And a disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter related material! (But dream I shall…)
HARRY
POTTERAND THE STAFF OF VIGOR
~ ~ !!! ~ ~
CHAPTER 5: THE DATE AND HEADACHES
"What are you doing?" Ron grumbled as Harry opened the curtains to their dorm room. Neville, Dean and Seamus echoed his complaint. Everyone else was in bed.
"Hogsmeade guys. Come on." Harry explained. He had been up for an hour and was ready for his date with Geraldine. Ron sat up groggily.
"About time Sleeping Beauty." He laughed as Ron looked around the room, appearing lost.
"Who?" Ron caught on a little.
"Nevermind." Harry remembered Ron's lack of knowledge where Muggle things were concerned. He hit Ron lightly on his head to ensure he was up before making his way downstairs to the Great Hall. At least he wasn't the only person up early. There were about forty other students eating breakfast. Harry helped himself to the food already laid out but found he couldn't eat much.
"Dammit." He cursed. Why did he have to be so nervous? It was just a date.
"Hey Harry." Geraldine said from behind him. He turned around and became even more nervous. She looked beautiful as always, especially in the Muggle clothes she was wearing. He took a mental note to look better for the next date, granted there was one. All he was wearing were some old jeans, a plain blue top and a new green sweater that was still a bit big on him.
"Hey." He smiled at her.
"I'm glad you remembered our date." She sat down next to him and picked a piece of toast off his plate.
"I wouldn't forget." He told her. She took a small bite and put the toast back on the plate.
"I know. So are you ready to go?" Harry looked from her to his plate full of food. Did it look like he was ready to go?
"Well. Okay. As long as you aren't hungry." He was, but decided not to say anything. Geraldine didn't look like the kind of girl who liked waiting.
"Nope. I ate ages ago. Come on. We can get there early before everyone. We'll have Hogsmeade all to ourselves." She got back up and walked to the exit. Harry followed quickly behind. When they got outside he wondered what to do and opted for walking closer to her. In response she held his hand. He hoped she couldn't tell his face was as red as a tomato.
"What's the matter? It is a date isn't it?" She asked him as they began walking towards Hogsmeade.
"Yeah." That's what he hoped it was.
"Then what's wrong? Are you always this nervous around girls? I'm just the like every other girl you know." Geraldine stated. But she wasn't.
"Yea...yeah." He cursed again. Stupid Hormones.
"It will be fine Harry. Personally I'm surprised you are nervous. You must have been out with lots of girls before me." She said it like it was common knowledge.
"Are you kidding?" Nothing was further from the truth as far as he was concerned.
"No. You haven't?" He shook his head in reply, "Well that's weird. I thought heaps of girls would have asked you out. You are Harry Potter after all. I know so many girls who want to date The-Boy-Who-Lived."
"Oh. No. Not really." He was surprised though. Maybe girls did but hadn't said anything. But anyway he didn't want them to date him because he was Harry Potter The-Boy-Who-Lived.
"Tell me about one of your adventures." Geraldine asked suddenly distracting him from his thoughts. He raised an eyebrow despite his nervousness.
"Okay. What do you mean adventures?" He asked.
"Like, you know, one of the times you defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or the time you had to drive that flying car to school or what happened one of the times you went into the Forbidden Forest. Oh! Tell me what the Giant Spider was like. Or what the Basilisk did to try and kill you and how big it was and how you destroyed it." She summarized his experiences at Hogwarts.
"How do you know about all of that?"
"Oh, well everyone knows. Or do you forget that you're famous?" She grinned.
"I don't think..." He began. Famous was the wrong way of putting it.
"You are. Oh tell me a story Harry." She begged again. He inwardly groaned.
"Okay. What do you want me to tell you about?"
"Um. Tell me about last year when you defeated those Deatheater's all by yourself." She decided, eyes sparkling.
"I wasn't by myself!" He voiced angrily. Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna had been with him too. It had been a battle where all of them could easily have been killed and it hadn't been easy knowing that. It had also been during that Battle that Sirius had died.
"Sorry." Geraldine pouted.
"No, I am. It's just I didn't do that by myself. I'd rather not talk about it." He kicked a stone that was on the ground in front of him. Geraldine sighed.
"Okay. Tell me about the Philosopher's Stone. I haven't heard about that in a while."
"Er, okay," He wondered how to begin, "Well you know that Vold- I mean, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants greatly to be immortal and the Philosopher's Stone did just that. It gave a person the gift of immortality. So Professor Dumbledore had to hide it in the school and he made it really hard to reach by putting up all these ways of guarding it..." Harry trailed off telling her the story. He didn't really like talking about things like this but Geraldine seemed to really like the story and he wasn't nervous when he was talking about it. He finished just as they reached Hogsmeade.
"Does it make you scared that you're going to have to stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named one day?" She asked as they walked past The Three Broomsticks.
"Yeah, I guess. But what makes you say its going to be me to stop him?" She couldn't possibly know about what Professor Trelawny had predicted about him being the only person that would be able to defeat Voldemort. Only he and Dumbledore knew about that prophecy.
"Well its fairly obvious. You're the only one who ever fights him." Her eyes widened as they walked past Honeydukes window display, "Oh Harry! Will you buy me those?"
"Buy you what?" He peered into the window.
"Those heart-shaped chocolates. It would be so sweet." She pleaded. He nodded his head and she dragged him into the store. The shop owner looked at him smiling.
"How can I help you..." He squinted at Harry's scar and his smile widened, "Harry Potter?"
"Just some of those heart chocolates in the window please." Harry pulled some gold Galleons out of his pocket and ignored the shop owners direct gaze. Maybe he should put his fringe back and hide his scar.
"Ah, some Sensual Sensations. For the lady I don't doubt? Certainly, certainly." He disappeared into the back of the shop and reappeared shortly with the box of chocolates. They cost three Galleons so Harry figured they must do something.
"Are they magical?" He wondered wanting to make sure they wouldn't turn Geraldine into anything. Just like Canary Creams made people change into birds.
"Yes. Wonderful chocolates for that special someone." He winked at Harry.
"What do they do?"
"Why don't you feed some to that lovely lady and find out." The shop owner smiled secretively. Harry was about to question him further when Geraldine pulled him back out of the shop.
"You were taking too long." She said, explaining her sudden tow.
"Well, here." Harry awkwardly handed her the chocolates. A smile lit up her face and she hugged him for a while.
"Thank you." She breathed into his neck.
"It...it's fine. Really, I...I don't mind." He stuttered going pink.
"You are so cute when you blush." She grabbed his hand again. They headed around nowhere in particular for the rest of the day looking at the shops until it was about one-thirty.
"I told Ron that we would meet him at The Three Broomsticks at two. Do you mind?" Harry asked upon noticing the time.
"You invited your friends on our date?" Geraldine made a long face.
"Well no. He wanted to meet up. But we can go there and hang out for a bit if you want first?" He was still nervous but thankfully his stuttering had completely disappeared just before lunch.
"Okay. But I don't have any money. You remember don't you?" They turned and headed back up to the opposite end of Hogsmeade where The Three Broomsticks was.
"Yeah, I remember." He had been buying her stuff all day. On top of the chocolates she had gotten a small charm bracelet, not too expensive thankfully, from some place called Baubles and he had also brought her lunch. They entered The Three Broomsticks and were immediately hit with a wave of sound and bustle. It was patent that it was a popular place to eat. A waitress guided them to a small table in the corner of the shop.
"Perfect for some privacy." She told them winking. Harry thought he saw Geraldine blush for the first time, even if it was only a little bit. Why did everyone have to keep winking at them like that?
"Two Butterbeers please." Harry mumbled sliding into the seat.
"Right Hun, I'll be back with them in a bit. Ah, young love." She gushed walking away. Geraldine giggled.
"I'm going to have some of those chocolates." She said, reaching into her Honeydukes bag and pulling out the box.
"Okay," Harry paused, "But be careful. They do something. I'm not sure what though."
"Oh. Um, I know what they do." She looked away from him.
"What?" He squeezed her hand so she looked at him, "What?"
"Well. They kind of make people do things." She looked ashamed.
"Like what?" He really wanted to know. At least she wouldn't turn into anything.
"Just things. Here I'll show you." She popped a few in her mouth and chewed them.
"Nothing happened." He looked at her a bit more closely after she had swallowed. She still had two eyes, two ears, a nose and a mouth so that was good.
"Oh Harry!" Geraldine withdrew her hand from his and wrapped both arms around him. She placed her lips on his and began to kiss him passionately. It was a while before Harry got the gist of things and kissed her back. He was, after all, still kind of new to things. Geraldine kept kissing him for what seemed like hours, but Harry didn't really mind.
"Ahem." Someone coughed loudly. Harry broke away to find Ron standing at the end of their table with a look on his face that couldn't quite be described. He was probably trying not to laugh.
"Oh, hi Ron." Geraldine rubbed her lips and smiled up at him.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting. Maybe you'd like me to come back in a few years?" Ron offered.
"Very funny. Sit down." Harry rubbed his lips in a similar fashion and blushed worse than he had all day. Why did Ron have to walk in on that? Better yet, where could he get some more of those chocolates?
"I'll just be drinking this." Ron picked up one of two Butterbeers at the end of the table, Harry must have missed when the waitress put them down, and took a swig.
"How was your day?" Geraldine was making polite conversation.
"Fine." Ron looked at her sideways.
"What did you do when I left?" Harry wanted to veer Ron right off anything he might ask.
"Well the guys and I went right back to sleep. I would check your bed before you go to sleep tonight. I think Seamus put some Mosq Powder in it. He hates being woken up early on weekends." Ron grinned a little.
"Will do." Harry took a mental note. Mosq Powder made you itch all over. It was only temporary but still not a fun experience.
"So..." Geraldine looked around searchingly, "I'm going to go back and have a look at Baubles. See you later Harry. Bye Ron."
She kissed Harry on the cheek and got up and left.
"Why did you have to be rude?" Harry demanded. Ron shrugged.
"Something about her Harry. Not good." Ron took another sip of the Butterbeer.
"Yeah well..." Harry couldn't pick it if there was.
"Cheer up mate. I doubt very much she's disappeared of the face of the earth." Ron patted Harry on the back and Harry could tell it meant he felt bad.
"Yeah I know." He smiled a little at Ron. He didn't want to be a sap.
"So can I ask what the hell I walked in on?" Ron laughed.
"I think it's pretty self-explanatory." Harry blushed.
"I guess so."
"You talked to Hermione yet?" He asked. Ron frowned.
"No and I don't intend to for a bit." He downed the rest of Harry's Butterbeer.
"Oh Ron." Harry moaned a little. He hated when they fought.
"Oh Harry." Ron mimicked him grinning. Harry sighed and settled for them talking about Quidditch for the rest of the afternoon. Ron had put up posters that morning and already about fifteen people had come up to him wanting to try out. He was going to be holding try-outs tomorrow afternoon and wanted Harry to help him organize it. They were planning the exercises they would put students through. Harry wanted the students to fly through a Quidditch obstacle course while Ron thought it would be best to try them out with exercises used for each different position. At about four o'clock Geraldine returned with an air of exhaustion.
"You're still here?" She looked surprised. Ron didn't appreciate the comment.
"I can tell I'm not wanted. I'll talk to you about the try-outs when you get back Harry. See you." He smiled a little and left.
"He's kind of rude." Geraldine uttered aloud. Harry ignored it and looked at her wondering how to go about what he wanted to say.
"Geraldine..." He began. She shook her head and grabbed his hand, helping him off his seat..
"Call me Geri. I like it and everyone else calls me it." She smiled. Harry nodded and they walked towards the exit.
"Geri," He started again and grabbed both her hands but his stuttering returned, "Will you...um. I wanted to ask...You don't have to. But if you...you did then...it would be good. What...what I'm trying to say...to say you see...well I had fun...and today...I mean I had fun today...and I was...I was wondering..."
"Oh Harry, you're never going to say it. I'll ask. Will you be my boyfriend?" She said confidently. If she had given him a little longer he would have asked her.
"Yeah." He sighed a little disappointed, he had wanted to ask. She kissed him briefly on the lips before taking her chocolates out of the bag and giving them to him.
"I'll think we'll be needing these. I think you could use them. Just to get you started." She grinned as he blushed. They walked slowly back to the castle hand in hand and Harry was struck with the realization; he had a girlfriend.
* * * *
"What took you so long?" Ron demanded as soon as Harry walked into the common room.
"I just...we went walking." Harry replied defensively. They'd done more than that, half of the box of chocolates were missing.
"Uh huh. I need you to help me with the try-out plans." He pulled out a list of names.
"Okay." Harry sat across from him on a wooden chair similar to Ron's, a desk was separating them.
"Now I'm not sure if I should let first-years try out." Ron looked down at the sheet.
"I got on the team when I was in my first year." Harry pointed out. Ron nodded.
"I suppose so. Okay, I'll let them try. But I have three people that want to try out for Seeker and two that want to try out for Keeper." Ron shook his head.
"That leaves you with only a few..." Harry eyed the paper judgmentally.
"I know. Maybe we'll just let those students try out and if they are any good we'll give them a different position." Ron noted it down.
"Sounds good." Harry got off the seat and headed towards his dorm room.
"Where are you going?" Ron frowned at him. Harry yawned.
"To bed, I'm tired. Do you have any idea how early I got up this morning?"
"Must have been early because you woke up everyone else in the room when usually we are all up, like the excellent students we are, as soon as the sun rises." Ron held a serious face. Harry shook his head and was about to laugh when inconceivable pain replaced anything he might find humorous. He fell on his knees and put a hand to his heart. It felt like he had been stabbed and his body could have been on fire.
"Harry!" Ron cried running over and kneeling beside him. Harry's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell to the ground shivering.
"Hang on Harry!" Ron got up from next to him and ran up towards the girls dormitories. The staircase immediately flattened and Ron slid back down. Harry saw through blurred vision as Ron hit his head when he fell to the ground. He shook it off however and stood back up. Harry groaned, the pain was overbearing and he couldn't move.
"Hermione! HERMIONE!" Ron bellowed up at the girls dormitories. Ron took a step back as the flat path reversed back into stairs and footsteps reverberated down from the top of the tower.
"Ron! Honestly I'm doing homework! I'm glad you're talking to me again but really..." Hermione's voice echoed down the staircase.
"Hermione it's Harry! Quick!" Ron ran back over to Harry and looked at him helplessly. Hermione's footsteps became thumps as she ran down the rest of the stairs.
"Ohmigod!" She squealed hurrying over to Harry as she spotted him.
"I think it's his scar." Ron's voice was shaky.
"No...not..." Harry tried to tell him otherwise. It wasn't his scar at all. It was his heart. It hurt. He was going to die because it was going to stop beating. He was going to die right there and then and it couldn't be stopped. He would never get to play chess with Ron again or listen to Hermione lecture him about his homework. He'd never get to play another Quidditch game or stay at the Weasley's or repair things with his Aunt. He'd never get to make sure Sirius's name was cleared or look at the pictures of his parents again or graduate and go on to become an Auror. He'd never get to see his wife or his son again. All because that dark man was killing him.
"Don't talk Harry," Hermione raised her wand, "Immobilius Corpus."
Harry felt himself be lifted off the ground very gently. He groaned again in anguish. The pain was killing him!
"What are you doing?" Ron exclaimed.
"We have to take him to Madam Pompfrey." Hermione sounded like she was close to crying. The trip to Madam Pompfrey's was in silence and Harry was floating quickly but to him it took forever.
"He'll be fine." Ron muttered to himself more than anyone else. Hermione choked on a sob. Harry tried not to moan again, he didn't want to upset them more. But the pain was overwhelming. He gritted his teeth and focused on what he would be doing tomorrow. It was Sunday so that meant no classes. Maybe he could spend the day with Ron and Hermione and they could hang out at the lake and talk about nothing in particular.
"I'll run and get Madam Pompfrey." Ron disappeared ahead. Hermione whispered something to herself and started walking faster. Floating so fast made Harry feel like he was flying.
"My goodness! What on earth happened?" Madam Pompfrey's voice was shrill. Hermione levitated him over to a small bed in the Hospital Wing.
"We don't know. He's in pain!" Hermione let Harry down gently despite how much her hand was shaking.
"I'll get him some Tranquil Potion." Madam Pompfrey returned quickly with a small vile. She held it to Harry's lips and he drank it despite its horrid taste. He suddenly felt lighter even though his pain was still there, still killing him.
"Will he be okay?" Ron asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes. He doesn't seem to be visibly hurt. Why don't you two go back to your House..." Madam Pompfrey shouldn't had bothered.
"NO!" Ron and Hermione cried together. Madam Pompfrey sighed. Harry's pain started to subside.
"Very well. But would you remain quiet. I have another patient." She pointed towards another bed. Hermione and Ron nodded. Madam Pompfrey felt Harry's forehead before leaving the room.
"She's probably gone to get Dumbledore. That's logical." Hermione mumbled sitting down. Ron did the same in a rougher formality.
"What?" Harry sat up and shook his head. He felt fine. The pain had gone. What the hell had happened?
"Lay down Harry. You just got here. You should rest." Hermione scolded, a stony expression on her face.
"But I feel fine," Harry looked at them, "I do! I feel fine. I don't know what happened."
"Harry, you looked like you were dying before. You can't be fine!" Hermione raised her voice.
"I felt like I was dying before. I can't explain it but I feel normal now." Harry sighed. He hated that he'd worried them like that.
"But Harry-" Hermione started again.
"Leave it Hermione. If the man says he's fine, he's FINE!" Ron grinned at Harry weakly. Harry returned it.
"What happened then? Somebody explain it to me please before I lose my head." Hermione demanded.
"You'll lose more than that if you don't be quiet." Ron threatened gently.
"I don't care! How can you both act like this? I feel like crying! I was so worried Harry." Hermione paused before jumping on him and hugging him tightly. Harry hugged her back hoping to calm her. She began to cry.
"You looked like you were dying. I thought you might be! I don't know what I would do Harry." Hermione wiped at her tears angrily. Ron grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"It's okay Hermione, we'll work out what happened. Don't worry. At least he's fine now." Ron smiled at her. She offered him a small grin even though a few tears were streaming down her face. Harry opened his mouth to reassure her when he was interrupted.
"EDWARD!" A voice rang out loudly. Standing at the entrance was Hufflepuff girl. But she wasn't looking at Harry, her attention was focused on the occupant in the other bed. It was then that Harry noticed the blue-haired boy. He looked awful. His right eye was puffy and he had bruises everywhere. A vicious cut also ran along a side of his face. He looked up at her and began to cry.
"Oh what have you done to yourself." The girl ran over and hugged him.
"The...Whomp...ing...Will...ow." He choked out. She kissed the side of his head.
"You stupid thing. I told you to stay away from it didn't I?" She said hugging him again. Despite the fact that he had felt like he had been near death only a few minutes before Harry spoke to her.
"Is he okay?" He asked tentatively. Hufflepuff turned around and looked at him frowning, her eyes traveled from Harry to Ron to Hermione and back to Harry. It seems she only just noticed their presence.
"He'll be fine." She turned her attention back to Edward.
"Are you friends?" Ron sounded nervous despite the situation they were in. Harry was now convinced he liked the girl.
"He's my brother." Her expression softened when she looked at Ron. Harry wasn't surprised. Ron was always nice to her even though she snapped at him and he always defended her if she was picked on in class.
"Really?" Ron pulled a face, "That...kid." He'd nearly said 'brat'.
"It sounds like you're well aquatinted." Hufflepuff was close to smiling.
"I've caught him out a few times, doing things he really shouldn't be doing." Ron grinned shyly.
"He's not your friend is he Ella?" Edward looked disgusted. He evidently didn't like Ron. It may have been because of the number of times Ron had put him on detention for the pranks he'd pulled.
"Ella?" Harry questioned before Ron had a chance to. So that was her name, the cat was finally out of the bag.
"Oh great. I liked being anonymous. Thanks Eddie." She glared down at him. He stuck his tongue out at her.
"Is it just Ella?" Ron asked, a small blush appearing on his cheeks. Hermione clicked her tongue.
"Might as well be." She wasn't going to let it go any further. Edward had other ideas.
"Her full name is Ellanora Ellen Egon." He said quickly.
"Edward!" His sister groaned. He grinned up at her evilly.
"So we call you Ella?" Ron ventured further. Ella shook her head furiously.
"No. If you're going to call me by a name, it will be Ellanora." She looked them all up and down before turning back to Edward and whispering to him. Hermione laughed quietly.
"What?" Ron sounded a little bothered.
"I don't think she's too fond of you Ron." Hermione said humbly trying not to smile. Ron opened his mouth to argue with her but Harry interrupted him.
"Something weird happened before that I want to tell you about." Harry's brow furrowed trying to grasp the memory of half an hour ago. The possible argument ceased to exist as they focused their interest on him.
"What?" Hermione sat up. Ron just stared at him.
"Well I was thinking about all the stuff I'd never get to do with you guys because I honestly thought I was dying," He lowered his voice so Ellanora and Edward wouldn't hear, "And I thought about some really strange things."
"Like..." Hermione urged him.
"Like that I would never get to see my wife or son again." He was just as confused at they looked.
"But you don't have a wife and son." Hermione stated it as if they didn't know.
"Unless there's something you're not telling us." Ron kept the humor coming.
"No. I don't have a wife and son. And I'm completely lost about why I would think that. Any idea's?" He said, hoping for some feedback. Ron looked at him blankly while Hermione pondered possible reasons. It was several minutes before anyone spoke.
"Not a clue." Ron let out a breath and glanced briefly across the room at the other occupants.
"Me either. Well, nothing specifically. Ron!" Hermione pinched his arm so he focused his attention back on the problem at hand, "I just know one thing. It has to do with Voldemort."
"Ow." Ron flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name and rubbed his arm where Hermione had pinched him.
"Yeah. I was thinking something like that too. Because we have that connection and all." Harry played with the end of his shirt thoughtfully.
"Do you think V...Vold...He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is trying to kill Harry?" Ron struggled with the name. Hermione shook her head.
"No. Not at the moment anyway. I think Harry might have felt something that was caused by Voldemort though. Like Harry said, a connection is there. And it's a very strong one." She looked thoughtful again.
"I'd really like to go just one year without the evilest Wizard in the world setting out to make my life hell." Harry moaned.
"That's the price you pay for being famous," Ron said smiling, "But who would complain when the ladies swoon like they do, hey mate?"
"Ron please, can't you keep focused for even a minute...what ladies?" Hermione frowned at them.
"Ask Harry. I know nothing." Ron folded his arms across his chest.
"Harry?" Hermione directed her gaze at him.
"Nothing Hermione. There's just a girl I'm seeing. Ron doesn't like her. I don't know why." Harry looked out the Hospital Wing window and observed the darkness overly eager.
"You have a girlfriend? Why doesn't anyone tell me these things!" She said sounding a bit peeved.
"It only just happened today." Harry muttered.
"I see. And who is it may I ask? Or am I not allowed to know?" Yes, she was mad. Did it not matter he had been near death not long ago?
"Geraldine Maple." He lowered his eyes.
"Oh, well. She seems lovely Harry. And why don't you like her Ron?" She turned to him now.
"I'm not jealous if that's what you're implying. There is just something funny about her." Ron snapped.
"I wasn't implying anything. And something funny about her? Honestly, I think you judge people too quickly." Hermione chanced to add.
"Me? Me judge? Look whose talking! You think I'm stupid!" He growled. The argument from the other night now back in his mind.
"I do not! Why on earth would you think such a thing?" Hermione's eyes widened.
"Oh! Congratulations on Prefect Harry! Wow Harry, Quidditch Captain, well done." Ron stared at her angrily after his poor imitation of her. Hermione went pink.
"I've told you I'm sorry about-" She was cut off as Ron stood up briskly.
"Night Harry. I'm going. Don't scare me like that again, alright?" Ron whacked Harry gently on the shoulder before leaving.
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow." He didn't really want Ron to go but he'd prefer it over Ron and Hermione having another argument in front of him.
"I don't think that Harry. I understand why he might assume that but really, I've apologized and he just can't be convinced otherwise. It's not like I intentionally go out of my way to try and hurt him. He's one of my best friends, I hate seeing him so upset." Hermione looked like she might start to cry again.
"I know Hermione. Listen, why don't you go and really try and talk to him? I'm just really tired and I need some rest." Harry's head had started to throb and he felt a headache coming on.
"Of course! I'm sorry. Ron and I can be so selfish, arguing like that in front of you all the time," She reduced her voice, "Don't scare me like that again Harry. I really did think you were going to die. We'll see if we can work out this Voldemort thing again tomorrow. Goodnight."
She bent down and kissed his forehead in a motherly fashion. Harry smiled up at her as she left. He massaged his temples slowly, his head was hurting badly now.
"You have nice friends." Ellanora said from the other side of the room. He looked up at her. Edward was asleep and she was holding his hand.
"Yeah, I know." He was too tired to talk to her. He closed his eyes.
"I don't have any friends." She said it so quietly he might not had heard her if the room hadn't been so silent. He opened his eyes and surveyed her momentarily.
"Not many people know you." He offered sympathetically. It seemed to be true. No-one in their sixth-year knew her name, let alone her as a person.
"I've been going to Hogwarts since I was eleven, enough people know me." She glowered.
"I can't remember seeing you in any of my classes." He pointed out.
"I'm repeating sixth-year. You wouldn't have seen me. I've been a year ahead of you until now." She gently pulled her hand away from Edwards and made her way over to his bed.
"Why are you repeating?" He asked, immediately regretting it as he remembered Ron telling him about her parent's death.
"I had to leave at the beginning of last year. Usually they don't allow students to repeat but I was an exception." She obviously didn't want to go into detail. Harry quickly thought of something else to say.
"What happened to your brother?" He said, she looked relieved.
"His friendly encounter with the Whomping Willow you mean? The little brat said he saw something like a trap door at the base of the tree and he tried to reach it. I doubt he'll be attempting the same thing anytime soon." She grinned a little. Harry grimaced. Edward had seen the secret passageway that was used by Sirius and Remus Lupin for hiding. He relaxed a little upon remembering it wasn't used anymore so there was no need to keep it secret really.
"Oh." He felt sorry for the kid, it looked like he'd been given quite a thrashing.
"Why are you here?" Ellanora inquired mildly.
"Headache." Harry half-lied, he really did have one.
"You're friends were awfully worried about you considering it was just a headache." She sat on the chair next to him and by the look on her face she knew he wasn't being honest.
"Yes well. They're very high strung." He joked. She laughed gently.
"I think...I think my friend might like you." He blurted out suddenly. Why had he said that?
"Oh?" She faced him with a curious expression.
"Yeah. Er, the red-head. Ron Weasley." Ron was sure going to be mad at him for saying this.
"Okay." She blushed a little.
"Yeah, so do you like him?" Harry said apprehensively.
"He seems really nice."
"Will you go out with him then?" He hoped he wasn't making Ron sound like a charity case.
"No, I don't think that will happen." She shook her head.
"Why not?" Harry frowned at her. Poor Ron.
"Because I wont let it."
"Why not?" He repeated.
"Because. Why would I want to get close to someone? Something always happens that mucks it up." Ellanora was avoiding his gaze.
"Like what?" He felt like he was interrogating her. Ellanora paused and her eyes dropped to the floor.
"Like they die." Her voice was very soft. Harry didn't know what to say. He didn't need to fill the awkward silence however for Professor Dumbledore's frame appeared at the door.
"Harry." He walked over and scanned Harry up and down.
"I'm fine Professor. It's over now." He noticed despite Professor Dumbledore's composed form, he was worried. Dumbledore's kind blue eyes, so used to crinkling at the corners from smiling, now crinkled at the corners from strain and worry. It was in times of apprehension that Harry realised just how old Dumbledore really was.
"Would you like to inform me about what happened before it was over?" His eyes traveled down, noticing Ellanora.
"Evening Professor." She murmured.
"Miss Egon? What a surprise. I usually find that when Mr Potter is occupied in one of our sick beds there is a resolute presence of Mr Wealsey and Miss Granger." His eyes twinkled. Ellanora scowled.
"I came to see my brother," She gestured over to Edward, "But I'll be leaving now."
"I understand. Goodnight Miss Egon," He grabbed her shoulder when she got up and she reluctantly glanced up at him, "Do smile my dear. You have such a beautiful one."
"Yes Professor." She left the room quickly. Harry watched her leave in reticence, he felt so sorry for her.
"Poor child," Dumbledore sighed and turned his attention back to Harry, "So Harry, what happened? I was in my office introducing myself to a warm Butterbeer and an article from the Quibbler about the sightings of a herd of Unicorns in the Muggle city of New York when I get an urgent knock on my door. I am then informed that a Mr Harry Potter was recently admitted to the Hospital Wing in obvious pain, accompanied by a Mr Wealsey and a Miss Granger. Please, do enlighten me."
"I felt like I was dying." Harry answered bluntly.
"I see. But you're fine now?" Dumbledore eyes penetrated into him.
"Yes Professor. I feel fine now. I just have a headache." He didn't want to mention the possible connection to Voldemort or how he had thought about a supposed wife and son when he believed he was near death.
"What were you doing when you began to feel the pain?"
"Nothing. I was talking to Ron in the common room. That was all." Harry shrugged, he was making it sound like no big deal.
"Alright then. Rest Harry. I will summon you to my office at a later date to discuss this further," He bent towards Harry now, out of Madam Pompfrey's earshot, "Things are happening Harry. Voldemort is remaining hidden and that cannot mean anything good. Be careful and watchful."
"Yes Professor." Harry conceded. Dumbledore nodded at him and left the room immediately. Madam Pompfrey fussed over him until it was late and he was allowed to return to his common room. His headache, that had instantly made an appearance after his exhibition of pain, caused him to feel like he had a million hammers in his head banging away at his brain. It was because of this Harry went directly to bed. Nevertheless he was ready to face another day like nothing had happened, headache or no headache.
~ ~ !!! ~ ~
To my reviewers:
Where would you guys like the story to go? What kind of stuff would you like to see happen?
Iniysa: I'm glad you liked it!
zealousgirl: I'm really sorry about the grammar and spelling! I'm Aussie you see and we spell and write things really wacky dacky sometimes! But I'm really glad you like it!
NiteStar: Here you go, earlier than next week.
Kagome: I think MADAM that you are predicting my story before I have even written it. Lol, I'm glad you like it and honestly, where do you want the relationships to go?
So anyway peeps! Enjoy the weekend!
KEEP REVIEWING! J