled with gratitude towards Hermione. He knew that she too, was weighing her options. She also had a choice. They could very well be together if they wanted to. They could easily run away. But Hermione's career as the smartest witch in Britain….no. Harry would not ruin that for her. And Hermione would never leave Ron. Harry concluded his thoughts as he and Hermione descended the stairs. Harry knew that tonight was very important. He and Ron would have to keep a close watch on Hermione so that Draco could not get his hands on her. It shouldn't be too hard of course, considering Ron would not leave her side the entire night. He remembered Dumbledor now. Something was supposed to happen tonight…but what was it? A surprise of some sort…but just as Harry had, had no time to think about it the first time, he saw Ron, Dean, Seamus and their dates run up to them.
"Gosh Hermione you look amazing!" squealed Dean's date, a pretty girl with black hair tied back into a bun. Dean grinned and pulled his girl closer and she smiled and blushed prettily, leaning her head against his shoulder. They all laughed and Dean, Seamus and their dates went to join the crowd. Ron was looking down into Hermione's eyes, looking completely enthralled with her.
"You're so beautiful…" he whispered to her. It was quite noticeable that she held back a blush and tilted her chin upwards slightly and winked.
"You're not so bad, yourself." Harry laughed good naturedly and smiled at them both. Then they heard Ginny call Ron's name, and he had to depart quickly with the rest of the group into the great hall. Harry and Hermione had to wait until they entered along with the rest of the prefects. To Harry's discomfort, he realized that he had forgotten his glasses. But then frowned and realized he could actually see perfectly well without them. Knowing what he was thinking, Hermione looked up at him and winked.
"You're welcome, Harry." Harry grinned back and knew that he would do anything for this girl. Harry felt, rather than saw, two smoldering silver eyes watching him. Draco Malfoy was looking at him with emotions of suppressed frustration, desire, longing and hate. Basically, he was trying to kill Harry on the spot. Harry smirked at him and Malfoy's eyes widened. Harry chuckled under his breath. So that's what it felt like to be Draco. Always in control. He liked it this way. In control of his emotions. But in the bedroom….his thoughts strayed to Draco's pale skin shimmering in the after glow of passion…he saw his unruly black hair splayed out over the angelic boy's chest. It was too much of a sight for Harry, and he quickly turned his thoughts to the fiery vixen beside him. Dressed in blood red and hair that reminded him of melted chocolate, Hermione was indeed a sight to behold. He even noticed Draco's eyes drift over to her, and he tightened his arm around Hermione's waist, but she hadn't seemed to notice because she too, was lost in thought. All sets of prefects were being called in, and Harry watched as Malfoy wrenched the arm of his forgotten date, because he was too busy trying to stare through Harry's robes, into the Great Hall. As Harry walked slowly inside the hall, about 10 minutes after Malfoy, he caught the blond's gaze from across the room, standing at the front, along with the other prefects, giving him a haughty expression. It was that knowing look again that made Harry shiver, and he saw, for a brief horrifying moment, the outcome to this evening. He saw it in the eyes of cocky blond, he felt it in Hermione's posture as everyone in the great hall gasped as they saw them enter together, looking like they walked out of a perfect universe. He could sense it in the atmosphere and the tense expression that Ron wore as he eyes switched back and forth between Malfoy and him. But through it all, Harry did not lose his joyful feelings of having Hermione by his side and prepared to dance the night away without a care in the world.
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Dinner had been absolutely delicious. Harry had never had such a good time in his entire life. The dancing hadn't begun yet, although the musical rock band stood playing near the head table, writing down requests with their magically designed request recorder. Harry smiled at Hermione, who sat on his left, and she smiled back, giving him a playful wink. He heard a growl come from his right and he looked over at Ron whose attention was focused on a very suspicious looking Malfoy. He stood off on the Slytherin side of the room, where his entire gang was. He was more on his own then with anyone else, and his face was half covered in shadow. Why was it that Harry kept shivering when he felt the blonde's silver eyes rake over his body, even from across the room? Harry's eyes narrowed and Hermione's hand had suddenly been placed on his thigh as his head whipped around to face her. Her face was peaceful looking and sad. He stared deeply into her eyes and noticed that they were filled with understanding and…acceptance. But no…if she understood what was going on…then how could she accept it? From the corner of his eye, he watched Ron's fingers grip onto the table cloth tightly as his knuckles turned white. Harry knew Ron had very little self control when it came to his emotions and Harry needed to keep concentrating on what Malfoy was up to so that he could be there if the evil ferret tried anything on Hermione.
Just as Harry had known, the fast music started to play and all those who had finished their dinners had gotten up to dance. He, Hermione, and Ron all went onto the dance floor and began dancing and laughing together. Ron and Harry kept eye contact the whole time, sending silent messages to each other, keeping very close to Hermione. Hermione didn't seem to notice at all when both of their eyes landed on Malfoy's figure rolling off the wall and strutting onto the dance floor. His outfit was completely black, making his hair and features look even paler. Harry noticed how his lips were redder than usual. He must have been drinking the punch he thought. Harry and Ron drew closer to Hermione, but Hermione thought that they were trying to grind with her, so she smiled and kept Harry in front of her, and Ron behind her. Apparently, grinding had become a new thing in the wizarding world. The latest thing at all the clubs and what not…Ron smiled happily as he pressed up against Hermione, and Harry pressed back up against her. Hermione was swaying her hips to the music, oblvious to anything else going on in the great hall. And apparently so was everyone else in the hall. The music seemed to have some kind of trance….Harry's eyes widened. What the hell had Malfoy done to enchant the music? Enchanting everyone but him and Ron? Harry's eyes narrowed when he spotted Malfoy again…he was going to kill that goddess….Harry almost did a double take. Goddess?! Him?! Oh god, it was the music. It just had to be the music…Harry silently prayed for an interruption of some kind to get the students out of the trance and Hermione's….delicious figure swaying like that…Harry noticed Ron having a hard time staying focused on where Malfoy was, his eyes kept coming back to her hips and the way they moved from side to side against him. Harry didn't know how Ron was keeping control like that. Probably because he needed to stay focused for Hermione's sake. Harry glanced around again; Malfoy had gotten himself lost in the crowd. Harry swore under his breath as he thought he caught a glimpse of platinum blond hair not to far away from them. The students were getting closer together…more people were getting on the dance floor…Harry's mind began to wander to Hermione's body again…it was rubbing behind him, and Ron had pressed them closer together because he had lost sight of Malfoy too. Harry swallowed heavily, blinking rapidly, trying to keep his eyes from hazing over at the thought of throwing Hermione to the ground and making love to her…all eyes on them…Dumbledore's…Ron's…..Draco's. Harry smirked at the thought of the blond boy finally losing his calm exterior and throw a bloody trantrum in front of everyone. Ha! Draco Malfoy! Son of the rich death eater! Claim that Harry Potter is HIS! Wouldn't that be amusing? To see Draco getting laughed at by everyone...all his friends turning on him…getting expelled for some reason…Snape finally looking at him with contempt…Harry's thoughts trailed off as he realized he didn't want to hurt the blond. But to his surprise, he didn't seem shocked at all. On the contrary…he felt…Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a tapping of what sounded like a microphone but was really a wizard's wand that had the spell "Sonorous" done on it.
"Hello students of Hogwarts!" Everyone cheered while Harry searched for Draco frantically. "Dumbledore would like to make an announcement to all you charming witches and wizards out there!" Everyone cheered loudly and eventually the noise level died down when Dumbledore pulled out his own wand and spoke the same spell to it.
"As you're all probably wondering, what was the surprise that I told you about earlier today?" Whispers were heard over the dance floor and Harry's head snapped up and his gaze focused intently on the headmaster. Suddenly Dumbledore's eyes turned towards him and Harry felt like he had been singled out yet again.
"As you all remember…last years tragic events." Harry's eyes instantly darkened. What the hell was going on? "Cedric Diggory's memory has stayed with us always, and I'm sure you all have missed him greatly." Tears could be heard all around and Harry didn't even need to look over to his left to know that Cho Chang was in tears. "But I have some very good news for all of you." Harry raised an eyebrow…what was Dumbledore up to anyway? Dumbledore's frown instantly disappeared as a gust of wind swept through the great hall. "The surprise is this….please give a warm welcome to the brave and courageous…Cedric Diggory!" Cedric's ghost suddenly appeared beside Dumbledore and the whole hall gasped in surprise. A strangled gasp was heard from the Ravenclaw side of the room. Harry smiled; Cho wasn't known to make such noise. Cedric gave an embarrassed wave to everyone and Harry looked up at the boy with awe. He looked like all the other ghosts, and he looked exactly like he had when he had come out of Voldemort's wand the year before. The only thing Harry felt was confusion and uneasiness. Yes it was nice that Cedric had paid them a visit…but…why did he feel so uneasy about it?
"Hello everyone…" Cedric's voice trailed off as he gazed out at all the students of Hogwarts. "As you may very well know…all ghosts still have to finish off their purposes…that is why they still remain ghosts. When I died, at first, I didn't know what I was still here for. There were the obvious reasons such as I was still young and had to complete school, but I knew my purpose was deeper than that." Cedric shifted his pale figure towards Harry. Harry gulped as all eyes turned towards him. Not again…thought Harrry, his own voice failing him as he looked at Ron. Ron shrugged at him helplessly, while Hermione was staring up at Cedric curiously. Harry remembered that Malfoy was still lurking around and his eyes darted around the room quickly but came up with no hint of the familiar blond he had so accustomed to seeing. Where was he?
"Before I tell you what that purpose is, I'd like to state how I learned to use my 'ghostly' powers." Everyone chuckled at this, even Cho, who was wiping her tears off her face while her friends comforted her. Cedric gave her an encouraging smile and she returned it.
"I remembered my entire life, a lot more cleary then I would have liked mind you…but it helped me. I was able to return to Hogwarts, but sadly, no one could see me." A voice in the crowd perked up.
"I remember going through that! It's the puberty stages that a ghost goes through!" Sir Nicholas laughed along with the other students at his rather random outburst and Cedric smiled.
"I remember showing up to one prefect meeting and a student who I hadn't been particularly fond of-" Cedric was cut off by a loud snort. Draco Malfoy stepped up onto the stage.
"Why Cedric; how cruel." Everyone laughed, even the Slytherins found it amusing that Malfoy would happen to see the lost ghost before everyone else had. Harry raised an eyebrow; Malfoy saw ghosts?
"As I was saying! Young Malfoy here discovered me and researched about being a ghost and he taught me how to show myself to people. Eventually I managed to show myself to Dumbledore. I told him I wanted to cross over but I needed to figure out my purpose. Dumbledore asked me to replay the night I died for him. While I was speaking to him, I realized what it was that I needed to do. This is why I'm here! Malfoy suggested that I appear tonight in front of you all, and make and retell you what actually happened and who was the TRUE champion of Hogwarts."
Harry's mind screamed at him. Cedric thought that I actually claimed that I was the true champion!? How could he possibly think that!!…I KNOW that Cedric was the real champion…now everyone is going to think…oh god, screw what everyone else thinks, I never ever made myself out to be a hero. Everyone did THAT on their OWN.
"I'd like to tell you what really happened on the night of the Triwizard tournament…" Cedric then launched into the story of how Harry had saved him from the giant spider and had gotten seriously injured so he couldn't walk, preventing him from reaching the cup. He spoke of Harry's persistence of him taking the cup instead of him because he knew that Cedric had deserved it and how he wasn't supposed to be in this tournament and that Hufflepuff deserved some glory for once. Cedric told them all of Harry's stubborn will to make him take the cup, and then his suggestion of taking the cup together. He even spoke of Harry's reluctance to do that until Cedric practically carried him over to the cup as they touched it together. Everyone gasped when he spoke of the cup actually being a portkey and the moments before he, himself, died. He then told them all about Harry's battle with Voldemort and how he had talked to Harry while he fought for his life. Everyone looked at Harry with awe and respect and especially admiration. Harry didn't want that, he wanted everyone to forget that he saved them all again…He blinked. He had saved them…every year…and he will continue doing so…and Harry watched, as if through a dream, Draco pull him onto the stage while he descended off of it, getting lost in the crowd, while everyone whistled and cheered Harry's name. Harry shook his head frantically, searching desperately for Hermione's figure. The cheers were getting louder, even the Slythyrins (who were probably drunk) were cheering for him, and Cedric smiled broadly at him, nodding his head slightly. He looked for Ron, he found him in the middle of the crowd, trying to move around. He caught his eye and Ron looked at him beseechingly and urgently. Harry's eyes widened when he realized that Hermione wasn't with him. He sought frantically to find Hermione's figure, and choked back a gasp of fright when he saw Malfoy twisting her arm around her back and whispering words that he could not hear into Hermione's ear. She looked like she was in pain. Suddenly she looked up through the crowd and stared directly into his eyes. Harry caught his breath. He saw fear…confusion…and…understanding? The same understanding that he had seen before….the kind where she knew…and yet she didn't want to. Didn't know why it was happening. And yet she did…Harry knew the feeling…it was a little frightening…
Harry realized that their plan to keep Hermione safe had failed. Harry hadn't seen this coming, because apparently Malfoy had, he saw the boy smirking at him as he dragged Hermione out from the crowd towards the doors. Harry couldn't yell loud enough over the cheers that were being yelled, everyone wouldn't calm down. Harry couldn't stop Malfoy. He…couldn't stop…Malfoy…Harry's breath became shallower. He couldn't reach Hermione. Ron was trapped…Harry stared into Hermione's eyes as she was almost out the doors. She knew what was going to happen…she did. Harry knew. The familiar feeling of dread returned to him as he recalled the feelings he got when he entered the great hall at the beginning of that evening. The crowd's noises suddenly disappeared for Harry, although he could still see their mouths screaming his name. The last thing he saw was Hermione as her mouth formed three words as they met his ears in a quiet whisper…
"I'll be ok."
Then….everything went black.
Holy hell that took me forever…..sorry again for the long delay! Next chapter is…::winks:: well you know! Thanks to all my loyal reviewers! Please take the time to review! And PLEASE don't ask me when the next chapter is going to be up because that chapter is going to be a work of art and I need the time to analyze every aspect!! So if you want a good chapter, DON'T rush me. Bye!!!!!!
Madi Black!