Chapter 33: Betrayal
After New Year's, school started once again and the late-winter snow became slushy, the skies gray and gloomy, and the students'
spirits dampened considerably. Homework was once again being piled upon them, and the weather outside only made it more 
depressing. 

The trio found themselves studying in the common room one dark and dreary evening. Ron and Harry were chatting about their
latest Transfiguration project, but Hermione was keeping mostly to herself. Ron glanced over at her nervously.

"D'ya think she'd be mad if I asked her for the answer to this one, Harry?" Ron whispered, pointing to the parchment he was
holding. Harry shrugged.

"She hasn't been really happy for the last few days, Ron, she might be in a bad mood..."

"But how am I supposed to find out the answer then?" he whined. Harry sighed. 

"Fine then, mate, but if she snaps on you, it's not my responsibility," he said warningly. Ron shrugged innocently and proceeded
across the room towards Hermione. 

"Hey 'Mione, I was wondering if you could help me out on this one," he began sweetly, smiling at her. She glared up at him.

"Ronald Weasley, I will NOT do your homework for you! I'm sick and tired of you expecting me to do it just because you're lazy!
Why are we even dating? Probably just because you needed someone to cheat off of!" she screamed across the room. Her words hung
in the silent air, and she grabbed up all her books and rushed upstairs, tears in her eyes. Ron came back to Harry's side,
stunned.

"What the hell just happened?" he whispered.

********************

The situation the next day was very tense between Ron and Hermione. They both refused to talk to one another; Ron thought that
Hermione had overreacted, and Hermione thought that Ron was being insensitive. Harry was glad to escape that evening for his
next Occlumency lesson with Professor Dumbledore. 

"Enter," he heard as he knocked on the door. Harry came in and made sure to check every corner of the room; he didn't want to
be surprised again, like he had been the last time by Mad-Eye. Confident there was no one inside of the room besides himself and
Professor Dumbledore, he took his place in his usual corner. Dumbledore stood across from him and raised his wand.

"So, Mr. Potter, how have your classes been coming along?" he asked.

"Pretty well... lots of homework," he answered warily, staring intently at Dumbledore's ready wand. He knew that Dumbledore was
only trying to distract him. Well, it won't work this time, he thought to himself defiantly. 

"Harry? Did you hear what I just said?" Dumbledore asked him, lowering his wand.

"Oh, er, no sir, I'm sorry," Harry stammered. Dumbledore sighed.

"It is, of course, important to be watchful of your opponent, Harry. But you must also be able to converse with him at the
same time. If you are too focused on awaiting an attack, you will not have the element of surprise. You must maintain a balance
between listening and focusing. Now, try again." Harry nodded, and Dumbledore again began asking him questions.

"So what do you think of Professor Lupin's teaching this year?" he asked.

"He's good, as always, I think having Adele back might have been a little distracting sometimes, but he still does a good job."

"So what do you think of Adele?"

"She's nice... I guess I don't know her that well..." Harry replied honestly.

"Are you planning on attending the wedding?" 

"I'm sure I will, Rachel wanted to go-"

"Legilimens!"

Harry fought hard against the impending force. Damn it, I wasn't paying much attention again... Still, he managed to
fight off Dumbledore's attack. He stood in the middle of the floor, panting hard. 

"Good job, Harry, but again I'm not sure you were completely focused on preventing the attack... We'll try again." After a 
few more attacks on Harry's mind, Dumbledore stopped. 

"Now it's your turn to break into my mind. Again, you're going to focus on a specific memory. I suggest this afternoon's lunch,"
he said pointedly. Harry knew this was a reference to the previous lesson; he, also, didn't want to see any more memories of 
Sirius. Lunch was definitely a safe memory. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he focused all of his energy on the 
specific memory. 

"Legilimens, Harry breathed, his brain fighting powerfully against Dumbledore's. He managed, eventually, to break in.
He quickly found the memory of lunch; apparently, it had been much more eventful that afternoon at the teacher's table than 
at the Gryffindor table. Professors Snape and McGonagall were in a heated argument, Professor Sprout spilled a glass of
pumpkin juice across the table, Hagrid knocked over a plate of potatoes, and Professor Lupin flipped frantically through a 
stack of homework that he was grading. The memory suddenly stopped.

"That was excellent, Harry," Dumbledore said quietly. "You have become very powerful, and this power is a gift. You must remember
not to abuse it." Harry nodded.

"Of course not, Professor," Harry assured him. Dumbledore smiled at Harry in a fatherly manner.

"I'm proud of you, Harry. Not many wizards could stand up to this much. You are destined for great things." Harry didn't
know what to say. He just smiled happily; he didn't remember anyone ever telling him they were proud of him. He had never
had any parents to be proud of him, and the Dursley's were only ever ashamed of his so-called abnormailties. 

He left Dumbledore's office in high spirits, walking happily through the hallways, whistling to himself.

"Harry, I've been looking all over for you," an anxious voice behind him said. He turned around. Rachel stood alone in the 
middle of the hallway, looking slightly angry.

"Er, sorry Rach, I was talking to Dumbledore..." he replied. It wasn't really a lie, he thought, just a half-truth. Rachel
frowned.

"That seems to happen a lot," she said frostily. Harry's jaw dropped.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked defensively. 

"Take it how you will," she replied, eyes narrowed. "You're never around anymore, Harry, and every Wednesday and Sunday night
you're gone for hours at a time! Not even Ron and Hermione know where you are. Where are you, Harry?" she asked dangerously.

Shit... there's no way out of this... he thought frantically. "Rach... I really can't tell you. I'm sorry, and I would
if I could. I promise though, it's nothing bad. Just something between Dumbledore and I," he replied, praying that she would
accept his answer. Her expression softened a bit.

"Okay," she said quietly. "Then I guess I'll see you around, huh?" She turned and walked off.

"Now what am I going to do?" Harry moaned to himself, walking into his common room.

"What's up, mate?" Ron asked him wearily as he looked up from an armchair.

"Girls," Harry muttered. "Why do they have to be so bloody complicated?" Ron laughed bitterly, nodding.

"You're right mate. They are all beyond me," he said. Harry collapsed into the chair next to him.

"How about a game of chess?" he asked. Ron grinned.

"You're on!"

*******************

Hermione still seemed to be acting moody and withdrawn, while Rachel was being cordial with Harry, but still treating him
coldly most of the time. Remus and Adele's wedding was approaching, however, and all those invited could not help but be
excited.

"Harry, if we're going to the wedding together, we should match," Rachel informed him one day during dinner. Harry nearly
choked on his food.

"Er... match?" he asked.

"Yes," she said matter-of-factly. "I'm going to be wearing a red dress, so you should probably have a red tie."

"Er... I don't own a red tie, Rach," he replied.

"Then buy one," she snapped, walking away. Harry sighed. This was just getting more and more complicated. He hated having
Rachel so mad at him. After the wedding, I'll plan something romantic, he thought to himself. It will be Valentine's
Day, after all.
********************

February 14th came quickly. While most of the professors apparated to Diagon Alley, the students were forced to take the
Knight Bus since they would not be given their apparation tests until the coming summer. With his past experiences on the
Bus, Harry wasn't too keen with this idea, but gave in anyway; there were few other ways to get there. Harry, Rachel, Ron,
Hermione, and a few other students who had relatives in the Order trudged out through the slushy snow to the front gates of
Hogwart's. Harry threw out his right arm, and the Knight Bus appeared suddenly, its purple clashing greatly with the monotone
colors of Hogsmeade. The group hastily boarded the train, the girls tiptoeing through the snow in their nice shoes. Harry sat
next to Rachel on the Bus.

"So, this should be nice," he remarked lamely. She simply nodded. Conversation... THINK, Harry! Think! he told himself.
"You look, er, really nice today, Rach," he said sincerely, blushing as he studied her pretty muggle dress; it was covered with
red roses and it flared out a bit at the bottom, ending just below her knee.

"Thanks," she replied, turning around and talking to the girl behind him and ignorning Harry completely. His blood boiled.
If she's going to ignore me forever, why are we still going out? he thought angrily. The Knight Bus lurched forward
suddenly and threw him almost to the floor.

"Diagon Alley!" Stan Shunpike called out. Grumbling, the group of Hogwart's students shuffled out of the Bus. Walking down
the main street, they approached The Leaky Cauldron. Upon entering, they were amazed at the number of people milling around
inside. Ron tapped a stranger on the shoulder.

"Er... would you happen to know where the wedding is?" he asked awkwardly. 

"Just down there, three doors down on the left," he replied, pointing.

"Thanks," Ron said gratefully, as the group followed him. Harry pushed open the oak doors and was immediately surprised - the
room was filled with flowers, beautifully arranged, along with some not-so-amazing wooden folding chairs set up on the floor
so that everyone could watch. The group took seats a few rows back from the altar and waited for the ceremony to begin. Rachel
was still ignorning Harry and it was just making him even angrier.

"Mate, are you okay?" Ron whispered to him. Harry shrugged.

"Just peachy," he growled back. Ron immediately straightened and looked forward, not questioning him again. Luckily, the
ceremony started soon afterward. First Remus came in; he was wearing what Harry thought must have been his first new set of
robes in years. He walked quickly and looked nervous. Next, a little girl with blonde hair came skipping down the aisle, dropping
rose petals all along the way. Adele came next, looking nervous but beautiful as well in her white wedding robes, her hair
pulled into a french twist. It took Harry a moment to realize that Rachel was studying him intently. He smiled at her gently,
and she returned the expression. Maybe things aren't so bad, he told himself. They had both just been busy with work
and he had been occupied with Occlumency lessons. We can work it out, he thought. Remus and Adele were now holding hands
and facing one another. 

"Do you, Remus Jonathan Lupin, take Adele Lunette Fleur to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Remus answered nervously.

"Do you, Adele Lunette Fleur, take Remus Jonathan Lupin to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," she said sincerely, smiling up at Remus.

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." Harry thought it was a little odd to see one of his professors
kissing someone, but he was glad that Remus was happy. His own love life didn't seem to be going quite that well...
He looked over and saw that most of the girls were crying. It is beautiful, in its own way, he thought, smiling to
himself.

*******************

After the reception, Harry returned with Rachel to Hogwart's. 

"Did you want to go for a walk?" he asked her.

"Sure," she replied, shrugging. She had been more pleasant to him since the wedding ceremony; it seemed to have touched both
of them. Wandering slowly through the hallways, they soon came upon the Room of Requirements. 

"Let's go in here," Harry said, grinning. He walked back and forth in front of the door three times. Rachel opened the door
and smiled. 

"Very nice," she commented approvingly. The room was dimly lit by some romantic candles, a huge roaring fireplace was off
to one wall, and a squashy-looking sofa was positioned directly in front of it. They both sat down. 

"Rach, I just wanted to apologize for everything. I know things have been weird lately, I just wanted to tell you that I'm 
willing to work everything out if you are." She glanced up at him, tears in her eyes.

"It's my fault too, Harry. I know you have other things going on. I just get so jealous when you're around Ron and Hermione
all the time! Why don't you spend that much time with me??"

"Er.. Rachel, I try... I'm just busy, you know?"

"Busy doing what?" she asked coldly. "Harry, are you cheating on me?"

"Am I - what?? Rach, I would never do that!"

"I don't believe you," she replied bitterly.

"You're the one who's been acting all weird! Maybe YOU are cheating on ME!"

"And what if I am? It would be your own fault for ignorning me." Rachel's words hit him like a blow to the stomach.

"Rachel.. you-you aren't, are you?" he asked, extremely unconfident.

"No," she said, avoiding eye contact. She's lying, he thought to himself angrily. 

"Look at me," Harry demanded. Rachel refused to raise her eyes. Harry stared angrily at her. "Are you telling the truth?" he
questioned, his heart thumping loudly. "Rachel, answer me!" he demanded again. She finally looked up. He stared deep into her
eyes and did what came naturally to him: a powerful surge seemed to go through his brain, and soon he was looking at a memory 
that was not his own. A dark-haired boy was facing Rachel, his hand on her shoulder. 

"No one would have to know," the boy was saying. Rachel shook her head.

"Mike, I am not going to do this to Harry," Rachel said harshly to the boy. He pushed her forcefully against the wall and kissed
her.

Harry pulled himself out of the memory, feeling sick. He didn't want to see anymore. He turned to Rachel.

"Why did you do that?" he asked quietly without expression. She looked at him, horrified.

"How did you see my memory?" she asked him, her voice wavering. "What is wrong with you?" She got up from the sofa and attempted
to leave, but Harry pulled her back.

"I'm sorry Rach, I-I didn't mean to do that..." he stammered. She looked up at him angrily, tears streaming down her face.

"You scare me sometimes, Harry. You're too powerful." This power is a gift... you must remember not to abuse it... Harry
remembered Dumbledore's speech last week. He felt guilty for having invaded Rachel's privacy, but at the same time angry that
she had been kissing someone else. He tried to take several deep breaths to calm himself down.

"How about this," he said evenly. "I'll explain how I did that, and you explain why I saw what I saw." Rachel nodded wordlessly.
Harry cleared his throat. "Voldemort and I are connected through my scar. I can see what he sees or feel what he feels a lot of
the time - especially when I am sleeping. Last year, I hardly slept at all because I kept having nightmares. Dumbledore thought
it would help to teach me Occlumency so I could block him out. This year he started to teach me Legilimency also. I'm not sure
why exactly, I guess he just thinks it'll come in handy when I eventually face Voldemort again..." Rachel sniffed loudly, dragging
her sleeve across her face to wipe away tears. "That's where I am all the time. At Occlumency lessons with Dumbledore." Rachel
stared at him, her eyes wide.

"Harry, I'm so sorry," she began. "I really don't like Michael at all." So that's who that was, he realized suddenly.
Michael Corner... the same one who had broken Ginny and Cho's hearts... "I was just really mad at you one night because
you were gone, so I was talking to him, kind of flirting, you know? But I really didn't mean to take it any further, but he
pushed me against the wall and kissed me... It's my fault, Harry, if I hadn't been flirting with him in the first place, he 
wouldn't have done that!"

"What else did he do to you?" Harry asked quietly.

"Nothing, just kissed me," she replied, covering her face with her hands.

"It's okay, Rach," he whispered, running his fingers through her silky hair and he held her close. "I forgive you," he said.
That kid has it coming, he thought angrily to himself.

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Oooh, possibly a little revenge is in order for future chapters! Thanks to all my awesome readers!