Chapter 5:

The Looking Back and the Halloween Ball

After hearing the sound of the chairs moving, Harry quickly backed away from the large door and began to run down the corridor. He was out of breath when he past through the portrait. When he made it up to the boy's dormitories he shook Ron awake.

"Ron, Ron!! Wake up, Ron!"

"Wha... Harry what?" Ron yawned out.

"I went for a walk tonight. and I saw a girl. Ron a girl." Harry kept trying to get the words out but he could not, he was so out of breath.

"Oh. really. Harry, you had to wake me up and tell me," Ron was clearly irritated that Harry woke him up.

"No. that's not it. I was going up to the Tower and. I heard a conversation. in the classroom. Princess. she. a princess," Harry hoped that he caught on.

"Oh bloody hell Harry.. just shut up!!! You are so emotionally unstable, just get the picture she isn't real!! Go back to bed and leave me alone." Ron was clearly irritated, so Harry didn't push it any further.

Instead of taking Ron's advice to go to bed, Harry went through his trunk to find his Firebolt. Tonight was a nice night to get away from his worries. He found something in his trunk that he didn't know he had. Harry pulled it out. It was a dusty, old book. He wiped the cover with his sleeve and what was written there on the cover was: 'Hogwarts: A History.'

'Weird, I never bought this book, since Hermione practically knew it by heart.' He smiled at the thought of Hermione reading. He was always contented to watch her read; it was something she was compassionate about. He slowly pulled back the cover and inside the front cover page was: Property of Miss Hermione Granger. Harry was awestruck. The book was Hermione's.

'Oh my god... How did I get this? It's Hermione's.'

Ron started moving from underneath the covers of his bed. So Harry shut the book and grabbed his Firebolt and Invisibility Cloak and flew out the open window, hoping that he didn't wake Ron up.

He flew out to the roof of the Astronomy Tower where he went when he wanted to think. But all he could think about was Hermione.

~*~Flashback~*~

Harry was watching her so intensively as she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion or amazement. On her lap laid Hogwarts: A History. He loved the way she gracefully turned the page and the way her eyes glinted in the firelight. The way she breathed in and out made Harry's stomach do twists and turns. She turned to him, her eyes that melted into his.

"Harry, what are you doing?"

"Uh.. nothing." Harry was embarrassed; he was caught in the act. She was still looking at him waiting for him to say something else. Not realizing, he said, "What are you doing?"

'Duh Harry she's reading, you git!!' She chuckled at his question.

"Well, Harry I was reading until I realized I had you as my audience."

"Oh well.. I was just thinking."

"Oh really. about what?" She asked innocently. She waited a few moments for him to answer.

"Quidditch." Was all he could squeak out. He was going to get enough the courage to tell her how he felt about her but then he thought of how she would react. He could hear her in his head. 'Oh Harry..I am so sorry..I don't think we could be friends anymore..this changes everything so much.'

"Oh. .you must be pretty nervous about the Quidditch game coming up... being Captain must be taking a lot out of you." She said, somewhat disappointedly, "Well don't worry too much Harry. You are the best Quidditch player I have ever seen. I know you will do great!!" She blushed a little bit, but Harry didn't notice. He was busy taking in her words and implanting them into his memory.

She got up from her chair next to the fire and kissed Harry on the cheek. "Goodnight Harry."

Harry touched the place on his cheek where Hermione kissed him. Hermione slowly made her way up to the Girl's Dormitories. She stopped when she heard Harry ask, "Even better than Krum?"

"Much better Harry." Harry smiled at this. 'Someday soon I will have to tell you how I really feel about you, Hermione. Someday real soon.'

Hermione stopped at the Girl's Dormitories and turned to face the direction Harry was in. He was lost in thought it seemed. 'You are going to have to be strong Harry. You'll make it through. You always have and hopefully always will. and remember I will always look out for you. Always.' She pulled the door open and disappeared into the dark room. (A/N: Hehehe.. Hermione knows something.. but what??)

~*~End of Flashback~*~

Harry pulled back the cover of Hogwarts: A History. He slowly traced Hermione's handwriting with his finger. 'I will always love you Hermione. Always and Forever.'

Then he noticed something from on the grounds of Hogwarts. It was Crookshanks. He was befriending a unicorn. That's not just any unicorn but one with a birthmark over its heart. The unicorn he met in Hagrid's class earlier today. The two animals then disappeared into the forest. He closed the book and then he decided it was time to leave.

~*~At breakfast few days later~*~

Ron was still upset with Harry a little bit. He thinks that Harry should start dating so he could take his mind off of the 'imaginary' girl. So, being a nice friend Ron is, he got Harry a date with the Gryffindor chaser, Allison, to the Halloween Ball tonight.

"Ron I told you. I don't like Allison in that way." Harry said trying to keep his voice down so no one could hear him.

"Listen Harry. You need to stop thinking about this girl and go out and have some fun. You will get over it once you found something better."

Now Harry was getting upset with Ron, "Ron! No one will be better for me than Hermione so why don't you stop bloody pushing so bloody hard!!" (A/N: You tell him Harry!!!! One point for Harry, minus one for Ron. :P)

That got almost everyone's attention. The teachers were whispering to each other and glaring at Harry like he had gone mad, the Gryffindors said things like "Shut up will you?" or "You are causing a scene." The Slytherins thought it was just so damn funny and couldn't stop laughing. The Hufflepuff's looked startled and the Ravenclaw's looked over at them like they were the stupidest people on Earth.

Harry was so angry he didn't even realize that Hedwig was sitting in front of his plate with a letter tied to her leg. Harry untied the letter and pulled it open. He didn't know who it was from. It read:

Dear Harry,

If you are reading this then I have lost my life in battle for the Order and it is your last year. I hope your last year at Hogwarts is going well. Your father would have been so proud of you. Well your mom too!! I hope Quidditch is going well, your dad would have marveled at the sight of you playing. Your mom wasn't a big fan of Quidditch. Every time your father played it she would grab a hold of Moony's and my arms. Once she even fainted because your father fell off his broom. That is why your dad didn't become a professional; he worried about your mom too much. Oh look at me I am babbling on and on.

I wanted to tell you that I have been informed of "things" that will be happening at Hogwarts this year and I feel that you should stay put. Don't go looking for trouble and don't go snooping around. Far too much is at cost right now. Please listen to me about this Harry. I know what I am talking about.

I am sorry that I am not there to be with you, but I will be with you like Hermione is with you. In your heart.

Sirius

'Sirius? SIRIUS!! He wrote me a letter.'

He wanted to tell Ron, but he was still too mad to tell him just yet. He was about to get up then a tap on his shoulder snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned around and saw Allison Slout.

"I just wanted to know if we are still on for tonight?" She asked. Harry looked at her strangely and she continued, "You know the ball tonight?"

"Uh.. sure why not." Harry doesn't like hurting girl's feelings that brought him back to fifth year and Cho crying all over him.

"Okay. um I'll meet you in the Gryffindor Common Room a little bit before 8 o'clock."

"Sure why not." Allison ran off, looking as if she just won an Oscar. She ran over to her friends, telling them that she had a date with "The Harry Potter." Harry, however, was not too excited about the dance. He did not want to spend anymore time with Allison Slout, since he already thought he spent too much time with her already.

~*~Around 8 o'clock~*~

Harry was waiting patiently in the Gryffindor Common Room in his fancy dress robes. Ron was also there but he was not paying attention to Harry. They both have been purposely trying to avoid each other's eyes. Ron was mad at Harry because he thinks Harry should treat him better and get over Hermione. And Harry was mad at Ron for pushing him into things he isn't ready for.

Finally, Luna came into through the portrait hole. She hugged Harry as she moved towards Ron.

"Don't worry he'll get over it in time." She whispered in his ear.

He just made a slight smile. Luna smiled back and turned to Ron.

"Come on Luna. Let's go before he starts yelling at you for trying to be a good friend." Luna gave him a strict look. And with one glance back at Harry, they left. He was still staring after them even when they had gone. He didn't like being mad at Ron but Ron is just so stubborn. Harry then felt another tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see none other than Allison Slout wearing a very low cut muggle dress and her legs were very bare. She looked like she was ready to join the ladies in the streets.

"You look very nice, Allison." Harry said trying to be polite.

"Thank you.. so do you Harry." He smiled a fake smile. The only time he could smile a real smile was when Hermione was with him or when he thought of Hermione.

"Let's go down then." Harry then offered her his arm.

When they made their way into the Great Hall, many eyes turned to look at them. Many faces held jealous looks or evil looks (The Slytherins who else?). But Harry didn't look or feel very happy at the moment. Whoever went to the Ball with Harry must be very important. The most pretty or popular, the ones that would use him for his fame. Maybe that is why he felt connected to Hermione, since she always saw him for who he really was and he could actually have a real conversation with her about almost anything, instead of some girls who are complaining about anything.

As time went on, Harry found didn't like the Halloween Ball too much. He excused himself several times to get them some drinks. Once he came back with the drinks, Allison tried to pull him onto the dance floor.

"Oh, come on Harry. I know you want to dance with me." She pulled him onto the dance floor, wrapping her arms around Harry's neck. Harry, uncomfortably, set his arms on her waist. He stepped on Allison's toes many times and he wasn't too comfortable dancing with her. She has tried to rub her hips against his, trying to get a reaction out of him, but he kept pulling away. Thinking that he was getting excited, she kept doing it, though he really was just getting irritated with her. She didn't see that though, she was just happy she was with Harry. He tried to escape her many times to dance with some girls he considered his friends, but she just kept him near her. Finally, he couldn't take anymore. He had to get out of there.

"Why don't we get some fresh air?" Harry suggested.

"That's a great idea!!" Allison replied, thinking that Harry wanted some alone time with her to take something form him that he will never be able to get back. But actually, Harry wanted to get away from everyone. "Let me get my coat though." Harry watched Allison disappear, wishing that she didn't come back.

~*~Meanwhile, on the other side of the Great Hall~*~

"Yeah.. Harry wants to spend some alone time with me." Allison told her friends, "Soon everyone will know me as 'The Famous Harry Potter's Girlfriend.' The one he lost his virginity to." She and her friends giggled.

"Oh. Allison you are so lucky."

"Yeah. everyone wishes for their own Harry Potter."

"I know, if I wasn't me I'd be jealous of myself too," Allison replied, "Well, I can't keep him waiting any longer shall I?" She grabbed her coat and walked over to Harry.

~*~

They casually made their way out of the Great Hall, not realizing that everyone was watching them. Once outside, Harry could feel Allison watching him.

'She must really like me then.' He thought about how he would watch Hermione reading. A real smile crept upon his face.

"So Harry. .what do you want to do?" Allison asked suggestively.

"I. well. whatever you want I guess."

Allison leaned forward, trying to bring her lips up to Harry and rubbing her hips up against him again. Harry then pushed her back.

"Allison.. listen I. well, the thing is-"

"Oh. come on Harry. everyone wants me. I know you do too," she whispered seductively in his ear, "Let's find somewhere we can be alone."

"No, Allison. I love Her-"

"Don't Harry. Don't tell me the words that I cannot bare."

"I am sorry, Allison." Harry tried to take her hand but she pulled away. She glanced at him with more fake tears in her eyes.

"Don't be Harry!!! I should be sorry for ever wasting your time!!" Allison yelled back and ran from him. Harry looked to the ground and then back up to see her running past girls he knew were her friends. He was sure that she was using him just like all the others, well except for Hermione. Harry still felt a little sorry for her though. (A/N: What a bitch!! Who votes Allison out?)

Harry decided he should take a walk down along the lake and the forest. Ten minutes into the walk, all he could think about was:

'Maybe Ron was right. Maybe I did imagine the whole thing. There isn't any Princess..it is just inside my head.' Behind him some bustling of branches stopped Harry. Harry turned to see what it was. It was the girl in a long burgundy cloak that completely covered her face.

*~* End of Chapter 5*~*