The Quarrel
Harry awoke to the sun cascading through the window. The rays pierced his eyes and he winced. Putting on his glasses, he noticed everyone had gone. He listened but there was no sound. Harry fought his way out of his bed and ran down the winding staircase to the Gryffindor common room. To his suprise, all of Gryffindor was there, silent, staring at something in the fire. Harry found Ron and Hermione, and poked Ron in the side, asking silently 'What's going on?' Ron hushed him immediately and pointed to the fire. Minerva McGonnagal's head was staring back at everyone in the heated fireplace. She was speaking rather low, with tears streaking down her face. Right now, she was blotting her face with a hankerchief. When finished, she raised her head and spoke.
"And I advise everyone to stay calm. This is emergency proceedings, mind you. We're only doing this for your own good."
"What's up?" Harry whispered in Ron's ear.
"Well, they're not shutting down the school...yet," Ron gulped, "But McGonnagal said that we can only stay on the floors above the first."
"We can't go on the first floor? Why not?"
"I don't know. Something about protection against us going outside or something. I didn't really pay attention." Ron twisted his face up. Harry gasped.
"Ron! If we can't go on the first floor, we don't have to put up with the Slytherins!"
"That's right!" The Gryffindors shushed them, but McGonnagal seemed to not notice.
"So," she said, "all classes will be taught either in your dormitories or nearest. Do I make myself clear?" She didn't wait for a response when she told them, "I'm terribly sorry for this turn of liking. We hope the matters will soon resolve. Gooday to you all." And her head vanished from the fireplace.
"So we can't even visit Hagrid?" Harry asked Ron and hermione while finishing up a bit of Potions homework the next day.
"I suppose he'll try to make his way up here to see us. You know Hagrid," Hermione said to him. he boys nodded in agreement.
"Why so glum?" Fred Weasley asked, pulling up a chair.
"No reason," Ron replied.
"Well if you want to know or not, Fred and I just wanted to tell you that business is booming. Since we're in school, we ca't run the place-" George stated.
"And we don't want to lose any profits-" Fred added.
"So we've hired some witches to do it for us."
"And why do we want to know this?" Ron asked, wincing at his ruler to match up a foot long parchment.
"Ron, we love you very much," Fred leaned toward Ron.
"And you know we'd do anything for you," George smiled at him.
"We just want a small favor in return to our love."
"And what is that?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes.
"Can we borrow your car?" the twins chimed in together.
"No! What for?" Ron bellowed.
"To check up on the business," Fred cried.
"We have to see if everything's going acordingly!" George added.
"No! Go through the passageways under the school! You're not taking my car!" Ron squealed. And the boys left, frowns on their faces.
"Done," Harry said, putting his quill and parchment in his bag. Ron glared at him, shoving his things in his own bag and slamming his books closed.
"So am I," he said. They both gathered their things and walked back up the winding staircase to the boys' dorm. Hermione followed.
"I know what you're planning on doing," she whispered to them as they entered, looking behind her to make sure no one was listening. "You're going to sneak down to Hagrid's, aren't you?"
"Actually we weren't planning on doing anything Hermione, but that's a good idea," Ron smiled. She just looked at him.
"Well it won't do you any good! I heard they put Fluffy on guard down there," she said slyly, crossing her arms.
"We've gotten past that mangy mutt before, haven't we?" Harry asked her. In a gruff voice, acting somewhat like Hagrid's, he said to her, "Just play im a bit o' music and 'e falls straight to sleep!" Then he wrinkled up his face and in the same gruff tone, "I shouldn' o' told you that!" They all laughed at this.
"What're you laughing at?" came a farmiliar voice from the doorway. Neville was standing there, toad in hand, with a grim look on his face.
"Oh, just something," Hermione giggled.
"I hate this, "he said, ignoring her, "because we can't go anywhere! We have to stay here all the time. Trevor's looking awfly sick and I can't even take him to Hagrid to see if he could cure him." He sighed. "I'm afraid if I tried to put a charm on him I'd blow him up or something!" He layed down on his bed and blankly stared at the bunk above him.
"Trevor guts everywhere," Ron considered, "S'not a good sight to see."
"Wait a minute!" Neville gasped, "Hermione! (she jumped) You can cure him! Yuo're an expert at these things!" He shoved the toad in her hands. She looked down at it. Trevor's legs were dangling at his sides and his eyes blinked once at her before continuing loud obnoxious croaking.
"Uh, Neville?" she asked shakily.
"Yes?" he responded, in an excited tone.
"I think it would be best if you took Trevor to Dumbledore. I shouldn't be doing this," and she handed the toad back to Neville.
"Alright, but wil you come with me?" he desperately asked.
"We'll all go," Harry said, breaking the silece between the uh...umm's escaping from Hermione. They walked out of the boys' dorm, down the staircase, through the crowded common room, and out of the portrait.
"And where are you going?" the fat lady in the portrait asked them.
"Ron's sick," Harry lied. He jammed his heel into Ron's foot.
"Yeah!" Ron coughed, "I'm (cough) really (cough-cough) sick." The fat lady eyed thm wearily and they continued on their journey to Dumbledore's office. But they didn't make it that far. At the far end of a long corridor near the Great Hall, stood none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Hold on there!" he called with a grin smeared across his face. "Where do you think you're going?" He looked at them and his grin widened. "Oh let me guess! A famous croon, lard, a dirt poor good for nothing wizard, a Mudblood and a toad! Is there some sort of party for the useless that I don't know about?"
"Actually, you were at the top of their list, Malfoy!" Hermione sneered. "But they didn't want to ruin the party so they didn't invite you!" Malfoy stepped toward her, his face only inches from hers.
"Watch your pace, Mudblood!" his eyes were slits but full of hatred. Hermione felt the hatred burn into her eyes. "If you don't look out, I'll call my father and have you expelled from Hogwarts."
"You're not very powerful without your daddy, now, are you?" she told him. Malfoy hesitated. "Or your bodyguards. Where are those blokes anyway? Probably stuffing their faces. I bet they would eat the tablecloth if you'd let them!" Ron, Neville, and Harry stood back in awe. For a moment Harry thought Hermione was about to charge right at him! Malfoy had his fists to his sides, ready to strike at any moment. "You disgust me."
"As do you, Mudblood!" Malfoy snickered.
"Wow Malfoy, "Ron glowered. "That's the worst come-back I've heard in years!" Malfoy took his eyes upon Ron now.
"Think you're being clever do you?" he snarled.
"No, I'm a dirt poor wizard that doesn't deserve to live," Ron smiled at him, glowing. But to his suprise, Malfoy smiled right back.
"I'm glad you know your place," Malfoy sneered. He turned to Harry. "I told you our first year at Hogwarts that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You were stupid enough not to listen-"
"And I told you I didn't need your help with anything," Harry interrupted.
"You're such a git!" Malfoy spat. In Harr's mind, a small tune seemed to appear in his head, playing ove and over again. Harry Potter is a git, when he dreams he falls for it, but when Sirius... Harry shook his head and the song faded out of his ears only to find Malfoy in front of him laughing and pointing at him. Harry realized tears were streaming down his face, his cheeks red.
"Oh yeah?" Ron yelled, "Well you're a puff!" Malfoy immediately stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes on Ron's. For a moment, they seemed to be living statues, not moving, not breathing. Malfoy's teeth were grinding in his mouth.
"What did you call me?" he said through gritted teeth. is fists lay balled up, close to his sides.
"A puff," Ron said, gaining courage. Without even a word, Malfoy leaped upon Ron and attempted to strangle him.
"Malfoy no!" Hermione cried. She took out her wand and pointed it straight at Malfoy. "Petrificus totalis!" Instantly, Malfoy's limbs locked and collided with Ron onto the floor.
"Get-him-off-me!" Ron struggled to remove Malfoy's board-like body from his own and threw him to one side. "Thanks Hermione." He gasped for breath. "You wouldn't believe how much he weighs! And he's the Slytherin seeker!"
"I could only imagine!" replied a soft voice from the end of the corridor. Everyone jumped at the sound of the voice. Dumbledore stood there, beaming. He walked toward them and the students sudenly burst out with apologies and stories and views of what had happened. He raises his hand, palm facing them. "I was standing there the entire time; no need to explain." he chortled. "Very good Miss Granger for acting so well towards Mr. Malfoy! Gryffindor will recieve five points for that lovely demonstration of wand magic!" The students sighed and smiled up at him. "As for him," he directed their attention towards Malfoy, "he will be taking points from Slytherin. I think ten points would be acceptable. Don't you agree?" No arguments. Dumbledore took out his wand ,while Hermione put hers away, and said the countercurse. Malfoy sprang back to life. He got up to his feet, gave a stern look at them all and walked back down the corridor out of sight.
"Dumbledore," Herry suddenly remembered, "Neville's toad..."
"He's acting a bit funny. I don't know if he's sick or what. I was hoping maybe you could see what's wrong with him." Neville held out Trevor until the toad was face to face with Dumbledore. After what seemed ten minutes of silence, Dumbledore smiled.
"Why don't we visit Hagrid? He'll know what to do," he said to them. He turned and they followed, down staircases and through hallways, and finally out the back door leading to Hagrid's hut. Smoke was billowing from the chimney. They climbed up the stairs leading to the front door and Dumbledore knocked. Fang, Hagrid's borehound, yowled loudly with excitement. They could hear Hagrid shushing him as he made his way to the door. With a loud creak, the door opened and there stood Hagrid. He was twice as big as any normal human, but nicer.
"Oh, come in Dumbledore!" he beamed. "Hello 'Arry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Professor Dumbledore. Qui'e a crowd yeh got there Professor." He looked down at Neville's hands. "Well who've yeh got there?"
"Trevor, my toad," Neville replied. "I think he's sick. I was wondering if you'd have a look at him for me." Hagrid took Trevor in his massive hands and examined him.
"Everythin' looks fine ter me," he said. "How's he been actin'?"
"He sits around all day and makes this noise." He was referring to the loud croaking. Hagrid just laughed.
"Don' you know anythin' about toads? It's mating season! He's croakin' ter lure in a mate! Trevor knows it, he can sense it."
"But isn't the mating season during spring?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"Not fer this type o' toad. This kind mates in the mid-fall and lay their eggs in the deepest waters they can find! If I were you, Neville, I'd be takin' Trevor out to the lake so he can swim around for a bit and look fer a girlfriend," Hagrid beamed. Neville nodded and looked into the eyes of his green croaking friend. They were like staring into little black beads with brown rims. Trevor blinked.
"And another question," Hermione said to him conversationally, "Why now? I doubt Neville's toad has done this before, other wise Neville would know what to do by now,"
Hagrid smiled and said, "Well you see Hermione, this rare type o' toad on'y mates at a certain age. Mos' toads are like that. I jus' assume Trevor has come to the righ' age." He made a sort of grunt and took his massive arms ad tapped everyone out of his house. "Shoo, off yeh go now! I've got plenty of work to do here! Go on! Off with yeh!"
Everyone left in a bunch, including Professor Dumbledore who seemed quiet and still throughout the entire operation. They went though the huge front doors and down the halls and back up to the Gryffindor tower. The students said their "thank you's" and "goodbyes" to their Headmaster and walked through the secret passageway behind the fat lady's portrait.
That very night, Harry and Hermione stayed up very late tending to Ron's wounds. He had a black eye for some strange reason ("I poked myself in the eye with my wand when he attacked me," Ron explained.), and there were multicoloured finger-marks all along his throat.
"It must be terrible for you," Hermione said sympathetically. "If he tries to harm you in any way ever again I swear I'll put the Avada-"
"It's alright, Hermione," Ron laughed.
"I still can't believe you called him a puff," Harry chuckled.
"Me niether, but now that I think of it he does look the part," everyone laughed at Ron's joke even louder than they had all night. The laughter died, and Harry yawned.
"I'm gonna head off to bed," he told them. Hermione was putting ice in a small towel and setting it on Ron's eye.
"I'll see you up there in a bit," Ron replied, wincing in pain yet relaxing once the ice was set. They said their goodbyes and Harry walked up the staircase to the boys' dorm when he heard a muffled whisper from below. He walked silently over to the balcony and peered down. Ron and Hermione were whispering to each other. The ice lay on the table in front of them. Harry leaned forward to try to make out what they were saying.
"When do you think we should tell him?" Hermione whispered.
"I think we should've told him earlier. It's nothing he'd be upset about. I mean, why would he?" Ron whispered back. Harry could see a faint smile from Hermione, but could only see the back of Ron's head. "He knows I fancy you, Herm-" then as clear as day, avoice from behind Harry sprang the whole room to life.
"Harry! What're you doing out here?" Dean Thomas' voice echoed through the practically empty common room. Hermione and Ron froze, then slowly looked up to the balcony to a petrified, wide-eyed Harry, staring back at them. But Dean continued, not noticing anything wrong. "It's well after midnight! Come on, go to bed! If it's homework you're after, you can do it tomarrow." Harry shot his eyes from the two friends below and fixed them on Dean. His voice was both stuttering and shaking.
"N-no Dean. I-I-I'm f-fine. I just w-was... uh... t-trying to.. um..." and after a long pause, "nothing." He walked past Dean and through the open doorway to his dorm, closing the door behind him. He walked, staggerdly, to his bedside and without changing, flopping onto his pillow and closed the curtain around him. He did not want to get up in the morning.
Harry awoke to the sun cascading through the window. The rays pierced his eyes and he winced. Putting on his glasses, he noticed everyone had gone. He listened but there was no sound. Harry fought his way out of his bed and ran down the winding staircase to the Gryffindor common room. To his suprise, all of Gryffindor was there, silent, staring at something in the fire. Harry found Ron and Hermione, and poked Ron in the side, asking silently 'What's going on?' Ron hushed him immediately and pointed to the fire. Minerva McGonnagal's head was staring back at everyone in the heated fireplace. She was speaking rather low, with tears streaking down her face. Right now, she was blotting her face with a hankerchief. When finished, she raised her head and spoke.
"And I advise everyone to stay calm. This is emergency proceedings, mind you. We're only doing this for your own good."
"What's up?" Harry whispered in Ron's ear.
"Well, they're not shutting down the school...yet," Ron gulped, "But McGonnagal said that we can only stay on the floors above the first."
"We can't go on the first floor? Why not?"
"I don't know. Something about protection against us going outside or something. I didn't really pay attention." Ron twisted his face up. Harry gasped.
"Ron! If we can't go on the first floor, we don't have to put up with the Slytherins!"
"That's right!" The Gryffindors shushed them, but McGonnagal seemed to not notice.
"So," she said, "all classes will be taught either in your dormitories or nearest. Do I make myself clear?" She didn't wait for a response when she told them, "I'm terribly sorry for this turn of liking. We hope the matters will soon resolve. Gooday to you all." And her head vanished from the fireplace.
"So we can't even visit Hagrid?" Harry asked Ron and hermione while finishing up a bit of Potions homework the next day.
"I suppose he'll try to make his way up here to see us. You know Hagrid," Hermione said to him. he boys nodded in agreement.
"Why so glum?" Fred Weasley asked, pulling up a chair.
"No reason," Ron replied.
"Well if you want to know or not, Fred and I just wanted to tell you that business is booming. Since we're in school, we ca't run the place-" George stated.
"And we don't want to lose any profits-" Fred added.
"So we've hired some witches to do it for us."
"And why do we want to know this?" Ron asked, wincing at his ruler to match up a foot long parchment.
"Ron, we love you very much," Fred leaned toward Ron.
"And you know we'd do anything for you," George smiled at him.
"We just want a small favor in return to our love."
"And what is that?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes.
"Can we borrow your car?" the twins chimed in together.
"No! What for?" Ron bellowed.
"To check up on the business," Fred cried.
"We have to see if everything's going acordingly!" George added.
"No! Go through the passageways under the school! You're not taking my car!" Ron squealed. And the boys left, frowns on their faces.
"Done," Harry said, putting his quill and parchment in his bag. Ron glared at him, shoving his things in his own bag and slamming his books closed.
"So am I," he said. They both gathered their things and walked back up the winding staircase to the boys' dorm. Hermione followed.
"I know what you're planning on doing," she whispered to them as they entered, looking behind her to make sure no one was listening. "You're going to sneak down to Hagrid's, aren't you?"
"Actually we weren't planning on doing anything Hermione, but that's a good idea," Ron smiled. She just looked at him.
"Well it won't do you any good! I heard they put Fluffy on guard down there," she said slyly, crossing her arms.
"We've gotten past that mangy mutt before, haven't we?" Harry asked her. In a gruff voice, acting somewhat like Hagrid's, he said to her, "Just play im a bit o' music and 'e falls straight to sleep!" Then he wrinkled up his face and in the same gruff tone, "I shouldn' o' told you that!" They all laughed at this.
"What're you laughing at?" came a farmiliar voice from the doorway. Neville was standing there, toad in hand, with a grim look on his face.
"Oh, just something," Hermione giggled.
"I hate this, "he said, ignoring her, "because we can't go anywhere! We have to stay here all the time. Trevor's looking awfly sick and I can't even take him to Hagrid to see if he could cure him." He sighed. "I'm afraid if I tried to put a charm on him I'd blow him up or something!" He layed down on his bed and blankly stared at the bunk above him.
"Trevor guts everywhere," Ron considered, "S'not a good sight to see."
"Wait a minute!" Neville gasped, "Hermione! (she jumped) You can cure him! Yuo're an expert at these things!" He shoved the toad in her hands. She looked down at it. Trevor's legs were dangling at his sides and his eyes blinked once at her before continuing loud obnoxious croaking.
"Uh, Neville?" she asked shakily.
"Yes?" he responded, in an excited tone.
"I think it would be best if you took Trevor to Dumbledore. I shouldn't be doing this," and she handed the toad back to Neville.
"Alright, but wil you come with me?" he desperately asked.
"We'll all go," Harry said, breaking the silece between the uh...umm's escaping from Hermione. They walked out of the boys' dorm, down the staircase, through the crowded common room, and out of the portrait.
"And where are you going?" the fat lady in the portrait asked them.
"Ron's sick," Harry lied. He jammed his heel into Ron's foot.
"Yeah!" Ron coughed, "I'm (cough) really (cough-cough) sick." The fat lady eyed thm wearily and they continued on their journey to Dumbledore's office. But they didn't make it that far. At the far end of a long corridor near the Great Hall, stood none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Hold on there!" he called with a grin smeared across his face. "Where do you think you're going?" He looked at them and his grin widened. "Oh let me guess! A famous croon, lard, a dirt poor good for nothing wizard, a Mudblood and a toad! Is there some sort of party for the useless that I don't know about?"
"Actually, you were at the top of their list, Malfoy!" Hermione sneered. "But they didn't want to ruin the party so they didn't invite you!" Malfoy stepped toward her, his face only inches from hers.
"Watch your pace, Mudblood!" his eyes were slits but full of hatred. Hermione felt the hatred burn into her eyes. "If you don't look out, I'll call my father and have you expelled from Hogwarts."
"You're not very powerful without your daddy, now, are you?" she told him. Malfoy hesitated. "Or your bodyguards. Where are those blokes anyway? Probably stuffing their faces. I bet they would eat the tablecloth if you'd let them!" Ron, Neville, and Harry stood back in awe. For a moment Harry thought Hermione was about to charge right at him! Malfoy had his fists to his sides, ready to strike at any moment. "You disgust me."
"As do you, Mudblood!" Malfoy snickered.
"Wow Malfoy, "Ron glowered. "That's the worst come-back I've heard in years!" Malfoy took his eyes upon Ron now.
"Think you're being clever do you?" he snarled.
"No, I'm a dirt poor wizard that doesn't deserve to live," Ron smiled at him, glowing. But to his suprise, Malfoy smiled right back.
"I'm glad you know your place," Malfoy sneered. He turned to Harry. "I told you our first year at Hogwarts that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You were stupid enough not to listen-"
"And I told you I didn't need your help with anything," Harry interrupted.
"You're such a git!" Malfoy spat. In Harr's mind, a small tune seemed to appear in his head, playing ove and over again. Harry Potter is a git, when he dreams he falls for it, but when Sirius... Harry shook his head and the song faded out of his ears only to find Malfoy in front of him laughing and pointing at him. Harry realized tears were streaming down his face, his cheeks red.
"Oh yeah?" Ron yelled, "Well you're a puff!" Malfoy immediately stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes on Ron's. For a moment, they seemed to be living statues, not moving, not breathing. Malfoy's teeth were grinding in his mouth.
"What did you call me?" he said through gritted teeth. is fists lay balled up, close to his sides.
"A puff," Ron said, gaining courage. Without even a word, Malfoy leaped upon Ron and attempted to strangle him.
"Malfoy no!" Hermione cried. She took out her wand and pointed it straight at Malfoy. "Petrificus totalis!" Instantly, Malfoy's limbs locked and collided with Ron onto the floor.
"Get-him-off-me!" Ron struggled to remove Malfoy's board-like body from his own and threw him to one side. "Thanks Hermione." He gasped for breath. "You wouldn't believe how much he weighs! And he's the Slytherin seeker!"
"I could only imagine!" replied a soft voice from the end of the corridor. Everyone jumped at the sound of the voice. Dumbledore stood there, beaming. He walked toward them and the students sudenly burst out with apologies and stories and views of what had happened. He raises his hand, palm facing them. "I was standing there the entire time; no need to explain." he chortled. "Very good Miss Granger for acting so well towards Mr. Malfoy! Gryffindor will recieve five points for that lovely demonstration of wand magic!" The students sighed and smiled up at him. "As for him," he directed their attention towards Malfoy, "he will be taking points from Slytherin. I think ten points would be acceptable. Don't you agree?" No arguments. Dumbledore took out his wand ,while Hermione put hers away, and said the countercurse. Malfoy sprang back to life. He got up to his feet, gave a stern look at them all and walked back down the corridor out of sight.
"Dumbledore," Herry suddenly remembered, "Neville's toad..."
"He's acting a bit funny. I don't know if he's sick or what. I was hoping maybe you could see what's wrong with him." Neville held out Trevor until the toad was face to face with Dumbledore. After what seemed ten minutes of silence, Dumbledore smiled.
"Why don't we visit Hagrid? He'll know what to do," he said to them. He turned and they followed, down staircases and through hallways, and finally out the back door leading to Hagrid's hut. Smoke was billowing from the chimney. They climbed up the stairs leading to the front door and Dumbledore knocked. Fang, Hagrid's borehound, yowled loudly with excitement. They could hear Hagrid shushing him as he made his way to the door. With a loud creak, the door opened and there stood Hagrid. He was twice as big as any normal human, but nicer.
"Oh, come in Dumbledore!" he beamed. "Hello 'Arry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Professor Dumbledore. Qui'e a crowd yeh got there Professor." He looked down at Neville's hands. "Well who've yeh got there?"
"Trevor, my toad," Neville replied. "I think he's sick. I was wondering if you'd have a look at him for me." Hagrid took Trevor in his massive hands and examined him.
"Everythin' looks fine ter me," he said. "How's he been actin'?"
"He sits around all day and makes this noise." He was referring to the loud croaking. Hagrid just laughed.
"Don' you know anythin' about toads? It's mating season! He's croakin' ter lure in a mate! Trevor knows it, he can sense it."
"But isn't the mating season during spring?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"Not fer this type o' toad. This kind mates in the mid-fall and lay their eggs in the deepest waters they can find! If I were you, Neville, I'd be takin' Trevor out to the lake so he can swim around for a bit and look fer a girlfriend," Hagrid beamed. Neville nodded and looked into the eyes of his green croaking friend. They were like staring into little black beads with brown rims. Trevor blinked.
"And another question," Hermione said to him conversationally, "Why now? I doubt Neville's toad has done this before, other wise Neville would know what to do by now,"
Hagrid smiled and said, "Well you see Hermione, this rare type o' toad on'y mates at a certain age. Mos' toads are like that. I jus' assume Trevor has come to the righ' age." He made a sort of grunt and took his massive arms ad tapped everyone out of his house. "Shoo, off yeh go now! I've got plenty of work to do here! Go on! Off with yeh!"
Everyone left in a bunch, including Professor Dumbledore who seemed quiet and still throughout the entire operation. They went though the huge front doors and down the halls and back up to the Gryffindor tower. The students said their "thank you's" and "goodbyes" to their Headmaster and walked through the secret passageway behind the fat lady's portrait.
That very night, Harry and Hermione stayed up very late tending to Ron's wounds. He had a black eye for some strange reason ("I poked myself in the eye with my wand when he attacked me," Ron explained.), and there were multicoloured finger-marks all along his throat.
"It must be terrible for you," Hermione said sympathetically. "If he tries to harm you in any way ever again I swear I'll put the Avada-"
"It's alright, Hermione," Ron laughed.
"I still can't believe you called him a puff," Harry chuckled.
"Me niether, but now that I think of it he does look the part," everyone laughed at Ron's joke even louder than they had all night. The laughter died, and Harry yawned.
"I'm gonna head off to bed," he told them. Hermione was putting ice in a small towel and setting it on Ron's eye.
"I'll see you up there in a bit," Ron replied, wincing in pain yet relaxing once the ice was set. They said their goodbyes and Harry walked up the staircase to the boys' dorm when he heard a muffled whisper from below. He walked silently over to the balcony and peered down. Ron and Hermione were whispering to each other. The ice lay on the table in front of them. Harry leaned forward to try to make out what they were saying.
"When do you think we should tell him?" Hermione whispered.
"I think we should've told him earlier. It's nothing he'd be upset about. I mean, why would he?" Ron whispered back. Harry could see a faint smile from Hermione, but could only see the back of Ron's head. "He knows I fancy you, Herm-" then as clear as day, avoice from behind Harry sprang the whole room to life.
"Harry! What're you doing out here?" Dean Thomas' voice echoed through the practically empty common room. Hermione and Ron froze, then slowly looked up to the balcony to a petrified, wide-eyed Harry, staring back at them. But Dean continued, not noticing anything wrong. "It's well after midnight! Come on, go to bed! If it's homework you're after, you can do it tomarrow." Harry shot his eyes from the two friends below and fixed them on Dean. His voice was both stuttering and shaking.
"N-no Dean. I-I-I'm f-fine. I just w-was... uh... t-trying to.. um..." and after a long pause, "nothing." He walked past Dean and through the open doorway to his dorm, closing the door behind him. He walked, staggerdly, to his bedside and without changing, flopping onto his pillow and closed the curtain around him. He did not want to get up in the morning.