Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other characters. Never have, never will.
A/N: Again, im late updating. Sorry!
· I need some good ideas, so feel free to send them to me or IM me at spleepysplein
· Thanks to all the awesome reviewers. I love all the reviews !!!
Now for the story, enjoy and review!
Hermione stared at her desk; pretending to be preoccupied when actually her head was racing with thousands of thoughts. Professor McGonagall placed her novel down and looked at her two students.
"Well, now that the thoughts have ceased to flow, I will allow you two to leave the classroom. I understand if the two of you don't want to talk about it. Many students don't. I'll let you two leave whenever you're ready. The portkey is the old torn up copy of Hogwarts: A History."
Hermione slowly slid her chair back from the desk. She wondered if she was perhaps living in a dream. It didn't make any sense; this was just too good to be true. She wanted to confront Harry; to say anything but her voice seemed to have failed her. Harry followed her as she made her way to the old book. Professor McGonagall looked a little disappointed and sad. Her task had not failed, it had completely changed the way she would view things.
"Thank you professor," Hermione said quietly as she reached her hand out for the book.
"Yeah, thanks," Harry mumbled.
Hermione couldn't help but notice that Harry's face was still red. Was it because of her ridiculous thoughts? It had to be. She felt the heat rising in cheeks just thinking about that.
"Oh I'm glad you two enjoyed the task. Just hurry along. My next group should be arriving soon." And with that McGonagall grabbed her novel and began reading where she left off. Apparently she wasn't too hurt by their reactions.
Hermione glanced at Harry. He was staring at the ground. She had to break the ice. This was just plain crazy that two best friends…maybe now more than friends; weren't talking.
"Harry, listen too me. We shouldn't make such a big deal over this. I'm sure it is Snape's potion. He said the time frame in which the potion would last could be based on one to six hours. I'm sure we're still under the influence of the potion right now!"
"Er, I'm sure you're right Hermione," Harry said without even glancing up at her. Hermione found that quiet rude, since she always considered looking at someone when they talked basic manners.
They both grabbed the old novel and immediately they were transported to their next task.
"Harry, Hermione, didn't think I'd be seein' yer too" said an all too familiar voice. Hermione looked up. It was Hagrid; he was walking over to them at brisk stride. Hermione prayed to god that their task wasn't going to have to do with skrewts. Just when she thought they were done with them at the end of 4th year, Hagrid comes and brings back baby multicolored ones. Turned out that only one skrewt survived from the original batch and it hurt Hagrid to see it so lonely. So in the end they had raised the supposedly less aggressive skrewts and so far they had been doing well except for the fact that some started laying eater like eggs. Hagrid had managed too let the majority go in the forest but he had grown attached to "sting," one of the nicer screwts.
"I've got a good task in store for yeh' today!" Hagrid said while he led them toward the paddock.
"Does it have anything to do with skrewts?" Hermione asked.
"Course not. I decided to sell the little buggers, each worth seven sickles. Great deal someone said. Been making a profit ever since!" Hagrid said boastfully.
First a dragon, now a skrewt breeder! What next-
"Now, you'll be racin' against another team this time! Team that finishes firs' wins!" Hagrid stuck his hands in his overly huge pockets and fumbled with some keys. He handed Hermione a carrot which he told her to hang on to and then he began to unlock the paddock door which led to….
"Unicorns!" Hermione and Harry both said in union.
"How'd you get those Hagrid. I thought only women could seduce them?" Harry asked.
"Eh, well I, er. Let's just say I got some help from a friend." Hagrid winked. Hermione and Harry both knew he was talking about Madam Maxine. They had become very close of the summer and Ron had made a bet with Dean that they would get married and have one heck of kid in less than two years. Dean agreed and so far it seemed that Ron might win the bet.
"So what are we going to have to do Hagrid?" Harry asked. He seemed to have collected his thoughts but still was avoiding Hermione's eye.
What's up with Harry?
But Hermione couldn't ponder this long, since their rivaling partners were to appear any second now. And yes appear they did. They appeared right in front them. (Shall I say on top of them) Hermione fell backwards. She elbowed Harry in the ribs causing him to fall down. The two that had appeared collapsed on top of Hermione. One had rolled off her back and landed on Harry. It took Hermione awhile to get back up. She surveyed the pair that had knocked them down. It was none other than Malfoy. Her teeth gritted. Did he land on them on purpose? What happened?
"Oh er. Carrot must 'ave had been the portkey…" Hagrid trailed off.
Hermione looked at Harry. She hoped he was ok, then she saw who was on top of him; her mouth dropped. Her eyes narrowed. It was Cho. She despised her. She was extremely pretty and was very popular. She had never mentioned Cho in front of anyone. She hated it when Harry always talked about her. It always made her feel depressed. She wasn't hateful toward Cho, she didn't own a voodoo doll, she only made small evil doodles in her diary but even then she erased them.
Cho had straightened herself up and was offering a hand to Harry. He was blushing uncontrollably.
Well er now, I guess I'll start the' task. You and yer' partner will have ter' race the unicorns. The unicorns are tame and should' let you mount them…be gentle, and on the 'start of go you'll begin.
Hermione walked over to the slightly gold unicorn. It was apparently wasn't very old since it only had a few patches of white. Even though; the unicorn was very tall and muscular despite its age. The unicorn neighed in approval as Hermione stroked its White and gold main. She rounded one foot over the side of the Unicorn and grabbed the reigns. She felt more comfortable being on a horse like creature than on a broom. She had once ridden on a horse when she was a little girl. It was at fair and the horses were only three foot high ponies. This was a totally different experience but still comforting nonetheless.
Harry walked over to Hermione. Harry brushed his hand through his messy raven hair. Hermione could still see the bits of grass flakes that he missed. She supposed he would want to race the unicorn since he was a seeker and all, but she felt stubborn and angry at him. She didn't know why but she did and wasn't going to get down. Instead Harry climbed on behind her. The unicorn grunted in disapproval and shifted it's hooves in the grass. She felt butterflies in her stomach as his legs brushed past her.
"I thought only one person was going to race," asked Hermione in a very unconcerned voice.
"Hagrid said we're both supposed to. The unicorns are strong enough to support us both."
Hermione only nodded. She looked at Malfoy. He jumped onto the Unicorn like it was a broomstick. The unicorn reared in surprise and almost knocked Malfoy off on his butt. Cho gracefully climbed behind Malfoy and held on to his waist. Their unicorn danced around in anticipation.
"Ready' set. Go!" Hagrid yelled and shot of a filibuster's firework.
The unicorns sped off. Hermione didn't see a track but it looked like they would be racing through the forbidden forest. Malfoy and Cho were in the lead. Their unicorn kept kicking up its hooves causing dust and dirt to hit their eyes as well as their unicorns. The unicorn soon took a different turn and Hermione hoped it was a short cut. They slowed to canter and their unicorn swerved trees and jumped over logs. He soon slowed to a walk; neither bickering, coaxing, nor kicking him in the sides would make him speed up.
"I say we just give up and walk back to Hagrids!" Harry moaned.
Hermione gave the unicorn one last kick with the stirrups and nodded her head in agreement.
"Hermione, about McGonagall's…"
"I know Harry, it was the potion, same here, the thoughts they came out of no where," Hermione lied.
"Well, actually I don't think it was the love potion." Harry paused and Hermione turned around to get a good look at him.
"I don't think it was the potion either." Hermione said softly.
Hermione leaned in closer to Harry. Her lips were inches from his. She was sure that were going to kiss but then the unicorn decided to run. Her head was knocked right into his chest. Harry almost fell backwards.
Without a warning Harry silently wrapped his hands around her waist. She leaned back onto his chest. She looked up at him. Everything looked funny when you look up at the sky backwards. His green eyes mixed perfectly with the bright blue sky that was overhead. Hermione would never mention this out loud but the forbidden forest was actually quiet beautiful. Again the unicorn stopped his moment of speed and slowed down to a walk. Hermione looked at the sun, which streamed through the green foliage. It felt like a story tale. She almost laughed as she remembered when she was little thinking of riding away with her night in shining armor on a white stallion. Well this was far better.
"So is this better than riding on a broom?" Harry asked.
Hermione turned around to look at him. She didn't know what to say.
"I think so," she said quietly.
"You know, brooms aren't as shaky and uncomfortable as this." Harry added.
"What do you mean shaky? We're only moving side to side. It's quiet soothing actually, and what do you mean uncomfortable." Hermione turned back around to grab the reigns only to hear a distinct cough.
"You know, sometimes I wonder why people call it the forbidden forest," Hermione asked.
"Yeah I wonder, maybe because of giant killer spiders, wild cars, werewolves, did I mention spiders-"
"I get the picture."
The minutes seemed to pass into hours. Hermione didn't mind though. She didn't mind being nestled in the arms of Harry Potter. She thought a few times that she must have picked a retarded unicorn. He seemed to be going in circles and no matter what he wouldn't go more than a canter. The reigns also did no good. No matter how hard they tried to steer him he would only go straight and maybe veer off to one side. It seemed utterly hopeless to win now.
Finally after what seemed like forever; the unicorn picked up some speed. He sped under branches, raced over bushes and bounded over small animals.
Hermione fastened her arms around the unicorn's neck. She held on tightly. Harry had her around the waist. She knew if he was to fall off the back of the unicorn, she would probably go down too.
"Hey, there's the castle," Harry pointed.
They raced onwards toward the edge of the forest to where they saw Malfoy and Cho. Malfoy and Cho's unicorn was walking at a slow stride and the two of them looked like they weren't enjoying themselves.
"Is your unicorn mental too?" Cho shouted from across the distance.
The unicorn that held Malfoy and Cho seemed to wobble then it spotted the Harry and Hermione's unicorn. The race was on. First their unicorn bolted by the other, Causing Cho to nearly fall off. Then Malfoy and Cho's unicorn sped toward gold and white one.
"Unicorns can't turn down a challenge. Sometimes unicorns will fight to death for a maiden," Hermione said matter-of-factly to Harry as their unicorn bounded across dead trees
"Now's really not the time do you th-
Before Harry could even finish his sentence they were banging against the other Unicorn. It reminded Hermione of some muggle race with cars.
"Looks like we're going to beat you Potter; you and your little mudblood girlfriend!" Malfoy sneered as their unicorn raced out in front of them.
Harry never looked so angered. He gave the unicorn one good kick in the side and the beast went flying. They were now even with Draco and Cho. Harry pushed Malfoy so hard that he was only hanging on by the stirrups. Malfoy retaliated and grabbed Harry around the neck. The two fell on the ground as the Unicorns split apart because of an oncoming tree. Hermione looked horrified. Now Harry and Draco were dueling it out with a professor or anybody to break it up. Cho looked very pale. The two unicorns both emerged at Hagrids hut at precisely the same time.
"I was beginin' to wonder about you two-" Hagrid stopped and noticed the missing passengers.
"Where'd Harry and Malfoy go?" Hagrid asked confused.
At that moment Hermione felt like crying. Cho seemed to be shocked she slowly got off the unicorn and sat down. Hermione on the other hand toppled off her unicorn. She no longer had any feeling in her legs whatsoever.
"Harry and Draco are in fight," Hermione sniffed. Hagrid looked over to the forest and grabbed Fang. They trudged off in the forest.
Moments later Hagrid came back with two bloody teenage boys. Hagrid had them both by the scruff of their necks. Cho and Hermione waited outside Hagrids hut as he cleaned them up.
"Well I guess it's a tie," Cho smiled weakly.
"Yeah, I guess." Hermione was too preoccupied to even carry on a conversation with Cho.
"Welp, since yer both had a tie, then I'm going to haf' to letche' go on to yer' next task." Hagrid came out with two bandaged boys. Each looked menacingly at the other.
"Harry, I'm so glad you're alright!" Hermione ran up to him and hugged him. Tears streamed down her face but she didn't cry.
"Honestly Hermione, I'm alright," said Harry smiling.
They both left for their portkey; Hermione underneath Harry's good arm.
Malfoy on the other hand did not receive any comfort. Cho looked disgusted at him and that was that. They too left for their next portkey.
Hagrid returned to his unicorns and groomed them. They each neighed in gratitude.
A/N: not much of a cliffhanger.. but hey…Review please, and if you have any ideas…let me know and thanks again for reviewing!! (By the way my duck has recovered from his cold ^-^ )
