Author's Note: Thanks to all who reviewed! Steve, thanks for your e-mail. If you find out more info on uploading, please toss me an e-mail. ^_^; 'Till then, I do apologize if the formatting is a bit messed up. I may plan on uploading Chapters 5 & 6 together, so the next update may take a few extra days.
Chapter 4
"Harry! What in the devil d'yeh think yer doin' out here on yer own this early?"
Harry's eyes snapped open, immediately causing his hand to shield his gaze from the bright, morning sun. "Huh?" he mumbled incoherently through squinted eyes. "Hagrid?"
His eyes finally focused as the giant man stepped over him, pulling him to his feet. He must have fallen asleep waiting for daybreak. "I was…er…"
"Never mind. Are yeh okay?" Hagrid asked with a bit of skepticism in his eye.
"Yeah," Harry replied dully. "What time is it?"
"A bit past seven. Early for yeh on the weekend, innit? Most everyone else is still sleepin', I gather."
"I just needed a bit of fresh air, that's all..."
"I get yeh, I get yeh. Just keep yer nose clean, okay? I don't want you snoopin' 'round where yeh don' belong," Hagrid said as Harry nodded. "I better be goin'…lots ta do today. See yeh 'round, Harry!"
"Take care," Harry said, and Hagrid barreled over the grounds to his hut. Harry was curious as to why Hagrid hadn't been more inquisitive, but shrugged it off. Preoccupied, as always…
Harry sighed, running his hands up and down his bare arms. He couldn't remember falling asleep, though now it was irrelevant. He stretched and made his way over to Ron and Hermione. Remembering their reluctance to wake a couple hours ago, he kicked the invisible lump on the ground rather harshly.
"Ow!" they chided angrily as Harry tugged the cloak off.
"About time!" Harry snapped. "I thought I'd have to set my wand under the pair of your behinds!"
"What time is it?" groaned Hermione, rubbing her eyes. Ron blinked fervently under the sun's brightness.
"Time for breakfast, that's what time it is," Ron grinned. "Sorry about falling asleep on you, mate."
"I'm sorry, too. I don't even remember when I stopped talking," Hermione said, noting the shared amusement between the two boys. "What? Was I snoring or something?"
"Nothing…let's go. I just spoke with Hagrid for a bit and he said not too many people are up and going. We should get back up to the common room and get dressed. I don't know if roaming around in your pajamas is against Umbridge's rules or not," Harry said sarcastically as Hermione wrapped the cloak around them. They seriously doubted they were (currently) breaking a school rule, but all the same they thought best not to find out.
Upon crawling back into their common room they met Ginny sitting by the fireplace in her Quidditch robes. Ron pulled the cloak off and sighed. "Again?"
"Why else would I be up this early?" Ginny yawned. "'Morning, everyone!"
"'Morning," replied Harry and Hermione, yawning in unison.
"Well, I guess I'll see you two later," Ron said, turning to them. "I forgot about practice, not that it'll do me any good." His face flushed deep red as he rushed off to get his robes.
"We'll see you later, Ginny. Good luck at practice!" Hermione said as Harry nodded in agreement. They walked up the staircase and turned, ambling off in opposite directions. "Meet you for breakfast in a bit, Harry!"
Harry reached his school trunk and pulled out some daywear. Sighing, he said aloud, "Ron, stop worrying so much. You do fine during practice; it's just when the real game starts it gets a bit scary. Trust me, I know."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron muttered, pausing to pull on his Quidditch gloves. "I'll see you later, but hopefully before lunch!"
"'Bye, Ron," Harry said, hauling a t-shirt over his head. As Ron left the room, Harry took note that all the other boys were still sleeping. For a moment he wondered how they could possibly sleep so long, then it dawned on him he had only napped an hour or two at most. Time became an eerie thing with no sleep.
He hadn't bothered telling Ron or Hermione about Snape's condition last night, though he wasn't sure why. Harry realized he wasn't even sure if it was a dream or not. All his other dreams were very realistic, so why was this any different? Though, why had he woken on the ground and not near the tree?
Dressing his feet, he yawned deeply, his stomach growling uncomfortably. He pondered for a moment, trying to remember the last time he had eaten a decent-sized meal, but came up with nothing. Eggs, bacon, hash, toast, frosted pumpkin juice…they all sounded very good to him right now. He stumbled back down to the common room and sat down, waiting for Hermione.
He tapped his index finger on the tip of his knee repeatedly, looking around the room. The events of last night seemed surreal. He noticed their books were still sprawled out about the room, so he gathered them and piled them neatly on a corner of the table.
Just as Harry's stomach let out another impatient wail, Hermione finally surfaced and stomped down the stairs. "Sorry about that, Harry. I found a big hole in the pocket of my robe so I tried fixing it with a couple of spells."
"Is it fixed now?" Harry asked, feeling his own pocket for his wand.
"No," she frowned. "Though I suppose it doesn't matter. We don't have class today anyway. I'll work on it tonight. How about some breakfast? I'm starving."
"You read my mind," Harry said. "Let's go."
Harry helped himself to a heaping plate of eggs, bacon, and toast, just as his mind had settled on in the common room. He would have taken the hash as well, but apparently it wasn't on the menu. He crammed his mouth full in a very unattractive manor, and within moments, had a bowl of porridge going, too.
Hermione poked her head up from the Daily Prophet and smiled. "It's nice to see you happy again, for once. Try the crumpets, too! This morning's batch came out very nicely. They go quite well with the porridge, actually."
"I don't know what's into me this morning," Harry said, taking his friend's advice and buttering a fresh crumpet. "I guess I'm making up for lost meals."
"You're going to get a rather large stomachache, is what you're doing," she replied, glaring up at Professor Umbridge stuffing her toad-like face and the faculty table. "Honestly… why her of all people?" She glanced back to Harry, who was spooning porridge with one hand and eating his second crumpet with another. "Harry! You're putting her to shame, you know."
Harry took a deep drink from his goblet full of pumpkin juice and sighed, eyes moving up to the faculty table briefly. He hesitated for a moment then said, "I wonder if I'll be able to play next year? You don't suppose this Quidditch ban is really permanent, do you?"
"I'm not sure, Harry…. I'm really not," Hermione said anxiously. "Do you think Umbridge will be here next year?"
"If she is, d'you think we could take Ron and transfer schools or something?" he murmured, smirking behind his new crumpet.
He looked over his shoulder then whispered, "But seriously, do you think Dumbledore would disappear for good? All the teachers know Umbridge is no good. Hogwarts can't stay like this forever, can it?"
Hermione finished her single bowl of porridge, wiped her mouth on a napkin, and then stood up. "Dumbledore loves his students," she said, not bothering to lower her voice, her eyes fixated on Umbridge. "He will be back. He's never let us down yet, and I don't think he ever will."
Harry smiled, took one last swig of juice, and stood up from his seat as well. "Want to go watch Ron practice?"
"If you're done, we should take him some juice and toast. He's probably really hungry. I doubt Ginny let him get anything on the way down."
Harry nodded and grabbed a couple juice goblets as Hermione quickly lathered a stack toast with butter and jam. "Let's go."
Before they left the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but notice Snape's absence at the faculty table. He scratched his head thoughtfully, but then decided to simply shove it aside. It was a dream, Harry. What are you worried about anyway?
"Hey, Hermione?" Harry said as they sat down on the grassy Quidditch pitch.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for last night."
"You'd do it in a flash for Ron and me. There's no need for thanks. I just wish we could do more."
Harry smiled and looked up as Ron blocked a goal from flying in. "Good save!" he yelled as Hermione cheered. Ron blushed deeply, but a deep grin was plastered across his mouth.
"Five-minute break, then we'll start letting Ginny practice with the Snitch." Angelina called to the group as they descended down to the ground.
Ron and Ginny ran over to Harry and Hermione, plopping down beside them. Hermione handed them both toast and pumpkin juice, of which they gratefully accepted.
"Thanks!" Ron said, drinking deeply. "Ginny wouldn't let me get anything on the way out."
"That's what we figured," Harry winked.
"Angelina's really turned mean, though. Her new rule is, 'If anybody's late for practice from now on, each minute is another hour before we can all leave!'" Ginny said, mocking the Quidditch captain's voice. "I know she's only doing it so we'll improve, but it's still a bit frustrating. We'll give it our best, but it's just not the same without Harry, Fred, and George."
"Once that fat toad is out of the school, Harry'll play again," Ron said as they all nodded. They were counting down the days for something to happen against Umbridge, though so far it seemed hopeless.
"Well, thanks for the juice and toast, guys," Ginny said, standing up and brushing leftover crumbs from her robes. "See you later!" And with that, she mounted her broom and was in the air again.
"Last night was fun, but I'm drained," Ron groaned. "I can't wait for lunch. Think we can skip studying tonight?" he added with a pleading glance to Hermione.
"You don't see me complaining, do you?" Hermione replied haughtily.
"You're not the one up there playing Quidditch, are you? Besides, you fell asleep hours before Harry and me!"
"Hurry up and get back on your broom before Angelina throws a fit," Hermione smirked, motioning with her hand for him to leave. "We'll wait for you."
"We'll study on Sunday instead. I'll talk her into it. Just go practice before we end up having to skip lunch!" Harry urged impatiently as Ron finally saddled his broomstick grudgingly and flew off.
"I don't know about him, even after five years…" Hermione murmured under her breath.
"Changing the subject," Harry laughed, "I think Ron would make a really good Keeper if he could just block out the Slytherins."
"Why does Malfoy say such stupid things? Does he really have nothing better to do in life than terrorize others?" Hermione spat, her eyes still on Ron.
"I'm sure he has his reasons…we all do," Harry quietly replied.
"It still doesn't excuse—"
"I didn't say it did, did I?"
"I suppose you're right…"
"Anyway…can we wait until Sunday to study?"
"I don't want to wait," Hermione said, shifting her eyes away from Harry. Slowly, she placed her fingers together, in-taking a deep breath. "I…don't want you to be alone." She peered over at Harry, quickly adding, "Er…not that you can't take care of yourself and all! It's just…I'd rather Ron and I wait up for you…just incase. Oh, Harry, please don't be upset with me. I know you hate it when I constantly worry, but I don't want you dealing with this alone! You don't have to tell us anything, jus—"
"It's fine, Hermione," Harry interjected. "I'm not saying I like the idea of you and Ron being my babysitters," Hermione's mouth opened in protest, "but…it's not like I can stop you."
Neither said anything for a while, but instead concentrated their sights on the Quidditch practice. Ginny was diving after the Snitch while Ron and others aimed Bludgers to throw her off course. She gracefully ducked over and under the zooming black balls, soon grasping the golden Snitch tightly in her hands.
Harry smiled, but couldn't help feeling a slight gnawing in the pit of his stomach. "Do you think—"
"Of course not. She's good, but not as good as you are. Ginny doesn't like playing Seeker that much. She's just filling in for you…you know that."
"I'm sorry…I guess that was pretty stupid, huh?"
Hermione said nothing, but smiled faintly. Harry leaned back, glancing over as Ginny caught the Snitch again.
Anxiety was slowly sweeping over Harry as the clouds set in. Before he knew it, he, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the Great Hall for dinner. Plates were heaped with tender roast-beef, mashed potatoes, stew, corn on the cob, salad, rolls, and many other goodies, but it all seemed inedible to Harry. His roast tasted like freshly processed cotton, and he couldn't bear trying the rolls. He instead sipped his pumpkin juice and observed the room.
Most everyone was deep into conversation with one another. Harry couldn't help notice that even Malfoy was chattering quickly amongst the Slytherins. He took another sip of juice, set down his goblet, and exhaled deeply.
"I'm going to go up to the common room and get my wand," he said, finally bringing his glance to Snape's seat at the staff table.
"I thought your wand was in your pocket?" Hermione asked, swallowing another bite of roast.
"I need to go clear my head before heading down," Harry replied, locking eyes with Snape's. His haunting black voids burrowed through Harry with pure distaste. "I don't want to be late, now do I?"