An; I own all Harry Potter... If u believe me then you really are a git.
Anyway, thanks for the compliments of the season everyone. Same to you all.
Here we go.
Hogwarts on Hiatus
11
The Dementor's raised their wands. Harry, lying amid the dust and chips of stone had a sudden blinding flash of inspiration.
"PROTEGO! STUPEFY!" he bellowed and dived sideways as three answering spells flew towards him from the Death Eaters now carefully surrounding their fallen comrade. Tall though they were they were not tall enough to be Dementor's, and Harry, who had often looked up at a Dementor from the ground knew this.
A high laugh split the air and Harry felt his blood turn to ice as he recognized the voice of the Death Eater who had killed Sirius.
"Potty Potter! How are you dear?"
"Always a pleasure, Lestrange." Harry called as he got to his feet. He became aware of noise in the great hall, screaming. Harry couldn't see why everyone was so frightened; so far all the spells had been aimed at him.
As if reading his mind cold voice called out from behind a skull like mask.
"Shut up. We want Potter, not any of you."
There was silence for a second as the terrified students took this in. Harry's mind was working furiously. Where were the teachers? Where was Dumbledore? Or McGonagall? Heck, right now he'd even take Snape.
Bellatrix Lestrange raised her wand, pointing it at Harry.
"EXP-"
"Protego!" the disarming spell didn't work. Harry took a step backwards,bringin himself next to Hermione.
"When I say..PROTEGO!" another spell was deflected, "clear the way, all students to one side."
Hermione made a squeaky noise but Harry knew she knew what he wanted. He heard her whisper to other students and the shuffle of their feet. He never took his eyes of the Death Eaters, who seemed to be having a little chat of their own.
"Harry, what you are."
"Everybody out of the way?" he hissed urgently.
"Yes, but Harry, what."
"If you want me, come and get me!" Harry yelled the challenge at the Death Eaters, who turned in surprise. He could sense their smiles. He took a step backwards as they descended the stairs. Then he turned and fled, right out the teacher's entrance. He heard screaming behind him as the Death Eaters ran past the other students and dived down another corridor, just in time, red spells crashed into a suit of armour he had just past, and the tin figure collapsed.
They ran on, Harry only jus keeping out of range, but the Death Eaters dogging him. He led them unerringly out side to the courtyard and felt rather than saw them hesitate at the open ground. Harry used the hesitation to put on a burst of speed and pulled away from them slightly, heading back towards the forest, where he knew the teachers must be still fighting Dementor's. He sprinted past Hagrid's hut and into the darkness. The Death Eaters followed, he could hear them crashing through undergrowth every now and then. As his eyes and ears adjusted to the glom he heard noises in front of him. Yelling, and they were voices he recognized, but he could not speed up, and was only just keeping moving,
"CRUCIO!!" hit a tree beside him and he suddenly found new strength, suddenly running at a sprint again. In front of him he could see lights, spells flashing. He recognized a few Teachers voices and felt the dripping iciness of Dementor's. A twig scratched his cheek as he rushed past. He stumbled on a root. 'WHY ME?' He asked himself silently as he ran 'why the ruddy hell is it always me?'
He burst into a clearing, and was greeted with an awesome sight. The teachers were standing in a row, watching their Patronuses chase away the last of a group of Dementor's. Harry's entrance drew attention, and they turned in surprise as he skidded to a halt next to them. He was opening his mouth to explain when-
"CRUCIO!" came spinning out of the darkness of the forest and Harry had to throw himself backwards onto the ground to avoid being hit.
That single spell drove the teachers around him to act. Immediately the forest was full of stunning spells. Harry lay where he was for a second, catching his breath until a particularly well-aimed stunning spell hit the ground near his foot. He moved then, jumping up and aiming his own stunning spell towards where he other had come from. He noticed McGonagall working her way towards him along the line of Teacher Defense.
"Potter," she muttered once she was beside him and between spells, "where are the other students?" her voice was low and urgent.
"Still in the hall I hope. The Death Eaters chased me."
She didn't say anything but out of the corner of his eye Harry saw her sag with relief. He ducked another spell.
Then it was over. Harry hadn't been paying that much attention but apparently Dumbledore did something with his wand and then there was silence. McGonagall gripped his shoulder and began to march him back towards the school. Harry explained as he went, very conscious of the listening teachers and headmaster around him. When he got to the part about DA getting rid of the Dementor's he caught quite a few hidden smiles in the darkness, and felt a small glow of pride for what his group had done. He finished explaining with his headlong flight into the forest, and then everything was silent.
Harry frowned as he walked. Underlying everything at the moment was a sense of dread. If Voldemort was getting cocky enough to attack Hogwarts (though Harry noticed he hadn't turned up himself) it was a bad sign. His mind went again to the mysterious power that he had used earlier. If ONLY he could control it, make it come when he wanted. He had thought earlier that perhaps this power would be Voldemort's downfall, but now he was not so sure. He filed the thoughts away for future perusal, sometime when he was not in the company of twenty or so teachers and so exhausted he could barely lift his legs.
The students were waiting in the Great Hall when they returned, and all looked very relived when the Teachers and Harry entered, Ginny and Hermione hugged him, Hermione perhaps lingering a little longer than was necessary, and Ron shook his hand. Then Hermione told him off for being so foolhardy.
Dumbledore sent everyone to bed, and Harry suffered a stern talking to before he was allowed to leave. By the time he was allowed to go he was so exhausted that climbing the stairs was an effort. He gave the password and climbed into the room. A burst of noise greeted him. It seemed that everyone wanted to talk to him about what had happened. He told the story until he could tell no more and staggered upstairs to bed.
He woke late the next day, and lay there for a while, immensely glad it was Sunday. He could hear voices downstairs, and in a few minutes Ron came clomping up the stairs.
"oi! Lazy bones! Get up! Its time for Quidditch practice! We've got the pitch today and a match next week. GET UP!"
Harry groaned and rolled off the bed and onto his feet, "sheesh, you're even worse than Wood. I need sleep!"
"You'll get it tonight." Said Ron, throwing his clothes at him, "hurry up. Everyone's waiting."
"They can wait." Grumbled Harry, pulling on his socks.
"And there are a few people, namely Colin Creavey, who want your autograph."
Harry moaned and threw himself face down onto his bed. Ron laughed. "Come on Harry, use you're cloak if you want."
Harry didn't, but he did walk quickly and keep his head under his hood, though his Head Boy cloak gave him away a couple of times but he managed to get to the pitch without any real mishap.
The Gryffindor's did Ron's new moves perfectly and flew the fastest they had ever. Ron was crowing with pride as they headed up to the castle again, Harry, whose legs were aching didn't say much but let his friend rattle on. After changing out of their practice gear they headed to the library to finish a couple of essays.
Then Harry noticed Hermione's absence, "where's Hermione?"
"parents." Mumbled Ron, who was looking for a reference to a goblin named Skurg Urgg Guk in his 'History of Magic Magics Greatest Creatures'.
Harry, having finished that essay handed it to his friend after a quick shuffle of paper. Ron grinned at him gratefully and set to work.
Harry wandered among the shelves looking at various titles until one caught his eye, 'Defense Against the Dark Arts for Advanced Learners'. He pulled it down and went back to the table where Ron was mumbling to himself, still writing.
Harry opened the book and proceeded to lose himself in its pages. He found pages on possession and read them, remembering the ministry of magic in fifth year and to his surprise found that very skilled wizards (and mostly evil ones) could 'disconnect' a body from its spirit and entrap that spirit in an animal. Often the evil wizards used larger animals like dragons and Hippogriffs as it too more energy from the spirit to stay alive in larger bodies, and therefore the spirit could not spare any energy to attack the attacker. And apparently it took even more energy to move in the larger body. This whole process was called Dividenation, and was often confused with Divination.
He soon lost interest though, and borrowed the book for later reading, like Hermione said, 'nothings too bad to read'. The more he thought about it, the more he thought it was Hermione's sort of slant on things. Ron finished his essay with a shout of triumph that had them both scurrying from the library under a glare from the librarian. They headed out to Hagrid's hut after dumping their book bags in their dormitory. Hagrid welcomed them with tea and rock cakes (the rock cakes neither of them touched) and they sat chatting until it grew dark and they had to head up to the Hall for dinner. Hermione arrived just in time to eat, though she didn't eat much, and talked even less. But that was ok because there was enough talk in the room for three lifetimes. Ron was in high spirits about the upcoming Quidditch match and was waving his arms in some large explanatory gesture to Parvati when he knocked Hermione's carrot juice over all over her lap. Hermione yelped as the liquid spilled down her front and turned a pale angry face on Ron.
"Why don't you watch what you're doing?" she snarled and began to wipe up some of the mess.
"Hey, Miney, I'm sorry." began Ron, trying to help.
"Sorry? Sorry?" Hermione snarled, "Sorry doesn't cut it Ron, sorry's not gonna help anyone is it? No matter how sorry you are!!" she threw down her napkin and stalked away, her face like a thundercloud.
Ron watched her go, bewildered. He turned to Harry who had watched silently and motionless.
"What was that all about? It was only carrot juice!"
"Carrot juice stains." Said Ginny mildly, picking up a bread roll.
"Besides, she saw her parents today." Muttered Neville on Harry's right, "and that always puts her in a bad mood Mondays and Sunday nights."
"You mean you noticed too?" Harry asked Neville surprised. Neville nodded, "and it's getting worse." Added Ginny from Harry's left, "and she never talks about them." She added sadly, and suddenly brightened, "you could have a word to her Harry."
Harry, who had just taken a bite of chicken choked and almost had to spit it out.
"What? Why me?' he coughed.
"Well, you and Ron are her closest friends, and." Ginny trailed off and nodded towards Ron who was talking to Parvati again.
"I see what you mean." Murmured Harry, Ron obviously wasn't particularly worried about Hermione. He was more interested in getting Parvati to go out with him, as he had confided to Harry earlier in the week. Harry finished eating nervously, wondering what he was going to say to Hermione.
He had to search for her. She wasn't in the common room, or the toilets (he got Ginny to check for him) so he went outside. The weather was warm and though the air was full of bugs it was a nice evening with the stars overhead. He headed down to the lake; he went there whenever he felt sad or angry, why shouldn't Hermione?
She was sitting on the bank with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms resting on her knees. Harry sat next to her, trying to ignore the creak of his aching bones and muscles. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Hermione said quietly, "I shouldn't have yelled at him."
"No, you shouldn't have." Said Harry mildly, "but he's already forgotten that. He's trying to get Parvati to go out with him."
Hermione let out a burst of laughter.
"Are you serious?"
"Well, she seems to be enjoying the attention." Harry sobered. "How are your parents?"
Hermione turned to stare at the glistening lake again. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Well I do, so indulge me." Said Harry leaning back on his elbows. Hermione shot him a dark look but he kept his face neutral.
"Dads had a decline yesterday. He doesn't recognise mother."
"Does he recognise you?"
"No," the word was flat and emotionless.
"Do the doctors have any hope?"
"Not much." There was a quiver in her voice.
"They'll be alright Hermione. I know they will."
"How do you know Harry? Have you seen one of your visions?" she asked sarcastically.
Harry didn't answer, and she sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my problems out on you and Ron."
"I remember you giving me that advice once, so take it to heart. Don't let your life outside of school interfere. Don't let it make you grumpy at Ron. Or Ginny and Neville. They're worried about you, you know."
"They are?" she sounded surprised and then added, "how do I put it aside Harry? How do I stop thinking that I might end up like Neville, living with my grandmother."
"It's fine to worry about it, Hermione, but don't let that worry overtake you. Its fine to grieve too, but don't get caught up in it. I did once, and it's not pretty, as you well know. You can't let it interfere with school. I know that's hard," he added as Hermione opened her mouth to argue, "but it will make you feel better about yourself."
"Will it?"
"Take it from the bereavement expert." Said Harry lightly. Hermione looked at him for a second, and then said, "do you miss you're parents? And Sirius?"
"I don't remember anything but my parents last moments. But I do miss what I know parents are, love and care. Sirius?" he sighed, "that's a pain that will never go away." He watched the lake for a second, remembering Sirius's laugh. Then he said in a falsely cheerful voice, "but we're not talking about them. You're in a different boat than me, Miney, you're parents are still alive."
"It doesn't feel that way."
"They'll heal. They're probably in shock or something."
"But, Harry, even if they do heal it won't be the same. They'll know it was my world that made this happen to them! They'll blame me!" she put her face in her hands and Harry watched her shoulders shake for a second before saying softly.
"That's what you're really sacred, of isn't it? Not that you'll lose them, but that they'll want to lose you."
"Yes," whispered Hermione.
"Not gonna happen." Said Harry standing. Hermione glanced up at him, her face tear streaked and surprised. Harry squatted next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"That's what love is about, Hermione. Taking someone with all their faults and loving them anyway. Your parents love you, and always will, no matter what you go through. Going through problems just makes family ties all the more stronger on the other side." He grinned, "And knowing you I'd say you're not very far away from inventing a cure for their amnesia."
Hermione started, "how did you know?" she asked surprised, "I've been hiding it and I've been worried about adding the last ingredient because I wasn't sure whether I'd just make things worse, like you said."
Harry stared at her in surprise, "it was a joke!" he exclaimed, "You mean you've really found a cure?"
Hermione shrugged, all traces of anger and pain gone, "in theory, yes."
"Then why haven't you tried it?" yelped Harry, sitting down with a thump.
"Because.because I was scared of them hating my magic."
Harry held his breath for a second and then let it out in a big sigh.
"your amazing sometimes, you know that? You really are."
"Thanks." Hermione stood. Brushing herself off with a small smile on her face. Harry scrambled to his feet and was about to follow her back into the castle when he glanced up and saw a figure at one of the shining windows. From the size of it the window was Dumbledore's and the tall bearded figure in the window was obviously watching him. Harry remembered with a sudden start what Dumbledore had told him fifth year "I have watched you more closely than you can have imagined." Harry had taken the statement at face value, and he had had other things to worry about at the time, but he realised with a start that the Headmaster had been telling the truth, and was still watching him closely. He didn't find it an invasion of privacy, as one would think, but found that he didn't mind at all; in fact he liked the idea of someone keeping an eye on him rather soothing.
"Harry, are you coming? We had better put everyone to bed. It's been a long weekend and its work as usual tomorrow."
"Yeah, coming." called Harry absently, still staring up at Dumbledore. Then he nodded at the figure in the window and received a nod in return and headed inside, leaving the glistening lake and shining stars to continue their cycle.
The Daily Prophet had fun over the following days. Its headlines screamed about Dumbledore's lack of control, how he was slipping. Harry screwed up the paper and threw it into the fire, earning a disapproving look from Hermione. He pulled a face at her and scowled at the floor. It was obvious that the Ministry would have something to say. He only hoped that there was no one pushing to remove Dumbledore as headmaster. The prophet had hinted at school closures.he put a hand on his head and sighed, what on earth was he going to do if Hogwarts closed?
AN; did you like my little Harry/Hermione chat? I like it. Not too warm and fuzzy but warming up slightly. ok, mistakes, questions? You know what to do.
Anyway, thanks for the compliments of the season everyone. Same to you all.
Here we go.
Hogwarts on Hiatus
11
The Dementor's raised their wands. Harry, lying amid the dust and chips of stone had a sudden blinding flash of inspiration.
"PROTEGO! STUPEFY!" he bellowed and dived sideways as three answering spells flew towards him from the Death Eaters now carefully surrounding their fallen comrade. Tall though they were they were not tall enough to be Dementor's, and Harry, who had often looked up at a Dementor from the ground knew this.
A high laugh split the air and Harry felt his blood turn to ice as he recognized the voice of the Death Eater who had killed Sirius.
"Potty Potter! How are you dear?"
"Always a pleasure, Lestrange." Harry called as he got to his feet. He became aware of noise in the great hall, screaming. Harry couldn't see why everyone was so frightened; so far all the spells had been aimed at him.
As if reading his mind cold voice called out from behind a skull like mask.
"Shut up. We want Potter, not any of you."
There was silence for a second as the terrified students took this in. Harry's mind was working furiously. Where were the teachers? Where was Dumbledore? Or McGonagall? Heck, right now he'd even take Snape.
Bellatrix Lestrange raised her wand, pointing it at Harry.
"EXP-"
"Protego!" the disarming spell didn't work. Harry took a step backwards,bringin himself next to Hermione.
"When I say..PROTEGO!" another spell was deflected, "clear the way, all students to one side."
Hermione made a squeaky noise but Harry knew she knew what he wanted. He heard her whisper to other students and the shuffle of their feet. He never took his eyes of the Death Eaters, who seemed to be having a little chat of their own.
"Harry, what you are."
"Everybody out of the way?" he hissed urgently.
"Yes, but Harry, what."
"If you want me, come and get me!" Harry yelled the challenge at the Death Eaters, who turned in surprise. He could sense their smiles. He took a step backwards as they descended the stairs. Then he turned and fled, right out the teacher's entrance. He heard screaming behind him as the Death Eaters ran past the other students and dived down another corridor, just in time, red spells crashed into a suit of armour he had just past, and the tin figure collapsed.
They ran on, Harry only jus keeping out of range, but the Death Eaters dogging him. He led them unerringly out side to the courtyard and felt rather than saw them hesitate at the open ground. Harry used the hesitation to put on a burst of speed and pulled away from them slightly, heading back towards the forest, where he knew the teachers must be still fighting Dementor's. He sprinted past Hagrid's hut and into the darkness. The Death Eaters followed, he could hear them crashing through undergrowth every now and then. As his eyes and ears adjusted to the glom he heard noises in front of him. Yelling, and they were voices he recognized, but he could not speed up, and was only just keeping moving,
"CRUCIO!!" hit a tree beside him and he suddenly found new strength, suddenly running at a sprint again. In front of him he could see lights, spells flashing. He recognized a few Teachers voices and felt the dripping iciness of Dementor's. A twig scratched his cheek as he rushed past. He stumbled on a root. 'WHY ME?' He asked himself silently as he ran 'why the ruddy hell is it always me?'
He burst into a clearing, and was greeted with an awesome sight. The teachers were standing in a row, watching their Patronuses chase away the last of a group of Dementor's. Harry's entrance drew attention, and they turned in surprise as he skidded to a halt next to them. He was opening his mouth to explain when-
"CRUCIO!" came spinning out of the darkness of the forest and Harry had to throw himself backwards onto the ground to avoid being hit.
That single spell drove the teachers around him to act. Immediately the forest was full of stunning spells. Harry lay where he was for a second, catching his breath until a particularly well-aimed stunning spell hit the ground near his foot. He moved then, jumping up and aiming his own stunning spell towards where he other had come from. He noticed McGonagall working her way towards him along the line of Teacher Defense.
"Potter," she muttered once she was beside him and between spells, "where are the other students?" her voice was low and urgent.
"Still in the hall I hope. The Death Eaters chased me."
She didn't say anything but out of the corner of his eye Harry saw her sag with relief. He ducked another spell.
Then it was over. Harry hadn't been paying that much attention but apparently Dumbledore did something with his wand and then there was silence. McGonagall gripped his shoulder and began to march him back towards the school. Harry explained as he went, very conscious of the listening teachers and headmaster around him. When he got to the part about DA getting rid of the Dementor's he caught quite a few hidden smiles in the darkness, and felt a small glow of pride for what his group had done. He finished explaining with his headlong flight into the forest, and then everything was silent.
Harry frowned as he walked. Underlying everything at the moment was a sense of dread. If Voldemort was getting cocky enough to attack Hogwarts (though Harry noticed he hadn't turned up himself) it was a bad sign. His mind went again to the mysterious power that he had used earlier. If ONLY he could control it, make it come when he wanted. He had thought earlier that perhaps this power would be Voldemort's downfall, but now he was not so sure. He filed the thoughts away for future perusal, sometime when he was not in the company of twenty or so teachers and so exhausted he could barely lift his legs.
The students were waiting in the Great Hall when they returned, and all looked very relived when the Teachers and Harry entered, Ginny and Hermione hugged him, Hermione perhaps lingering a little longer than was necessary, and Ron shook his hand. Then Hermione told him off for being so foolhardy.
Dumbledore sent everyone to bed, and Harry suffered a stern talking to before he was allowed to leave. By the time he was allowed to go he was so exhausted that climbing the stairs was an effort. He gave the password and climbed into the room. A burst of noise greeted him. It seemed that everyone wanted to talk to him about what had happened. He told the story until he could tell no more and staggered upstairs to bed.
He woke late the next day, and lay there for a while, immensely glad it was Sunday. He could hear voices downstairs, and in a few minutes Ron came clomping up the stairs.
"oi! Lazy bones! Get up! Its time for Quidditch practice! We've got the pitch today and a match next week. GET UP!"
Harry groaned and rolled off the bed and onto his feet, "sheesh, you're even worse than Wood. I need sleep!"
"You'll get it tonight." Said Ron, throwing his clothes at him, "hurry up. Everyone's waiting."
"They can wait." Grumbled Harry, pulling on his socks.
"And there are a few people, namely Colin Creavey, who want your autograph."
Harry moaned and threw himself face down onto his bed. Ron laughed. "Come on Harry, use you're cloak if you want."
Harry didn't, but he did walk quickly and keep his head under his hood, though his Head Boy cloak gave him away a couple of times but he managed to get to the pitch without any real mishap.
The Gryffindor's did Ron's new moves perfectly and flew the fastest they had ever. Ron was crowing with pride as they headed up to the castle again, Harry, whose legs were aching didn't say much but let his friend rattle on. After changing out of their practice gear they headed to the library to finish a couple of essays.
Then Harry noticed Hermione's absence, "where's Hermione?"
"parents." Mumbled Ron, who was looking for a reference to a goblin named Skurg Urgg Guk in his 'History of Magic Magics Greatest Creatures'.
Harry, having finished that essay handed it to his friend after a quick shuffle of paper. Ron grinned at him gratefully and set to work.
Harry wandered among the shelves looking at various titles until one caught his eye, 'Defense Against the Dark Arts for Advanced Learners'. He pulled it down and went back to the table where Ron was mumbling to himself, still writing.
Harry opened the book and proceeded to lose himself in its pages. He found pages on possession and read them, remembering the ministry of magic in fifth year and to his surprise found that very skilled wizards (and mostly evil ones) could 'disconnect' a body from its spirit and entrap that spirit in an animal. Often the evil wizards used larger animals like dragons and Hippogriffs as it too more energy from the spirit to stay alive in larger bodies, and therefore the spirit could not spare any energy to attack the attacker. And apparently it took even more energy to move in the larger body. This whole process was called Dividenation, and was often confused with Divination.
He soon lost interest though, and borrowed the book for later reading, like Hermione said, 'nothings too bad to read'. The more he thought about it, the more he thought it was Hermione's sort of slant on things. Ron finished his essay with a shout of triumph that had them both scurrying from the library under a glare from the librarian. They headed out to Hagrid's hut after dumping their book bags in their dormitory. Hagrid welcomed them with tea and rock cakes (the rock cakes neither of them touched) and they sat chatting until it grew dark and they had to head up to the Hall for dinner. Hermione arrived just in time to eat, though she didn't eat much, and talked even less. But that was ok because there was enough talk in the room for three lifetimes. Ron was in high spirits about the upcoming Quidditch match and was waving his arms in some large explanatory gesture to Parvati when he knocked Hermione's carrot juice over all over her lap. Hermione yelped as the liquid spilled down her front and turned a pale angry face on Ron.
"Why don't you watch what you're doing?" she snarled and began to wipe up some of the mess.
"Hey, Miney, I'm sorry." began Ron, trying to help.
"Sorry? Sorry?" Hermione snarled, "Sorry doesn't cut it Ron, sorry's not gonna help anyone is it? No matter how sorry you are!!" she threw down her napkin and stalked away, her face like a thundercloud.
Ron watched her go, bewildered. He turned to Harry who had watched silently and motionless.
"What was that all about? It was only carrot juice!"
"Carrot juice stains." Said Ginny mildly, picking up a bread roll.
"Besides, she saw her parents today." Muttered Neville on Harry's right, "and that always puts her in a bad mood Mondays and Sunday nights."
"You mean you noticed too?" Harry asked Neville surprised. Neville nodded, "and it's getting worse." Added Ginny from Harry's left, "and she never talks about them." She added sadly, and suddenly brightened, "you could have a word to her Harry."
Harry, who had just taken a bite of chicken choked and almost had to spit it out.
"What? Why me?' he coughed.
"Well, you and Ron are her closest friends, and." Ginny trailed off and nodded towards Ron who was talking to Parvati again.
"I see what you mean." Murmured Harry, Ron obviously wasn't particularly worried about Hermione. He was more interested in getting Parvati to go out with him, as he had confided to Harry earlier in the week. Harry finished eating nervously, wondering what he was going to say to Hermione.
He had to search for her. She wasn't in the common room, or the toilets (he got Ginny to check for him) so he went outside. The weather was warm and though the air was full of bugs it was a nice evening with the stars overhead. He headed down to the lake; he went there whenever he felt sad or angry, why shouldn't Hermione?
She was sitting on the bank with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms resting on her knees. Harry sat next to her, trying to ignore the creak of his aching bones and muscles. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Hermione said quietly, "I shouldn't have yelled at him."
"No, you shouldn't have." Said Harry mildly, "but he's already forgotten that. He's trying to get Parvati to go out with him."
Hermione let out a burst of laughter.
"Are you serious?"
"Well, she seems to be enjoying the attention." Harry sobered. "How are your parents?"
Hermione turned to stare at the glistening lake again. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Well I do, so indulge me." Said Harry leaning back on his elbows. Hermione shot him a dark look but he kept his face neutral.
"Dads had a decline yesterday. He doesn't recognise mother."
"Does he recognise you?"
"No," the word was flat and emotionless.
"Do the doctors have any hope?"
"Not much." There was a quiver in her voice.
"They'll be alright Hermione. I know they will."
"How do you know Harry? Have you seen one of your visions?" she asked sarcastically.
Harry didn't answer, and she sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my problems out on you and Ron."
"I remember you giving me that advice once, so take it to heart. Don't let your life outside of school interfere. Don't let it make you grumpy at Ron. Or Ginny and Neville. They're worried about you, you know."
"They are?" she sounded surprised and then added, "how do I put it aside Harry? How do I stop thinking that I might end up like Neville, living with my grandmother."
"It's fine to worry about it, Hermione, but don't let that worry overtake you. Its fine to grieve too, but don't get caught up in it. I did once, and it's not pretty, as you well know. You can't let it interfere with school. I know that's hard," he added as Hermione opened her mouth to argue, "but it will make you feel better about yourself."
"Will it?"
"Take it from the bereavement expert." Said Harry lightly. Hermione looked at him for a second, and then said, "do you miss you're parents? And Sirius?"
"I don't remember anything but my parents last moments. But I do miss what I know parents are, love and care. Sirius?" he sighed, "that's a pain that will never go away." He watched the lake for a second, remembering Sirius's laugh. Then he said in a falsely cheerful voice, "but we're not talking about them. You're in a different boat than me, Miney, you're parents are still alive."
"It doesn't feel that way."
"They'll heal. They're probably in shock or something."
"But, Harry, even if they do heal it won't be the same. They'll know it was my world that made this happen to them! They'll blame me!" she put her face in her hands and Harry watched her shoulders shake for a second before saying softly.
"That's what you're really sacred, of isn't it? Not that you'll lose them, but that they'll want to lose you."
"Yes," whispered Hermione.
"Not gonna happen." Said Harry standing. Hermione glanced up at him, her face tear streaked and surprised. Harry squatted next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"That's what love is about, Hermione. Taking someone with all their faults and loving them anyway. Your parents love you, and always will, no matter what you go through. Going through problems just makes family ties all the more stronger on the other side." He grinned, "And knowing you I'd say you're not very far away from inventing a cure for their amnesia."
Hermione started, "how did you know?" she asked surprised, "I've been hiding it and I've been worried about adding the last ingredient because I wasn't sure whether I'd just make things worse, like you said."
Harry stared at her in surprise, "it was a joke!" he exclaimed, "You mean you've really found a cure?"
Hermione shrugged, all traces of anger and pain gone, "in theory, yes."
"Then why haven't you tried it?" yelped Harry, sitting down with a thump.
"Because.because I was scared of them hating my magic."
Harry held his breath for a second and then let it out in a big sigh.
"your amazing sometimes, you know that? You really are."
"Thanks." Hermione stood. Brushing herself off with a small smile on her face. Harry scrambled to his feet and was about to follow her back into the castle when he glanced up and saw a figure at one of the shining windows. From the size of it the window was Dumbledore's and the tall bearded figure in the window was obviously watching him. Harry remembered with a sudden start what Dumbledore had told him fifth year "I have watched you more closely than you can have imagined." Harry had taken the statement at face value, and he had had other things to worry about at the time, but he realised with a start that the Headmaster had been telling the truth, and was still watching him closely. He didn't find it an invasion of privacy, as one would think, but found that he didn't mind at all; in fact he liked the idea of someone keeping an eye on him rather soothing.
"Harry, are you coming? We had better put everyone to bed. It's been a long weekend and its work as usual tomorrow."
"Yeah, coming." called Harry absently, still staring up at Dumbledore. Then he nodded at the figure in the window and received a nod in return and headed inside, leaving the glistening lake and shining stars to continue their cycle.
The Daily Prophet had fun over the following days. Its headlines screamed about Dumbledore's lack of control, how he was slipping. Harry screwed up the paper and threw it into the fire, earning a disapproving look from Hermione. He pulled a face at her and scowled at the floor. It was obvious that the Ministry would have something to say. He only hoped that there was no one pushing to remove Dumbledore as headmaster. The prophet had hinted at school closures.he put a hand on his head and sighed, what on earth was he going to do if Hogwarts closed?
AN; did you like my little Harry/Hermione chat? I like it. Not too warm and fuzzy but warming up slightly. ok, mistakes, questions? You know what to do.