Sorry for the delay in my updates...I went to see Texas Chainsaw last
night, frightful movie. Anyways...I hope you guys are still reading my
reviews have dropped slightly, not that I'm complaining...Thanks to all
those who did review.you guys (all my reviewers) are the best.
Read and Review. Nothing is My Own
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Chapter Sixteen: The Big Plan
He was positive, he hated her right now. The reason Pavarti Patil was flashing Harry Potter the coldest looked ever given to a person was Hermione Granger. Why was she so meddlesome? What was going on between him and Pavarti wasn't her concern, yet her blackmail threat was keeping him from acting on his emotions. You would think Hermione, being one of Harry's best friends, would be happy for Harry.
Pavarti was helping him with his grief, when she was with him he didn't feel so lonely. Now that he didn't have those forbidden moments to look forward to, nothing was left to keep him going. It wasn't like Hermione knew anything about being lonely, everyone knew her and Ron were sneaking around.
That was it, Hermione was a hypocrite, she was allowed to keep her and Ron's relationship a secret, but Harry couldn't have a secret affair. Other things were bother Harry right now also.
Luna had become down right annoying trying to get Harry to meet her. He just didn't think he had the patient to deal with her strange perception of reality. He was reminded Sirius was dead every time he looked in the mirror, he didn't need to go ghost chasing.
Then there was the whole school thing. He had come very close to jumping out the window a few times. In fact several students had given into the temptations, on the first floor of course. All of those caught were given a months worth of detention.
Wormtail's letter was the one subject Harry wouldn't let cross his mind. He was completely content pretending it never happened. Although Hermione had persistently buzzed her concerns about it into his ear every time they were alone.
So this was Harry's life. He had a loony Ravenclaw trying to get him to contact the dead, a pissed off Gryffindor flashing him cold looks, a nosey hypocritical best friend ruining his happiness, a unending prison sentence of reading books in crowed libraries, add to that the world's darkest wizard was trying to kill him and his life was perfect.
His daily routine was about to drive him mad. Monday go to Defense, listen to professor O'Riley, go to Divination, listen to Professor Trelawney ,go to Potions, listen to Professor Snape, avoid Hermione's lectures about not paying attention, go to the Great Hall, eat lunch, go to the Gryffindor common room and read (since Magical Creatures was cancelled,) go to dinner, eat dinner, go back to the common room read again, go to bed, wake up and start all over again same routine, different classes.
Except for DA, this was the most boring year Harry could ever remember. The students were starting to lose their fighting edge and the pranks were starting to die down, meaning the laughs were getting harder to find.
"Pig," Pavarti muttered under her breath as she pushed passed him after Divination.
Lavender narrowed her eyes as she followed, and flipped her hair sending her nose towards the sky.
"You could have told her you didn't want to meet her, you didn't have to stand her up you know," Susan Bones offered with a look of disgust on her face.
Harry was a bit taken back, he was under the impression that his meeting were between Pavarti and himself only, "she told you?"
Susan rolled her eyes, "yes, I thought better of you Harry."
"It isn't like that," he argued, but she was already walking away.
Oh, if he could only give Hermione a piece of his mind. He nodded making up his mind he was going to try to corner Pavarti tonight and make up a logical excuse why he hadn't been meeting her at night. Surely he could come up with something believable.
"Pavarti, I have a really bad cold, and I didn't know if I was contagious," no that won't work, "Pavarti, I over slept, yep all three times you asked me to meet you, I'm sorry." Harry made a disgusted face at his pathetic excuses. "Pavarti, Hermione is a meddling git, and she made me promise not to meet you anymore," Harry face flashed a bit of anger at that thought.
His pace had quickened as he thought about the words he wanted to say when he reached Snape's dungeon.
"HARRY!" he spun around to see who was calling for him. Ginny Weasley as waving happily running towards him, "I got a letter from Fred and George this morning."
"And?" Harry asked.
Ginny smirked, "they're planning something, big."
Harry suddenly felt a smile spread across his face, "did they give us any clues, or tell us what it is?"
Ginny shook her head, "they want us to be in the common room tonight at midnight, they're going to contact us using floo."
He didn't like the sound of that, if Hermione saw Harry in common room that late with Ginny, she'd probably jump to her own conclusions, "can they even do that? With all the added security around Hogwarts right now."
Ginny shrugged, "they said not to worry about it, just be there."
Harry sighed, "maybe you should meet them without me."
"What?" Ginny looked shocked, she couldn't believe he'd even suggest something so ludicrous.
He closed his eyes, "I just don't think it's a good idea for me to sneak downstairs that late, what if Ron wakes up?"
She couldn't help but smile, "didn't stop you from meeting Pavarti, did it?"
"How does everyone know about that?" Harry asked in frustration.
Ginny just giggled, "trust me, the way they sounded in this letter, they've got the perfect plan."
Harry reflected on what Ginny had told him on his way to potions, and just before entering the room decided not to yell at Hermione, he didn't want her staying up all night worried if he was mad at her.
As the clock crept closer to midnight, Harry willed his fellow Gryffindor's to go to bed. He had an hour to clear the room out.
"We could set off a dung bomb," Ginny suggested as she approached him. Her suggestion told him she was thinking the same thing he was.
Harry smiled at the thought, "they'll go soon." Hermione was sitting on the couch reading an extremely large book, and from the look in her eyes wasn't the least bit tired. Ron and Dean were in an intense game of wizards chess, a game which could last several more hours, easily.
"I could cast a sleeping charm on the room," Ginny offered again.
Harry looked at her skeptically, "and how would we explain to Professor McGonagall why the whole house fell asleep in the common room."
He scanned the room willing a few more student to go to bed, and to his approval they rose to their feet, yawed and headed to the dormitory stairs. Only about fifty more to go.
"Hey Harry, Ginny," Pavarti greeted, her looked slightly less cold than it was earlier that day.
She bit her lip and gave Ginny a look signaling she wanted to talk to Harry alone. Harry on the other hand gave Ginny a pleading look, and his eyes begged her not to leave.
"I'll talk to you later Harry," Ginny said leaving the table he was sitting at, offering Pavarti her now absent seat.
"So, what's on your mind," Harry offered, knowing ahead of time this was a foolish question to ask.
Parvarti looked at him pitifully, "like you don't know."
"Pavarti, it isn't anything personal, I just don't think it's right for us to sneak around behind Terry's back," Harry said, feeling very clever.
"Then I'll break up with Terry," she said instantly.
Harry stared at her taken back by her comment, "you can't do that."
"Harry Potter, I can do anything I want to do. I'll give you one more chance, meet me tonight in an hour, or whatever is going on between us is over," she stood to leave, "for good."
"Pavarti!" Harry yelled a bit panicked, "one O'clock."
She smiled and nodded without verbally replying.
Regrettably, Hermione had been watching Harry closely and she narrowed her eyes as she saw Pavarti walk away.
"Harry," she bellowed over towards him with one her looks. "Blood Hell," Harry muttered to himself.
She motioned for him to approach her, "do you want to tell Dumbledore or should I?"
Harry closed his eyes telling himself not to lose his temper, "I'm going to tell her I can't see her anymore tonight, at least let me do that."
She sighed loudly, "she has a boyfriend, it isn't right."
"So you don't think it's right to keep things from people," Harry asked accusingly.
"No, not when it's about something like this," Hermione retaliated.
He narrowed his eyes "then why won't you be honest with me about you and Ron?"
Ron's head shot up at the mention of his name.
"There is nothing go on between me and Ron," Hermione argued.
Harry continued, "your such a hypocrite!"
"No she isn't," Ron defended.
Harry suddenly reared on Ron, "defending your girlfriend?"
"That isn't fair mate, you don't know what your saying," Ron said anger starting to rise in his voice.
"Don't I, this whole common room knows what's going on between you two, yet you can't even tell me, your best friend!" Harry said raising his voice slightly.
The room had grown silent as the students watched.
"Harry, calm down," Ginny urged pulling Harry's arm, "remember the plan," she whispered.
"Don't Ginny," Ron ordered, now rising to his feet, "he isn't worth it."
"You don't mean that Ron," Ginny said forcefully.
Ron face was now crinkled with anger, "don't I, we've been working our butts off for him, and he treats us like a pair of traitors, I'm tired of this."
Hermione was now in tears, "please don't fight you two."
"Hermione, why should we waste anymore time with this ungrateful prat?" Ron asked eyeing Harry, who was refraining from speaking.
Hermione pulled her head into her hands, "this is all my fault."
Harry suddenly turned towards her, "what is going on?"
Hermione let her eyes stare into Harry's, "we've been working on figuring out the veil for you, to give your mind some peace."
Harry suddenly felt his stomach drop.
"We didn't want to tell you because of how hard you've been taking the whole situation," Hermione chose her words carefully, noticing the entire Gryffindor was listening to their conversation.
He didn't know what to say, how could he have been so stupid. He should have known that Hermione and Ron weren't dating, they were trying to solve a mystery for him.
Harry lowered his head, "I'm sorry."
"You should be!" Ron hissed, last time I try to do you a favor.
"Ron," Ginny warned.
"I had no idea, what was I suppose to think?" Harry questioned innocently.
"You should have trusted us!" Ron said hatefully.
"HELLO GRYFFINDORS!" yelled the happy voice of one of the Weasley twin's from the fireplace.
"Fred, what the bloody hell are you doing?" Ron asked pushing past Harry.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George! And you call yourself our brother," one of the two head replied.
Ron gritted his teeth in frustration, "only kidding mate, we're here to talk to our business partner, so off with you upstairs."
The whole house was drawn into the scene until Fred, or was is George, threaten to set off the Godzilla of Dung Bombs if they didn't retreat to their dormitories.
As the students took off running for the stairs Hermione rose, setting down her foot, "this is an unofficial visit, you'll have to leave."
"Oh put a cork in it Granger! We're not under your rule anymore," Fred said annoyed.
Hermione looked flustered, "I'll tell Dumbledore!"
"I'll tell Dumbledore," George mocked, "honestly Ron, what do you see in her?"
Ginny finally pushed her way past Ron, "I asked them to come tonight."
"What? Why Ginny?" Ron questioned, still searching for a comeback to George's comment.
"Because we were plotting against you two. We were getting tired of being in the dark," Harry spoke up.
"You mean we're not plotting any longer?" Fred asked worried.
"No," Harry answered.
Hermione looked at Harry, "you two were plotting against us?"
"Yes," Ginny admitted, "and Fred and George were going to help us."
"Damn right we were," Fred interjected.
"We had a brilliant plan, a big plan," George finished.
Harry lowered his head in guilt, "well, we're not doing it, they've confessed what they were up to."
"So, are they snogging?" Fred pushed.
"NO!" Ron answered angrily.
"Come'on George, I don't think we're wanted around here," Fred said hatefully as his head disappeared, followed by George.
"I'm sorry I didn't trust you guys," Harry apologized, still feeling the anger coming off Ron.
"Let's go to bed, we'll talk about this tomorrow," Hermione suggested.
Ginny nodded, "I think that's a good idea."
Harry and Ron didn't speak the rest of the night, and until the two had pulled their bed curtains tightly around themselves, the glares of anger coming from Ron were almost painful. Harry knew it was pointless trying to get any sleep. He lay awake thinking about what a prat he had been.
"Oh no," Harry muttered to himself, tearing back his curtains and examining the clock on his night table. It clearly read 1:35.
Read and Review. Nothing is My Own
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Chapter Sixteen: The Big Plan
He was positive, he hated her right now. The reason Pavarti Patil was flashing Harry Potter the coldest looked ever given to a person was Hermione Granger. Why was she so meddlesome? What was going on between him and Pavarti wasn't her concern, yet her blackmail threat was keeping him from acting on his emotions. You would think Hermione, being one of Harry's best friends, would be happy for Harry.
Pavarti was helping him with his grief, when she was with him he didn't feel so lonely. Now that he didn't have those forbidden moments to look forward to, nothing was left to keep him going. It wasn't like Hermione knew anything about being lonely, everyone knew her and Ron were sneaking around.
That was it, Hermione was a hypocrite, she was allowed to keep her and Ron's relationship a secret, but Harry couldn't have a secret affair. Other things were bother Harry right now also.
Luna had become down right annoying trying to get Harry to meet her. He just didn't think he had the patient to deal with her strange perception of reality. He was reminded Sirius was dead every time he looked in the mirror, he didn't need to go ghost chasing.
Then there was the whole school thing. He had come very close to jumping out the window a few times. In fact several students had given into the temptations, on the first floor of course. All of those caught were given a months worth of detention.
Wormtail's letter was the one subject Harry wouldn't let cross his mind. He was completely content pretending it never happened. Although Hermione had persistently buzzed her concerns about it into his ear every time they were alone.
So this was Harry's life. He had a loony Ravenclaw trying to get him to contact the dead, a pissed off Gryffindor flashing him cold looks, a nosey hypocritical best friend ruining his happiness, a unending prison sentence of reading books in crowed libraries, add to that the world's darkest wizard was trying to kill him and his life was perfect.
His daily routine was about to drive him mad. Monday go to Defense, listen to professor O'Riley, go to Divination, listen to Professor Trelawney ,go to Potions, listen to Professor Snape, avoid Hermione's lectures about not paying attention, go to the Great Hall, eat lunch, go to the Gryffindor common room and read (since Magical Creatures was cancelled,) go to dinner, eat dinner, go back to the common room read again, go to bed, wake up and start all over again same routine, different classes.
Except for DA, this was the most boring year Harry could ever remember. The students were starting to lose their fighting edge and the pranks were starting to die down, meaning the laughs were getting harder to find.
"Pig," Pavarti muttered under her breath as she pushed passed him after Divination.
Lavender narrowed her eyes as she followed, and flipped her hair sending her nose towards the sky.
"You could have told her you didn't want to meet her, you didn't have to stand her up you know," Susan Bones offered with a look of disgust on her face.
Harry was a bit taken back, he was under the impression that his meeting were between Pavarti and himself only, "she told you?"
Susan rolled her eyes, "yes, I thought better of you Harry."
"It isn't like that," he argued, but she was already walking away.
Oh, if he could only give Hermione a piece of his mind. He nodded making up his mind he was going to try to corner Pavarti tonight and make up a logical excuse why he hadn't been meeting her at night. Surely he could come up with something believable.
"Pavarti, I have a really bad cold, and I didn't know if I was contagious," no that won't work, "Pavarti, I over slept, yep all three times you asked me to meet you, I'm sorry." Harry made a disgusted face at his pathetic excuses. "Pavarti, Hermione is a meddling git, and she made me promise not to meet you anymore," Harry face flashed a bit of anger at that thought.
His pace had quickened as he thought about the words he wanted to say when he reached Snape's dungeon.
"HARRY!" he spun around to see who was calling for him. Ginny Weasley as waving happily running towards him, "I got a letter from Fred and George this morning."
"And?" Harry asked.
Ginny smirked, "they're planning something, big."
Harry suddenly felt a smile spread across his face, "did they give us any clues, or tell us what it is?"
Ginny shook her head, "they want us to be in the common room tonight at midnight, they're going to contact us using floo."
He didn't like the sound of that, if Hermione saw Harry in common room that late with Ginny, she'd probably jump to her own conclusions, "can they even do that? With all the added security around Hogwarts right now."
Ginny shrugged, "they said not to worry about it, just be there."
Harry sighed, "maybe you should meet them without me."
"What?" Ginny looked shocked, she couldn't believe he'd even suggest something so ludicrous.
He closed his eyes, "I just don't think it's a good idea for me to sneak downstairs that late, what if Ron wakes up?"
She couldn't help but smile, "didn't stop you from meeting Pavarti, did it?"
"How does everyone know about that?" Harry asked in frustration.
Ginny just giggled, "trust me, the way they sounded in this letter, they've got the perfect plan."
Harry reflected on what Ginny had told him on his way to potions, and just before entering the room decided not to yell at Hermione, he didn't want her staying up all night worried if he was mad at her.
As the clock crept closer to midnight, Harry willed his fellow Gryffindor's to go to bed. He had an hour to clear the room out.
"We could set off a dung bomb," Ginny suggested as she approached him. Her suggestion told him she was thinking the same thing he was.
Harry smiled at the thought, "they'll go soon." Hermione was sitting on the couch reading an extremely large book, and from the look in her eyes wasn't the least bit tired. Ron and Dean were in an intense game of wizards chess, a game which could last several more hours, easily.
"I could cast a sleeping charm on the room," Ginny offered again.
Harry looked at her skeptically, "and how would we explain to Professor McGonagall why the whole house fell asleep in the common room."
He scanned the room willing a few more student to go to bed, and to his approval they rose to their feet, yawed and headed to the dormitory stairs. Only about fifty more to go.
"Hey Harry, Ginny," Pavarti greeted, her looked slightly less cold than it was earlier that day.
She bit her lip and gave Ginny a look signaling she wanted to talk to Harry alone. Harry on the other hand gave Ginny a pleading look, and his eyes begged her not to leave.
"I'll talk to you later Harry," Ginny said leaving the table he was sitting at, offering Pavarti her now absent seat.
"So, what's on your mind," Harry offered, knowing ahead of time this was a foolish question to ask.
Parvarti looked at him pitifully, "like you don't know."
"Pavarti, it isn't anything personal, I just don't think it's right for us to sneak around behind Terry's back," Harry said, feeling very clever.
"Then I'll break up with Terry," she said instantly.
Harry stared at her taken back by her comment, "you can't do that."
"Harry Potter, I can do anything I want to do. I'll give you one more chance, meet me tonight in an hour, or whatever is going on between us is over," she stood to leave, "for good."
"Pavarti!" Harry yelled a bit panicked, "one O'clock."
She smiled and nodded without verbally replying.
Regrettably, Hermione had been watching Harry closely and she narrowed her eyes as she saw Pavarti walk away.
"Harry," she bellowed over towards him with one her looks. "Blood Hell," Harry muttered to himself.
She motioned for him to approach her, "do you want to tell Dumbledore or should I?"
Harry closed his eyes telling himself not to lose his temper, "I'm going to tell her I can't see her anymore tonight, at least let me do that."
She sighed loudly, "she has a boyfriend, it isn't right."
"So you don't think it's right to keep things from people," Harry asked accusingly.
"No, not when it's about something like this," Hermione retaliated.
He narrowed his eyes "then why won't you be honest with me about you and Ron?"
Ron's head shot up at the mention of his name.
"There is nothing go on between me and Ron," Hermione argued.
Harry continued, "your such a hypocrite!"
"No she isn't," Ron defended.
Harry suddenly reared on Ron, "defending your girlfriend?"
"That isn't fair mate, you don't know what your saying," Ron said anger starting to rise in his voice.
"Don't I, this whole common room knows what's going on between you two, yet you can't even tell me, your best friend!" Harry said raising his voice slightly.
The room had grown silent as the students watched.
"Harry, calm down," Ginny urged pulling Harry's arm, "remember the plan," she whispered.
"Don't Ginny," Ron ordered, now rising to his feet, "he isn't worth it."
"You don't mean that Ron," Ginny said forcefully.
Ron face was now crinkled with anger, "don't I, we've been working our butts off for him, and he treats us like a pair of traitors, I'm tired of this."
Hermione was now in tears, "please don't fight you two."
"Hermione, why should we waste anymore time with this ungrateful prat?" Ron asked eyeing Harry, who was refraining from speaking.
Hermione pulled her head into her hands, "this is all my fault."
Harry suddenly turned towards her, "what is going on?"
Hermione let her eyes stare into Harry's, "we've been working on figuring out the veil for you, to give your mind some peace."
Harry suddenly felt his stomach drop.
"We didn't want to tell you because of how hard you've been taking the whole situation," Hermione chose her words carefully, noticing the entire Gryffindor was listening to their conversation.
He didn't know what to say, how could he have been so stupid. He should have known that Hermione and Ron weren't dating, they were trying to solve a mystery for him.
Harry lowered his head, "I'm sorry."
"You should be!" Ron hissed, last time I try to do you a favor.
"Ron," Ginny warned.
"I had no idea, what was I suppose to think?" Harry questioned innocently.
"You should have trusted us!" Ron said hatefully.
"HELLO GRYFFINDORS!" yelled the happy voice of one of the Weasley twin's from the fireplace.
"Fred, what the bloody hell are you doing?" Ron asked pushing past Harry.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George! And you call yourself our brother," one of the two head replied.
Ron gritted his teeth in frustration, "only kidding mate, we're here to talk to our business partner, so off with you upstairs."
The whole house was drawn into the scene until Fred, or was is George, threaten to set off the Godzilla of Dung Bombs if they didn't retreat to their dormitories.
As the students took off running for the stairs Hermione rose, setting down her foot, "this is an unofficial visit, you'll have to leave."
"Oh put a cork in it Granger! We're not under your rule anymore," Fred said annoyed.
Hermione looked flustered, "I'll tell Dumbledore!"
"I'll tell Dumbledore," George mocked, "honestly Ron, what do you see in her?"
Ginny finally pushed her way past Ron, "I asked them to come tonight."
"What? Why Ginny?" Ron questioned, still searching for a comeback to George's comment.
"Because we were plotting against you two. We were getting tired of being in the dark," Harry spoke up.
"You mean we're not plotting any longer?" Fred asked worried.
"No," Harry answered.
Hermione looked at Harry, "you two were plotting against us?"
"Yes," Ginny admitted, "and Fred and George were going to help us."
"Damn right we were," Fred interjected.
"We had a brilliant plan, a big plan," George finished.
Harry lowered his head in guilt, "well, we're not doing it, they've confessed what they were up to."
"So, are they snogging?" Fred pushed.
"NO!" Ron answered angrily.
"Come'on George, I don't think we're wanted around here," Fred said hatefully as his head disappeared, followed by George.
"I'm sorry I didn't trust you guys," Harry apologized, still feeling the anger coming off Ron.
"Let's go to bed, we'll talk about this tomorrow," Hermione suggested.
Ginny nodded, "I think that's a good idea."
Harry and Ron didn't speak the rest of the night, and until the two had pulled their bed curtains tightly around themselves, the glares of anger coming from Ron were almost painful. Harry knew it was pointless trying to get any sleep. He lay awake thinking about what a prat he had been.
"Oh no," Harry muttered to himself, tearing back his curtains and examining the clock on his night table. It clearly read 1:35.