A/N: Here's the next chapter, it's kinda beter so yeah..haha.2 for 1, geez
im so kind.lol..n e wais, im nut gonna upload agin till I get at least 10
reviews..MUAHAHA!! ahem, n e whoo.hope u like this one better:
*
~ Chapter 9 ~
*
Surprise Letter
*
When Harry woke up that morning, which was early because he couldn't sleep, he went down to the common room and saw Rachel sitting alone on an armchair. He wondered if she slept at all last night, because he certainly couldn't.
"Rachel? How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
"I d-dunno. H-h-how should I f-feel?" Rachel stammered.
"Er-"
"The whole school will soon know me for what I really am, and they'll hate me for it." Harry was surprised to see that Rachel wasn't crying. But he did see marks of previous tears.
"Rachel, they don't like Vol-"
"Exactly!" Rachel shouted. "They'll hate me too! Everybody!"
"No, not every-"
"Wow! Death Eaters. Now, they'll make great friends!" Rachel said, very sarcastically.
"No," Harry cried. "I will be your friend." Rachel opened her mouth to say something, but Harry cut her off. "Ron will be your friend. Hermione, Professor Dumbledore, your mother-"
"Professor Snape." Said a voice behind them.
Harry wheeled around and saw Ron coming down the stairs. And behind him .
"Your family, teachers, and fellow Gryffindor's." Hermione announced.
"Rachel, Snape is your friend. Friend. And that's saying something." Ron added.
"Yaa, and don't forget about us." Came Fred and George's voices.
"You guys, thanks." Rachel admitted. "This means, so much. You don't even know how much I wanna-"
"Stop.your making me blush." Fred said, and they all howled with laughter.
"C'mon, let's get some breakfast, I'm starving." Harry said, and they all left for the Great Hall.
When they arrived at the Great Hall, they started eating. Then Harry remembered something.
"You know what?" He whispered to Ron, Hermione and Rachel. "We haven't gone to visit Hagrid in a while -" He was cut off by a passing group of Slytherin's.
"I know my father will be quite pleased to hear it. You know why, of course." They heard the cold voice of Draco Malfoy say.
Then they heard Phyllis' voice. "But you know, Rachel is my-er-sister."
The group moaned in disapproval. Then they walked away.
"Told you everyone will hate me." Rachel hissed in Harry's ear.
"No they won't!" Harry hissed back.
*
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel spent the rest of their holidays working on homework, just like most of the other fifth year students.
"Why do they have to give us so much homework?" Ron moaned, one bright afternoon. "I want to go outside, it's starting to become nicer now a days."
"Well, Ron." Hermione began. "Our O.W.L.'s are coming up, and the teachers are trying to get us prepared. You should be thankful, not moaning."
Ron moaned. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm finished." Rachel announced.
"Everything?" Ron asked, mouth opened.
"Yup!"
"Great! Then you could do mine!" But Rachel got up and left. Hermione gave him a disapproving look. "What?"
But when Rachel came back to the Common Room, after putting away her homework, she didn't come back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She left through the portrait hole.
"See what you did?" Hermione snapped at Ron.
"What?" Ron shouted again. "It was just a joke."
But Rachel's mood continued all through the rest of the day, and indeed, until the rest of the holidays. It seemed she was avoiding Harry, Ron and Hermione. Hermione kept saying that she was angry with Ron, but Harry didn't seem to think she would get angry at something like that.
Whenever Ginny saw Rachel, Harry noticed that Ginny was giving Rachel cut- eye. Whatever that could be about. When he pointed this out to Ron, on the last day of holidays, Ron just laughed.
"Isn't it obvious?" He said, when he finished laughing. "She jealous. She's probably thinking of a plan to break you and Rachel up right now." He laughed at his own joke.
Harry looked around the common room, and saw Ginny sitting alone in a corner writing something. He thought of going over to her and saying hi. He got up, and started walking towards her.
"Harry! Harry! Hiya Harry!" It was Colin Creevy.
"Hullo Colin" Harry said, automatically.
"Where are you going Harry?" Colin asked.
"Er, nowhere" Harry lied. "Gotta go." And he sprinted towards Ron and Hermione.
"Where'd you go?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Nowhere!" Harry said, looking if Colin had followed him or not. Luckily, he hadn't.
The next morning at breakfast, Harry saw Ron going over to the Ravenclaw table, to visit Jackie. When he came back, he had a wide grin on his face.
"What happened?" Harry asked him.
"Nothing," Ron replied. "She just said she missed me, and kissed me on the cheek."
Then, Harry remembered what happened on Christmas night with Cho. He whispered this to Ron and Hermione very quietly.
"And Rachel saw you?" Hermione asked, mouth open.
"Yea, I thought it was the end for us! I was so freaked." Harry admitted.
"Luckily, she believed." Ron said.
"Yea, I know, luckily!" Harry muttered. Just then, Harry saw Rachel walking towards Gryffindor table, and their conversation ended. Hermione even closed her mouth again.
"Hey!" Ron said cheer fully to Rachel.
"Wassup?" Rachel muttered gloomily.
"You alright?" Harry asked.
"Fine!" She answered, in the same tone.
"You don't look f-" Hermione started, but was cut off by Harry.
"C'mon, let's go visit Hagrid." Harry said, changing the subject. He got up, and the other's followed.
They made their way down to Hagrid's Cabin. As they approached, they saw Hagrid trying to restrain what looked like a rhinoceros.
"What the.?" Harry exclaimed
"Thought you lot forgot about meh." Hagrid said as they approached him. Harry then realized that what he was trying to restrain wasn't a rhinoceros at all. But it looked like a rhinoceros from far away. "Glad ter see yeh all." Hagrid said happily.
"Uh, Hagrid," Harry asked, "What exactly is that?" He pointed to the rhino thing.
"This," Hagrid replied, "is a Erumpent. We'll be studying it in me next lesson."
"I thought we were studying Centaurs." Rachel said, eyeing the Erumpent suspiciously.
"We're done 'em. Moving on to these." Hagrid petted the large creature. It was so large it looked as if it weighed a tonne. It's hide looked really thick. It had a large, sharp horn upon its nose and a long, rope-like tail. "Isn't he beau'iful?" Hagrid asked.
"Yea," Ron said, "If you compare it to a hag!" Everyone roared with laughter, except Hagrid. He looked rather hurt.
"Their extraordinary creatures, they are." Hagrid said, looking annoyed. "He just arrived, poor fellow. Musta been lonely, comin here all the way from Africa.
"Africa?" Hermione spluttered. "Hagrid, you didn't import him illegally, did you?" It was just the type of thing Hagrid would do.
"'Course I didn't. Dun be stupid." Hagrid snapped, apparently still annoyed at Ron. "Their really extraordinary. Well, you'll be learnin' all about them next lesson. So you'll have to wait, juss like everybody else." And they left it at that.
"Well, we should get going, we have class." Hermione reminded them. "Charms."
They bid Hagrid goodbye, and made their way back to the castle.
"I just hope Hagrid doesn't get in trouble for that Erumpent. It looks dangerous." Hermione said. "I'm going to have to look them up in the library."
"Well, he probably will get in trouble for it." Rachel said, matter-of- factly.
"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.
"Honestly, don't you read?" Rachel asked, sounding just like Hermione.
"Of course I do!" Hermione shouted, glowing pink.
"Well, I know you do, but does he?" Rachel pointed at Harry.
"Oh."
"An Erumpent is very dangerous. Even the Ministry of Magic have it classified as very dangerous. And they need to be trained by a skilled witch or wizard, not just any Care Of Magical Creatures teacher." Rachel explained.
"Hagrid's skilled," Harry said, heat rising inside him.
"Not for this, he's not." Rachel said. "And what is he trying to teach us about Erumpent's anyway? I thought this was supposed to be Care of Magical Creatures? Not monsters."
"He happens to like monsters. And he's the teacher, so he gets to decide what he teaches us." Harry snapped.
"Whatever." Rachel answered, and walked away.
"What's got her?" Ron asked.
"Dunno," Hermione said.
"Why is she attacking Hagrid like that?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"Maybe something's wrong with her, mind you, she is a bit down from everything that happened."
"So," Harry said, "why's she have to take it out on Hagrid?"
"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "She's your girlfriend. Have some respe-"
"I'll have respect when she starts respecting my friends!" Harry cut in.
When they arrived at their Charms classroom, they found Rachel sitting alone at the back of the classroom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione filed into the classroom with the other students and took their seats beside Rachel.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked her.
"Just leave me alone." Rachel snapped.
"Fine!" Harry snapped back.
Professor Flitwick entered the classroom at that very moment, took his place on top of his pile of books, and began his lesson.
"Today," he squeaked from his pile of books, "we will be learning the Disappearing Charm. We will learn how to make something disappear. And when you've mastered that, we will learn how to make your things re-appear."
"Why do we have to learn such rubbish?" Rachel groaned loudly. And the whole class stared at her. "I already know how to do this!" She took out her wand, then her inkbottle. She flicked her wand, muttered and enchantment, and the inkbottle disappeared. Then, she flicked it again, muttered something, and her inkbottle instantly re-appeared.
"Well done, Ms. Avalon. Well d-"
"You mean Riddle." Rachel corrected him.
Professor Flitwick turned slightly red. "I didn't know you wanted to be called by your second name."
"First." Rachel corrected him again.
"Well, Ms. Riddle, good job. Indeed you can make the-"
"Yea, I know how to do it. Can I leave now? Why learn something if I already know it?" Rachel asked.
"Well-" Professor Flitwick looked highly annoyed now. "If you do not want to participate, you may silently do an activity or-"
"Leave? Good, I'm gone!" And Rachel got off the desk, and walked straight to the door, and was gone.
"Ms. Aval-I mean Riddle, come back!" Professor Flitwick cried hopelessly after her.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Was Rachel really having a bad day? Or was it something else? Something more serious?
Harry had much difficulty with trying to make the stone he was given by Professor Flitwick disappear. Rachel kept popping into his head every time he tried to make it disappear.
He successfully made it disappear, but not entirely, because half a second later he heard a loud squeak as the stone landed on Hermione's head.
"Watch it!" She yelled at Harry, successfully making her stone disappear.
Finally, the bell rang, and the lesson was over.
"Read chapter 9 and 10 for revision on the Disappearing Charm, and if you want to look ahead on re-appearing charms, go to chapter 12 and 13!" Professor Flitwick called as everyone scrambled out of the door.
"Wow! That was an interesting lesson, wasn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Easy for you to say." Ron said, annoyed. "You kept making things disappear all over the classroom. I couldn't even make my feather disappear. What about you Harry? Harry?" Ron had just spotted the look on Harry's face.
"I wonder what's up with Rachel." Harry thought aloud.
"Yea, it's weird, isn't it, I hope she doesn't get in trouble. Hey Hermione?" Ron added to Hermione. "What lesson do we have next?"
"I have Arithmacy. You two have Divination." Hermione answered.
"Great!" Harry exclaimed.
"What do you mean, 'great'?" Ron asked in outrage. "You didn't start liking Divination, did you?"
"Of course not," Harry snapped, as he sped up towards North-Tower. "It's just that Rachel loves Divination, and she wouldn't miss it. See ya Hermione." He added as Hermione sped on the opposite direction.
When they arrived at Professor Trelawny's classroom, Rachel was no-where in sight.
"No." Harry moaned.
"Maybe she found out?" Ron suggested.
"About what?" Harry snapped.
"You know. You and Cho."
"She already knew."
"Oh, right."
Just then, as the rest of the class settled and took their seats, Professor Trelawny entered the room.
"My dears," she said in her misty voice. "Today we will be beginning 'Mind Reading'."
"Ohhhhhhhhhh!" Squealed Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown from the front of the classroom.
"That's right. My All Seeing Eye has informed me to start teaching you this today. But of course, most of you will not be able to read anything yet. As it takes a great deal of concentration.
"Now, my dears turn to page 138 of Unfogging the Future. And try and read your partners mind."
"Hey Harry?" Ron asked. "Bet you could read my mind. 'This is so stupid and pointless."
Harry tried to stifle his laugh. But unfortunately, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan who were sitting near Harry and Ron could not stifle their laughs. Professor Trelawny wasn't at all pleased.
"Is there something funny about my lesson, boys?" she asked, rather severely.
"Er."
And yet, Harry couldn't stop thinking about Rachel. Why was she so angry today? And was she really avoiding him? He wished that he COULD read minds, so that he would know what was up with Rachel.
"Ahhhh, my dear. You are worried." Professor Trelawny had come over to Harry again. "I see your future is not bright. I see, the thing you are dreading, will indeed come to pass. Sooner than you might expect."
What was she talking about? Harry wasn't dreading anything. But he was worried. Worried about Rachel. Professor Trelawny was still predicting his future. But Harry wasn't listening. He couldn't take anymore. And before he could stop himself.
"My future is never bright when you predict it." Harry interrupted Professor Trelawny, right when she was talking to him. "I'm tired of you predicting bad things in my life. Could you just quit it?" Harry practically shouted.
Professor Trelawny looked shocked. Harry was afraid she was about to keel over. Ron looked as though he was fighting a mad desire to explode with laughter. And the rest of the class was staring at Harry. Parvati Patil was whispering something to Lavender Brown, and they were glaring at him.
Harry couldn't take it. The heavily perfumed classroom was making him feel nauseous. He had to leave. He had to find Rachel. So that's what he did. He turned around, climbed the ladder down, and made his way to the Entrance Hall.
Where could Rachel be? He thought. He decided to get some fresh air, so he went towards the lake, where he would relax and think of what he had just done. And he saw someone sitting underneath the tree by the lake. It was Rachel. His heart leapt. He went to sit beside her.
Rachel looked around and saw Harry approaching her. She immediately got up, but Harry stopped her.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked.
"I'm not." Rachel said, but Harry knew she was lying. He sat down on the ground and indicated for Rachel to sit beside him. She did.
"I know there's something wrong. Please, tell me." Harry said.
Rachel looked at Harry, and then asked, "Aren't you supposed to be at Divination?"
"Aren't you?" He retorted.
"Err.yes, but you wouldn't skip."
"Guess I am. You're more important."
Rachel smiled at him. "I wish that was true."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, surprised. "Of course it's true."
"No it's not." Harry just stared at Rachel. She noticed this, but didn't continue.
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. The sound of rippling water breaking the silence as Rachel threw rocks into the lake.
"Harry, I thought you loved me?" Rachel finally said.
Harry stared at Rachel. Of course he loved her. "Of course I love you!" He told her.
But Rachel didn't seem ready to take his word for it.
"I really do." Harry continued, when Rachel said nothing. "I told you-"
"Then why did you kiss Cho Chang?" Rachel interrupted.
"That's what this is about?" Harry asked. "But, you said you forgave me. I told you Malfoy planned it."
"That was until I knew the truth." Rachel said. "I heard her and her friends talking one day when I went to visit my friends in Hufflepuff. She was saying that after that night, you guys met up and kissed some more." There were tears forming in Rachel's eyes.
"WHAT???" Harry said, outraged. "That's a downright lie! I swear I didn't!"
"Sure, you probably just want to string along two girls at once."
"Are you ready to take the work of a fuckin' slut that sleeps with every guy she can, or the word of your boyfriend who loves you with all of his heart?" Harry asked. Rachel looked up at him.
"Harry, I want to believe you, I really do -"
"Then why aren't you? I love you."
"I, it's just, ugh," she looked into Harry's eyes and said, "You swear?"
"I swear. Trust me." Harry said firmly.
"I do." She said and started moving closer to Harry, and Harry moved closer to Rachel. He was going to kiss her. He was going to kiss her, just now-
Just then, the bell signaling lunch rang.
No, Harry thought, he had failed to kiss Rachel for a second time. But Rachel didn't seem to mind. She was wiping the tears that had formed from before.
"Let's go to lunch. I'm starving." She said.
"Me too," Harry agreed. And they left to go to the Great Hall.
Harry spotted Ron and Hermione right away. They were deep in conversation. When they saw Harry, Hermione beamed at him, but Ron looked worried.
"Harry," Ron said. "Are you ok?"
"Of course he's ok." Hermione interrupted. "Right?"
"Er," Harry said, unsure what to say.
"I told Hermione what you did in class Harry." Ron told Harry.
"Yes, and it's the smartest thing he's ever done." Hermione said happily. "Good for you to teach that fraud a lesson." Hermione had never liked Professor Trelawny. She showed it when she ditched her classes two years ago.
"Right." Harry said, as they all sat down and began eating. Then Harry told Ron and Hermione what happened with Rachel, as she went over to the Ravenclaw Table.
"No wonder she was so pissed at you, Harry." Ron said.
"Yup. But at least your not fighting." Hermione said happily. She was apparently very happy at what he had done in Professor Trelawny's class.
After lunch they had Herbology. Professor Sprout made them re-plant Carints. Vicious plants with razor sharp leaves, the Carints had scratched up most of the class while being re-potted.
The only person who wasn't severely injured was Rachel and her Hufflepuff friends. She and her friends had talked through the whole lesson, without even re-potting a single Carint. Harry thought this was unfair, as he had many cuts over his body.
As the Gryffindor's made their way to Hagrid's hut, for Care of Magical Creatures, they were nursing small injuries caused by the Carint's.
Hermione's elbow was bleeding, Ron had a cut in his robes, and Harry was nursing a broken finger, because his Carint had struggled so much while being put inside a bigger pot.
When they were making their way to Hagrid's hut, most of the class thought that he had a rhinoceros. But Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel knew better.
When they reached there, the Slytherin's were not there yet. But most people were walking away from the Erumpent, not even daring to ask what the creature was.
"What is that?" came a loud, drawling voice from behind them.
The Slytherin's had arrived. The speaker, Draco Malfoy.
"This," Hagrid began, "is an Erumpent." Then he started going on about the Erumpent. "The Erumpent is a large gray African beast of great power. Weighing up to a tonne, the Erumpent may be mistaken for a rhinoceros at a distance. It has a thick hide that repels most charms and curses. They on'y give birth to one calf at a time."
"Well that's a relief." Malfoy said loudly. "Or else we'd have these running about in the wild." The Slytherin's howled with laughter.
"Actually, Malfoy." Rachel began, seeing the hurt look on Hagrid's face. "Erumpents are controlled by the Ministry of Magic, and even if there were more of them, they wouldn't be allowed to run about. And plus, they're fascinating creatures. When I was on my travels, I learned how to control them. And with one command, I could have it charge at you, instantly causing death."
The Gryffindor's smiled slyly at the look on Malfoy's face.
"That's right, Rachel." Hagrid beamed at her. "The Erumpent will not attack unless commanded, or sorely provoked. But should it charge, the results are usually catastrophic. The horn here" Hagrid pointed to its horn, "Can pierce everything from skin to metal, and contains a deadly fluid which will cause whatever is injected with it to explode."
"Wow! Fascinating." Malfoy said sarcastically. "A beast, not creature, that can pierce our skin, charge at us if provoked, and make us explode all at once? How incredible is that?"
"Well, Malfoy," Hermione began, hotly, "Their really useful, Erumpents."
"Yea, for making Malfoy explode." Ron said. And the Gryffindor's and Hagrid howled with laughter.
"Nobody asked your opinion, Weasley." Malfoy said sourly, "Or yours, you filthy little Mudblood."
It happened in a flash. Rachel whipped out her wand and muttered an enchantment, which made Malfoy fly backwards twenty feet. Everyone gasped. When Malfoy had got up, they saw that his skin was covered in what looked like fungus.
Rachel looked furious.
"Never. EVER, call anybody a Mudblood. Especially my friends!" Harry could almost feel the heat coming from Rachel. Ron was looking down at Malfoy with fury on his face too, clutching his wand inside his robes. Harry was looking at Hagrid who walked up to Malfoy, and told him to go up to the Hospital Wing.
When Malfoy got up, Harry saw that he was bleeding at the back of his head. Rachel's curse must have been powerful, Harry thought. But he felt that Malfoy deserved it.
Hagrid let the class pet the Erumpent and then they had to write down all his features. When the bell rang, the class bustled over to the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel, however, stayed back.
"Yeh shouldn't have dun that." Hagrid told Rachel, when they went inside his house.
"He deserved it," Rachel muttered. "Calling my friend a Mudblood. How dare he? HOW DARE HE?"
Rachel was so furious; Harry didn't even want to sit beside her. But Hagrid made them tea, and in about half an hour's time, Rachel had calmed down, so they went to the Great Hall for dinner.
"I can't believe you did that!" Ron was saying to Rachel, with a mouthful of Turkey. "You should have seen Malfoy's face. He looked ready to kill."
"Yea, but Rachel almost did kill!" Harry said, and they all burst out laughing.
Just then, Professor McGonagall was walking towards the Gryffindor table. She went up to Rachel and said, "Ms. Avalon, may I please see you in my office right now?" She looked like somebody had died. As much as Harry wanted it, he hoped it wasn't Malfoy.
Rachel cast them a confused look, and left the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall.
"Wonder what that was about." Ron said, watching them leave.
"You don't think she found out about Malfoy?" Harry said.
"Or that she missed classes?" Hermione added.
They all looked at each other and wondered.
"But McGonagall didn't look as if Rachel was in trouble. Because then she'd look mad." Harry said. "But she had a sad expression on her face. As if she was about to go to a funeral, or something."
"I agree." Hermione said.
"Me too." Ron added.
They finished their dinner and went up to Gryffindor Tower to do their homework. Harry and Ron went up to their Dormitory to get their homework. When they went back down, they waited for Hermione to come down from her Dormitory. But she didn't.
"Wonder what's keeping her?" Ron asked.
"Beat's me. Let's start that stupid Divination mind thingy." Harry said to Ron, and they went to a corner, spread out their work, and began.
"Ugh! I'll never get this!" Ron moaned, after a couple of minutes.
"Ask Rachel." Harry suggested.
"She's not back yet."
"Oh yeah.."
"Wonder where she could be?" Ron thought out loud. But his question was answered shortly after.
Hermione finally came down from the girl's dormitories. But her appearance was not what they expected. Her face was tear streaked and she looked utterly miserable.
"Oh my god!" Ron gasped when he saw her. "What's wrong? What happened? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine, Ron." She said, wiping away some tears. "I'm not hurt, not physically."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
Hermione turned to Harry and a fresh wave of tears came out. She fell onto Harry's big, muscular chest, and sobbed, "Harry, it's horrible. She's devastated. She's in shock. I dunno what to do. The only thing I could think of was to get you. But.oh HARRY!"
The whole common room was watching as Hermione continued in a strangled voice.
"She won't stop crying. My gosh! It's horrible. Awful!"
"What, Hermione? Who? Rachel?" Harry asked, hoping the answer was no.
"Yes! Rachel! Harry.I just, I-I dunno!" And they couldn't get another sensible word out of her. She collapsed and Ron caught her.
Harry looked at Ron, who was pale. "What should we do?" He asked.
"I dunno." Ron said, his voice shaking. But Hermione pointed towards the girls' staircase, indicating for them to go up it.
"We can't go up there," Harry said, panic starting to get the better of him. He looked at Ron.
"Harry, you have to. She's probably up there. You heard Hermione. You have to go. We should all go." Ron said.
Harry nodded. He started up the stairs, followed by Ron carrying Hermione, and the rest of the Gryffindor's eyes staring at them until they were out of view.
Harry had never been to the girl's side of the dormitories. It looked exactly like the boys', only opposite. He also didn't know which room was Hermione and Rachel's. But he heard a distant crying noise. So he followed it. He glanced at Ron before entering the room.
"Rachel!" Harry gasped, when he saw her sitting on her four-poster bed. She looked a terrible mess. Her hair was tangled, and resembled Hagrid's. Her face was mixed with red and green, and tears were pouring freely from her eyes, which were red and swollen.
"Oh my god!!!" Harry gasped again.
"Bloody Hell!" Harry heard Ron say behind him, as he entered the room.
"Rachel." Harry said softly as he approached Rachel, and sat beside her. "I'm here. Tell me everything."
Rachel looked at Harry, and chocked "Harry.I-I," and she broke down in tears.
"There, there," Harry said soothingly, cradling Rachel in his arms.
Ron made a loud sound clearing his throat, indicating that he was leaving. Harry nodded to him, and he left, still carrying Hermione.
Harry and Rachel sat in silence for a couple of minutes, when she finally lifted her head from his chest.
She looked into his eyes, and he looked back. "I-don't, I can't.believe.it." She whispered very quietly, Harry had to struggle to hear her.
"What?" Harry asked softly. "You can tell me. You know that."
Rachel looked down at her knees. "I know." She mumbled.
"I love you!" Harry whispered in her ear.
She looked at him, tears forming in her eyes again. "I love you too!"
She sank to the floor, her back leaning against the bed. Harry sat down beside her.
"Are you ready to tell me?" He asked.
She pulled him into a tight hug, and Harry saw that she had big, red slashes on her wrists.
"Rachel, what the -?" Harry gasped. She pulled away, and looked at her knees again.
"Tell me, Rachel!" Harry said firmly, forcing her to look in his eyes. Harry stared back, and said, "It's gone far enough! You're hurt. You HAVE to tell me! NOW!"
"Harry, I-I-love you!" she choked. "Oh my god!"
"Start from the beginning."
"Ok!" she said, and began. "Well, remember when McGonagall called me? And told me that she had to tell me something?"
"Yeah," Harry said slowly.
"Well, at first I thought it was about Malfoy, so I followed her, not really caring. Then she told me to sit down when we got to her office. She said it was important. Then I-I noticed small tears forming in her eyes, and I knew something was up."
She paused, and Harry noticed she was fighting a mad urge to cry again, but she controlled herself. He rubbed her back soothingly, and said, "Ok, go on."
She cleared her throat and continued.
"She told me that she got a letter from the Ministry of Magic. I thought I was in BIG trouble. But she told me that it was about my mum and family." She put her hand in her skirt pocked, and pulled out a letter. He noticed it had the Ministry of Magic stamp on it. She handed it to him, and he braced himself.
*
A/N: MUAHAHAH!!!! CLIFFY!!!! Haha..now, the sooner I get sum reviews (at least 10 - I LIVE OFF THEM!!! And their oh so nice tuh get :D) the sooner I will post the next chappy and the SOONER U get tuh read, so, whatta ya say? Even if u write ONE word in the review, it will be good, aaha.n e whoo..SEE YA!!! Ps, did u like this chap?
Yawn, Im tired, ugh, this is a long chapter. Oh ye, the love triangle thingy with ginny is gonna start with the next chapter (sry it took so long) so yea, stay tuned for that (stay tuned? Lmao)!!!!
*
~ Chapter 9 ~
*
Surprise Letter
*
When Harry woke up that morning, which was early because he couldn't sleep, he went down to the common room and saw Rachel sitting alone on an armchair. He wondered if she slept at all last night, because he certainly couldn't.
"Rachel? How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
"I d-dunno. H-h-how should I f-feel?" Rachel stammered.
"Er-"
"The whole school will soon know me for what I really am, and they'll hate me for it." Harry was surprised to see that Rachel wasn't crying. But he did see marks of previous tears.
"Rachel, they don't like Vol-"
"Exactly!" Rachel shouted. "They'll hate me too! Everybody!"
"No, not every-"
"Wow! Death Eaters. Now, they'll make great friends!" Rachel said, very sarcastically.
"No," Harry cried. "I will be your friend." Rachel opened her mouth to say something, but Harry cut her off. "Ron will be your friend. Hermione, Professor Dumbledore, your mother-"
"Professor Snape." Said a voice behind them.
Harry wheeled around and saw Ron coming down the stairs. And behind him .
"Your family, teachers, and fellow Gryffindor's." Hermione announced.
"Rachel, Snape is your friend. Friend. And that's saying something." Ron added.
"Yaa, and don't forget about us." Came Fred and George's voices.
"You guys, thanks." Rachel admitted. "This means, so much. You don't even know how much I wanna-"
"Stop.your making me blush." Fred said, and they all howled with laughter.
"C'mon, let's get some breakfast, I'm starving." Harry said, and they all left for the Great Hall.
When they arrived at the Great Hall, they started eating. Then Harry remembered something.
"You know what?" He whispered to Ron, Hermione and Rachel. "We haven't gone to visit Hagrid in a while -" He was cut off by a passing group of Slytherin's.
"I know my father will be quite pleased to hear it. You know why, of course." They heard the cold voice of Draco Malfoy say.
Then they heard Phyllis' voice. "But you know, Rachel is my-er-sister."
The group moaned in disapproval. Then they walked away.
"Told you everyone will hate me." Rachel hissed in Harry's ear.
"No they won't!" Harry hissed back.
*
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel spent the rest of their holidays working on homework, just like most of the other fifth year students.
"Why do they have to give us so much homework?" Ron moaned, one bright afternoon. "I want to go outside, it's starting to become nicer now a days."
"Well, Ron." Hermione began. "Our O.W.L.'s are coming up, and the teachers are trying to get us prepared. You should be thankful, not moaning."
Ron moaned. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm finished." Rachel announced.
"Everything?" Ron asked, mouth opened.
"Yup!"
"Great! Then you could do mine!" But Rachel got up and left. Hermione gave him a disapproving look. "What?"
But when Rachel came back to the Common Room, after putting away her homework, she didn't come back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She left through the portrait hole.
"See what you did?" Hermione snapped at Ron.
"What?" Ron shouted again. "It was just a joke."
But Rachel's mood continued all through the rest of the day, and indeed, until the rest of the holidays. It seemed she was avoiding Harry, Ron and Hermione. Hermione kept saying that she was angry with Ron, but Harry didn't seem to think she would get angry at something like that.
Whenever Ginny saw Rachel, Harry noticed that Ginny was giving Rachel cut- eye. Whatever that could be about. When he pointed this out to Ron, on the last day of holidays, Ron just laughed.
"Isn't it obvious?" He said, when he finished laughing. "She jealous. She's probably thinking of a plan to break you and Rachel up right now." He laughed at his own joke.
Harry looked around the common room, and saw Ginny sitting alone in a corner writing something. He thought of going over to her and saying hi. He got up, and started walking towards her.
"Harry! Harry! Hiya Harry!" It was Colin Creevy.
"Hullo Colin" Harry said, automatically.
"Where are you going Harry?" Colin asked.
"Er, nowhere" Harry lied. "Gotta go." And he sprinted towards Ron and Hermione.
"Where'd you go?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Nowhere!" Harry said, looking if Colin had followed him or not. Luckily, he hadn't.
The next morning at breakfast, Harry saw Ron going over to the Ravenclaw table, to visit Jackie. When he came back, he had a wide grin on his face.
"What happened?" Harry asked him.
"Nothing," Ron replied. "She just said she missed me, and kissed me on the cheek."
Then, Harry remembered what happened on Christmas night with Cho. He whispered this to Ron and Hermione very quietly.
"And Rachel saw you?" Hermione asked, mouth open.
"Yea, I thought it was the end for us! I was so freaked." Harry admitted.
"Luckily, she believed." Ron said.
"Yea, I know, luckily!" Harry muttered. Just then, Harry saw Rachel walking towards Gryffindor table, and their conversation ended. Hermione even closed her mouth again.
"Hey!" Ron said cheer fully to Rachel.
"Wassup?" Rachel muttered gloomily.
"You alright?" Harry asked.
"Fine!" She answered, in the same tone.
"You don't look f-" Hermione started, but was cut off by Harry.
"C'mon, let's go visit Hagrid." Harry said, changing the subject. He got up, and the other's followed.
They made their way down to Hagrid's Cabin. As they approached, they saw Hagrid trying to restrain what looked like a rhinoceros.
"What the.?" Harry exclaimed
"Thought you lot forgot about meh." Hagrid said as they approached him. Harry then realized that what he was trying to restrain wasn't a rhinoceros at all. But it looked like a rhinoceros from far away. "Glad ter see yeh all." Hagrid said happily.
"Uh, Hagrid," Harry asked, "What exactly is that?" He pointed to the rhino thing.
"This," Hagrid replied, "is a Erumpent. We'll be studying it in me next lesson."
"I thought we were studying Centaurs." Rachel said, eyeing the Erumpent suspiciously.
"We're done 'em. Moving on to these." Hagrid petted the large creature. It was so large it looked as if it weighed a tonne. It's hide looked really thick. It had a large, sharp horn upon its nose and a long, rope-like tail. "Isn't he beau'iful?" Hagrid asked.
"Yea," Ron said, "If you compare it to a hag!" Everyone roared with laughter, except Hagrid. He looked rather hurt.
"Their extraordinary creatures, they are." Hagrid said, looking annoyed. "He just arrived, poor fellow. Musta been lonely, comin here all the way from Africa.
"Africa?" Hermione spluttered. "Hagrid, you didn't import him illegally, did you?" It was just the type of thing Hagrid would do.
"'Course I didn't. Dun be stupid." Hagrid snapped, apparently still annoyed at Ron. "Their really extraordinary. Well, you'll be learnin' all about them next lesson. So you'll have to wait, juss like everybody else." And they left it at that.
"Well, we should get going, we have class." Hermione reminded them. "Charms."
They bid Hagrid goodbye, and made their way back to the castle.
"I just hope Hagrid doesn't get in trouble for that Erumpent. It looks dangerous." Hermione said. "I'm going to have to look them up in the library."
"Well, he probably will get in trouble for it." Rachel said, matter-of- factly.
"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.
"Honestly, don't you read?" Rachel asked, sounding just like Hermione.
"Of course I do!" Hermione shouted, glowing pink.
"Well, I know you do, but does he?" Rachel pointed at Harry.
"Oh."
"An Erumpent is very dangerous. Even the Ministry of Magic have it classified as very dangerous. And they need to be trained by a skilled witch or wizard, not just any Care Of Magical Creatures teacher." Rachel explained.
"Hagrid's skilled," Harry said, heat rising inside him.
"Not for this, he's not." Rachel said. "And what is he trying to teach us about Erumpent's anyway? I thought this was supposed to be Care of Magical Creatures? Not monsters."
"He happens to like monsters. And he's the teacher, so he gets to decide what he teaches us." Harry snapped.
"Whatever." Rachel answered, and walked away.
"What's got her?" Ron asked.
"Dunno," Hermione said.
"Why is she attacking Hagrid like that?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"Maybe something's wrong with her, mind you, she is a bit down from everything that happened."
"So," Harry said, "why's she have to take it out on Hagrid?"
"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "She's your girlfriend. Have some respe-"
"I'll have respect when she starts respecting my friends!" Harry cut in.
When they arrived at their Charms classroom, they found Rachel sitting alone at the back of the classroom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione filed into the classroom with the other students and took their seats beside Rachel.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked her.
"Just leave me alone." Rachel snapped.
"Fine!" Harry snapped back.
Professor Flitwick entered the classroom at that very moment, took his place on top of his pile of books, and began his lesson.
"Today," he squeaked from his pile of books, "we will be learning the Disappearing Charm. We will learn how to make something disappear. And when you've mastered that, we will learn how to make your things re-appear."
"Why do we have to learn such rubbish?" Rachel groaned loudly. And the whole class stared at her. "I already know how to do this!" She took out her wand, then her inkbottle. She flicked her wand, muttered and enchantment, and the inkbottle disappeared. Then, she flicked it again, muttered something, and her inkbottle instantly re-appeared.
"Well done, Ms. Avalon. Well d-"
"You mean Riddle." Rachel corrected him.
Professor Flitwick turned slightly red. "I didn't know you wanted to be called by your second name."
"First." Rachel corrected him again.
"Well, Ms. Riddle, good job. Indeed you can make the-"
"Yea, I know how to do it. Can I leave now? Why learn something if I already know it?" Rachel asked.
"Well-" Professor Flitwick looked highly annoyed now. "If you do not want to participate, you may silently do an activity or-"
"Leave? Good, I'm gone!" And Rachel got off the desk, and walked straight to the door, and was gone.
"Ms. Aval-I mean Riddle, come back!" Professor Flitwick cried hopelessly after her.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Was Rachel really having a bad day? Or was it something else? Something more serious?
Harry had much difficulty with trying to make the stone he was given by Professor Flitwick disappear. Rachel kept popping into his head every time he tried to make it disappear.
He successfully made it disappear, but not entirely, because half a second later he heard a loud squeak as the stone landed on Hermione's head.
"Watch it!" She yelled at Harry, successfully making her stone disappear.
Finally, the bell rang, and the lesson was over.
"Read chapter 9 and 10 for revision on the Disappearing Charm, and if you want to look ahead on re-appearing charms, go to chapter 12 and 13!" Professor Flitwick called as everyone scrambled out of the door.
"Wow! That was an interesting lesson, wasn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Easy for you to say." Ron said, annoyed. "You kept making things disappear all over the classroom. I couldn't even make my feather disappear. What about you Harry? Harry?" Ron had just spotted the look on Harry's face.
"I wonder what's up with Rachel." Harry thought aloud.
"Yea, it's weird, isn't it, I hope she doesn't get in trouble. Hey Hermione?" Ron added to Hermione. "What lesson do we have next?"
"I have Arithmacy. You two have Divination." Hermione answered.
"Great!" Harry exclaimed.
"What do you mean, 'great'?" Ron asked in outrage. "You didn't start liking Divination, did you?"
"Of course not," Harry snapped, as he sped up towards North-Tower. "It's just that Rachel loves Divination, and she wouldn't miss it. See ya Hermione." He added as Hermione sped on the opposite direction.
When they arrived at Professor Trelawny's classroom, Rachel was no-where in sight.
"No." Harry moaned.
"Maybe she found out?" Ron suggested.
"About what?" Harry snapped.
"You know. You and Cho."
"She already knew."
"Oh, right."
Just then, as the rest of the class settled and took their seats, Professor Trelawny entered the room.
"My dears," she said in her misty voice. "Today we will be beginning 'Mind Reading'."
"Ohhhhhhhhhh!" Squealed Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown from the front of the classroom.
"That's right. My All Seeing Eye has informed me to start teaching you this today. But of course, most of you will not be able to read anything yet. As it takes a great deal of concentration.
"Now, my dears turn to page 138 of Unfogging the Future. And try and read your partners mind."
"Hey Harry?" Ron asked. "Bet you could read my mind. 'This is so stupid and pointless."
Harry tried to stifle his laugh. But unfortunately, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan who were sitting near Harry and Ron could not stifle their laughs. Professor Trelawny wasn't at all pleased.
"Is there something funny about my lesson, boys?" she asked, rather severely.
"Er."
And yet, Harry couldn't stop thinking about Rachel. Why was she so angry today? And was she really avoiding him? He wished that he COULD read minds, so that he would know what was up with Rachel.
"Ahhhh, my dear. You are worried." Professor Trelawny had come over to Harry again. "I see your future is not bright. I see, the thing you are dreading, will indeed come to pass. Sooner than you might expect."
What was she talking about? Harry wasn't dreading anything. But he was worried. Worried about Rachel. Professor Trelawny was still predicting his future. But Harry wasn't listening. He couldn't take anymore. And before he could stop himself.
"My future is never bright when you predict it." Harry interrupted Professor Trelawny, right when she was talking to him. "I'm tired of you predicting bad things in my life. Could you just quit it?" Harry practically shouted.
Professor Trelawny looked shocked. Harry was afraid she was about to keel over. Ron looked as though he was fighting a mad desire to explode with laughter. And the rest of the class was staring at Harry. Parvati Patil was whispering something to Lavender Brown, and they were glaring at him.
Harry couldn't take it. The heavily perfumed classroom was making him feel nauseous. He had to leave. He had to find Rachel. So that's what he did. He turned around, climbed the ladder down, and made his way to the Entrance Hall.
Where could Rachel be? He thought. He decided to get some fresh air, so he went towards the lake, where he would relax and think of what he had just done. And he saw someone sitting underneath the tree by the lake. It was Rachel. His heart leapt. He went to sit beside her.
Rachel looked around and saw Harry approaching her. She immediately got up, but Harry stopped her.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked.
"I'm not." Rachel said, but Harry knew she was lying. He sat down on the ground and indicated for Rachel to sit beside him. She did.
"I know there's something wrong. Please, tell me." Harry said.
Rachel looked at Harry, and then asked, "Aren't you supposed to be at Divination?"
"Aren't you?" He retorted.
"Err.yes, but you wouldn't skip."
"Guess I am. You're more important."
Rachel smiled at him. "I wish that was true."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, surprised. "Of course it's true."
"No it's not." Harry just stared at Rachel. She noticed this, but didn't continue.
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. The sound of rippling water breaking the silence as Rachel threw rocks into the lake.
"Harry, I thought you loved me?" Rachel finally said.
Harry stared at Rachel. Of course he loved her. "Of course I love you!" He told her.
But Rachel didn't seem ready to take his word for it.
"I really do." Harry continued, when Rachel said nothing. "I told you-"
"Then why did you kiss Cho Chang?" Rachel interrupted.
"That's what this is about?" Harry asked. "But, you said you forgave me. I told you Malfoy planned it."
"That was until I knew the truth." Rachel said. "I heard her and her friends talking one day when I went to visit my friends in Hufflepuff. She was saying that after that night, you guys met up and kissed some more." There were tears forming in Rachel's eyes.
"WHAT???" Harry said, outraged. "That's a downright lie! I swear I didn't!"
"Sure, you probably just want to string along two girls at once."
"Are you ready to take the work of a fuckin' slut that sleeps with every guy she can, or the word of your boyfriend who loves you with all of his heart?" Harry asked. Rachel looked up at him.
"Harry, I want to believe you, I really do -"
"Then why aren't you? I love you."
"I, it's just, ugh," she looked into Harry's eyes and said, "You swear?"
"I swear. Trust me." Harry said firmly.
"I do." She said and started moving closer to Harry, and Harry moved closer to Rachel. He was going to kiss her. He was going to kiss her, just now-
Just then, the bell signaling lunch rang.
No, Harry thought, he had failed to kiss Rachel for a second time. But Rachel didn't seem to mind. She was wiping the tears that had formed from before.
"Let's go to lunch. I'm starving." She said.
"Me too," Harry agreed. And they left to go to the Great Hall.
Harry spotted Ron and Hermione right away. They were deep in conversation. When they saw Harry, Hermione beamed at him, but Ron looked worried.
"Harry," Ron said. "Are you ok?"
"Of course he's ok." Hermione interrupted. "Right?"
"Er," Harry said, unsure what to say.
"I told Hermione what you did in class Harry." Ron told Harry.
"Yes, and it's the smartest thing he's ever done." Hermione said happily. "Good for you to teach that fraud a lesson." Hermione had never liked Professor Trelawny. She showed it when she ditched her classes two years ago.
"Right." Harry said, as they all sat down and began eating. Then Harry told Ron and Hermione what happened with Rachel, as she went over to the Ravenclaw Table.
"No wonder she was so pissed at you, Harry." Ron said.
"Yup. But at least your not fighting." Hermione said happily. She was apparently very happy at what he had done in Professor Trelawny's class.
After lunch they had Herbology. Professor Sprout made them re-plant Carints. Vicious plants with razor sharp leaves, the Carints had scratched up most of the class while being re-potted.
The only person who wasn't severely injured was Rachel and her Hufflepuff friends. She and her friends had talked through the whole lesson, without even re-potting a single Carint. Harry thought this was unfair, as he had many cuts over his body.
As the Gryffindor's made their way to Hagrid's hut, for Care of Magical Creatures, they were nursing small injuries caused by the Carint's.
Hermione's elbow was bleeding, Ron had a cut in his robes, and Harry was nursing a broken finger, because his Carint had struggled so much while being put inside a bigger pot.
When they were making their way to Hagrid's hut, most of the class thought that he had a rhinoceros. But Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel knew better.
When they reached there, the Slytherin's were not there yet. But most people were walking away from the Erumpent, not even daring to ask what the creature was.
"What is that?" came a loud, drawling voice from behind them.
The Slytherin's had arrived. The speaker, Draco Malfoy.
"This," Hagrid began, "is an Erumpent." Then he started going on about the Erumpent. "The Erumpent is a large gray African beast of great power. Weighing up to a tonne, the Erumpent may be mistaken for a rhinoceros at a distance. It has a thick hide that repels most charms and curses. They on'y give birth to one calf at a time."
"Well that's a relief." Malfoy said loudly. "Or else we'd have these running about in the wild." The Slytherin's howled with laughter.
"Actually, Malfoy." Rachel began, seeing the hurt look on Hagrid's face. "Erumpents are controlled by the Ministry of Magic, and even if there were more of them, they wouldn't be allowed to run about. And plus, they're fascinating creatures. When I was on my travels, I learned how to control them. And with one command, I could have it charge at you, instantly causing death."
The Gryffindor's smiled slyly at the look on Malfoy's face.
"That's right, Rachel." Hagrid beamed at her. "The Erumpent will not attack unless commanded, or sorely provoked. But should it charge, the results are usually catastrophic. The horn here" Hagrid pointed to its horn, "Can pierce everything from skin to metal, and contains a deadly fluid which will cause whatever is injected with it to explode."
"Wow! Fascinating." Malfoy said sarcastically. "A beast, not creature, that can pierce our skin, charge at us if provoked, and make us explode all at once? How incredible is that?"
"Well, Malfoy," Hermione began, hotly, "Their really useful, Erumpents."
"Yea, for making Malfoy explode." Ron said. And the Gryffindor's and Hagrid howled with laughter.
"Nobody asked your opinion, Weasley." Malfoy said sourly, "Or yours, you filthy little Mudblood."
It happened in a flash. Rachel whipped out her wand and muttered an enchantment, which made Malfoy fly backwards twenty feet. Everyone gasped. When Malfoy had got up, they saw that his skin was covered in what looked like fungus.
Rachel looked furious.
"Never. EVER, call anybody a Mudblood. Especially my friends!" Harry could almost feel the heat coming from Rachel. Ron was looking down at Malfoy with fury on his face too, clutching his wand inside his robes. Harry was looking at Hagrid who walked up to Malfoy, and told him to go up to the Hospital Wing.
When Malfoy got up, Harry saw that he was bleeding at the back of his head. Rachel's curse must have been powerful, Harry thought. But he felt that Malfoy deserved it.
Hagrid let the class pet the Erumpent and then they had to write down all his features. When the bell rang, the class bustled over to the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel, however, stayed back.
"Yeh shouldn't have dun that." Hagrid told Rachel, when they went inside his house.
"He deserved it," Rachel muttered. "Calling my friend a Mudblood. How dare he? HOW DARE HE?"
Rachel was so furious; Harry didn't even want to sit beside her. But Hagrid made them tea, and in about half an hour's time, Rachel had calmed down, so they went to the Great Hall for dinner.
"I can't believe you did that!" Ron was saying to Rachel, with a mouthful of Turkey. "You should have seen Malfoy's face. He looked ready to kill."
"Yea, but Rachel almost did kill!" Harry said, and they all burst out laughing.
Just then, Professor McGonagall was walking towards the Gryffindor table. She went up to Rachel and said, "Ms. Avalon, may I please see you in my office right now?" She looked like somebody had died. As much as Harry wanted it, he hoped it wasn't Malfoy.
Rachel cast them a confused look, and left the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall.
"Wonder what that was about." Ron said, watching them leave.
"You don't think she found out about Malfoy?" Harry said.
"Or that she missed classes?" Hermione added.
They all looked at each other and wondered.
"But McGonagall didn't look as if Rachel was in trouble. Because then she'd look mad." Harry said. "But she had a sad expression on her face. As if she was about to go to a funeral, or something."
"I agree." Hermione said.
"Me too." Ron added.
They finished their dinner and went up to Gryffindor Tower to do their homework. Harry and Ron went up to their Dormitory to get their homework. When they went back down, they waited for Hermione to come down from her Dormitory. But she didn't.
"Wonder what's keeping her?" Ron asked.
"Beat's me. Let's start that stupid Divination mind thingy." Harry said to Ron, and they went to a corner, spread out their work, and began.
"Ugh! I'll never get this!" Ron moaned, after a couple of minutes.
"Ask Rachel." Harry suggested.
"She's not back yet."
"Oh yeah.."
"Wonder where she could be?" Ron thought out loud. But his question was answered shortly after.
Hermione finally came down from the girl's dormitories. But her appearance was not what they expected. Her face was tear streaked and she looked utterly miserable.
"Oh my god!" Ron gasped when he saw her. "What's wrong? What happened? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine, Ron." She said, wiping away some tears. "I'm not hurt, not physically."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
Hermione turned to Harry and a fresh wave of tears came out. She fell onto Harry's big, muscular chest, and sobbed, "Harry, it's horrible. She's devastated. She's in shock. I dunno what to do. The only thing I could think of was to get you. But.oh HARRY!"
The whole common room was watching as Hermione continued in a strangled voice.
"She won't stop crying. My gosh! It's horrible. Awful!"
"What, Hermione? Who? Rachel?" Harry asked, hoping the answer was no.
"Yes! Rachel! Harry.I just, I-I dunno!" And they couldn't get another sensible word out of her. She collapsed and Ron caught her.
Harry looked at Ron, who was pale. "What should we do?" He asked.
"I dunno." Ron said, his voice shaking. But Hermione pointed towards the girls' staircase, indicating for them to go up it.
"We can't go up there," Harry said, panic starting to get the better of him. He looked at Ron.
"Harry, you have to. She's probably up there. You heard Hermione. You have to go. We should all go." Ron said.
Harry nodded. He started up the stairs, followed by Ron carrying Hermione, and the rest of the Gryffindor's eyes staring at them until they were out of view.
Harry had never been to the girl's side of the dormitories. It looked exactly like the boys', only opposite. He also didn't know which room was Hermione and Rachel's. But he heard a distant crying noise. So he followed it. He glanced at Ron before entering the room.
"Rachel!" Harry gasped, when he saw her sitting on her four-poster bed. She looked a terrible mess. Her hair was tangled, and resembled Hagrid's. Her face was mixed with red and green, and tears were pouring freely from her eyes, which were red and swollen.
"Oh my god!!!" Harry gasped again.
"Bloody Hell!" Harry heard Ron say behind him, as he entered the room.
"Rachel." Harry said softly as he approached Rachel, and sat beside her. "I'm here. Tell me everything."
Rachel looked at Harry, and chocked "Harry.I-I," and she broke down in tears.
"There, there," Harry said soothingly, cradling Rachel in his arms.
Ron made a loud sound clearing his throat, indicating that he was leaving. Harry nodded to him, and he left, still carrying Hermione.
Harry and Rachel sat in silence for a couple of minutes, when she finally lifted her head from his chest.
She looked into his eyes, and he looked back. "I-don't, I can't.believe.it." She whispered very quietly, Harry had to struggle to hear her.
"What?" Harry asked softly. "You can tell me. You know that."
Rachel looked down at her knees. "I know." She mumbled.
"I love you!" Harry whispered in her ear.
She looked at him, tears forming in her eyes again. "I love you too!"
She sank to the floor, her back leaning against the bed. Harry sat down beside her.
"Are you ready to tell me?" He asked.
She pulled him into a tight hug, and Harry saw that she had big, red slashes on her wrists.
"Rachel, what the -?" Harry gasped. She pulled away, and looked at her knees again.
"Tell me, Rachel!" Harry said firmly, forcing her to look in his eyes. Harry stared back, and said, "It's gone far enough! You're hurt. You HAVE to tell me! NOW!"
"Harry, I-I-love you!" she choked. "Oh my god!"
"Start from the beginning."
"Ok!" she said, and began. "Well, remember when McGonagall called me? And told me that she had to tell me something?"
"Yeah," Harry said slowly.
"Well, at first I thought it was about Malfoy, so I followed her, not really caring. Then she told me to sit down when we got to her office. She said it was important. Then I-I noticed small tears forming in her eyes, and I knew something was up."
She paused, and Harry noticed she was fighting a mad urge to cry again, but she controlled herself. He rubbed her back soothingly, and said, "Ok, go on."
She cleared her throat and continued.
"She told me that she got a letter from the Ministry of Magic. I thought I was in BIG trouble. But she told me that it was about my mum and family." She put her hand in her skirt pocked, and pulled out a letter. He noticed it had the Ministry of Magic stamp on it. She handed it to him, and he braced himself.
*
A/N: MUAHAHAH!!!! CLIFFY!!!! Haha..now, the sooner I get sum reviews (at least 10 - I LIVE OFF THEM!!! And their oh so nice tuh get :D) the sooner I will post the next chappy and the SOONER U get tuh read, so, whatta ya say? Even if u write ONE word in the review, it will be good, aaha.n e whoo..SEE YA!!! Ps, did u like this chap?
Yawn, Im tired, ugh, this is a long chapter. Oh ye, the love triangle thingy with ginny is gonna start with the next chapter (sry it took so long) so yea, stay tuned for that (stay tuned? Lmao)!!!!