Thank you, Eve. Constructive reviewing is so hard to come by.
Ron rolled onto his belly, his head gripped tightly in his large hands. He spasmed on the floor as a new wave of pain washed over him. He told himself not to scream. He had been in his cell for almost three days now, and the pain was getting worse all the time. It felt like someone was stabbing a red-hot poker into his brain.
Jared had taught him meditation technique that would help with the pain. Ron concentrated his thoughts through the red haze that had covered his mind. Forcing the pain into a far corner of his brain, Ron looked around his cell for the thousandth time.
For the most part, his cell was made of stone. The door was made of sturdy wood. Ron had tried dozens of times to break the door down, but without the power from his bond with Hermione, he was as weak as any other sixteen year old boy. His shoulder was aching and bruised from his unsuccessful attempt at shattering the door.
He was lying on a straw mattress that the Core had given him. Straw stuck out of it at weird angles, but Ron welcomed anything that took his mind from the blinding pain in his head.
During his first day, the Core had attempted to train him. But when the first lesson had to be stopped because of the pain, they had stopped coming into his cell. Maybe they were just waiting for him to die. Ron knew that if this went on much longer, he WOULD die. He felt himself waste away.
Ron knew that his meditation techniques were failing when he felt the pain creep back into his brain. Don't scream, Ron. Don't scream. You promised yourself you wouldn't scream.
Ron brought his hands back up to his head, and within minutes he was breaking his promise.
***
Within the same building, sat Jared Langford and Joseph Dent. They were staring into a bowl of water. Within the ripples, they could see the Weasley boy writhe around on the floor of his cell. He was screaming at the top of his lungs.
For one wild moment, Jared considered running to the boy's cell and releasing him. He looked to the man sitting next to him thought better of it.
Joseph Dent stared with cold, impassion at the scene in the bowl. He stoked his chin with one hand and tapped on the armrest of his chair with the other. He was the definition of calmness.
Jared looked at the bowl for a moment longer before saying, "We have to let the boy go, Master Dent. He's dying."
Dent merely shook his head.
"But, sir." Jared said. "I've never seen the separation effect someone so quickly. It's only been three days and the boy is losing it. If he doesn't die soon , he'll go insane. A body can only take so much pain."
Dent continued to stroke his chin. "You've never seen the separation effect someone so quickly because you've never seen someone with so much strength before. The boy will last. He has to."
"Why, sir? How is this helping? We can't even teach him anything. He can barely stand."
For the first time that day, Dent turned his eyes away from the bowl of water. "The boy's power is growing, Mr. Langford. The longer the separation from his bond-mate, the stronger he grows. When he finally is reunited with her, Mr. Weasley will be the most powerful one of us all.
"How long, sir?"
"Two more days. At the most."
Two days, if he doesn't die first, Jared thought as he forced his eyes to return to the gruesome scene in the water bowl.
***
The third day of Ron's absence, Harry realized that the Weasley's had been left in the dark about all that had happened recently. Chances were that they didn't even know what a Sentinel was, let alone that there youngest boy was one. The Weasleys had become Harry's family over the last five years, and he felt responsible to let them know the truth.
Harry woke early that third day and went over to McGonagall's room. McGonagall, of course was awake. It seemed like the woman never slept. When Harry knocked on her door, he heard a soft "Cone in." from inside.
Harry pushed the door open and saw McGonagall was writing a letter at her large desk. She looked up at Harry and smiled. "What brings you awake at this hour, Harry? I doubt the rest of the class will be awake for an hour or so yet."
Harry smile at the polite conversation McGonagall was trying to stir up, but cut right to the chase. "I was thinking that maybe the Weasleys should be informed about all that has happened around here."
McGonagall's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, dear. I had completely forgotten to write to them. With these strategy meetings, I've had little chance to think about anything else. Of course you are right, Harry. I'll send them a letter immediately.", she said as she pulled out a blank parchment.
"Actually, I was hoping that I could go to them in person. They've done so much for me. I have an obligation to tell them."
McGonagall's face softened slightly. "I know how you feel, Harry. But it's out of the question. Now that you've revealed yourself, I can't in good conscience let you leave the hotel, let alone travel back to England by yourself. I'll send them a letter."
"I won't be alone. I'm sure Hermione would insist on going and maybe Quentin-"
McGonagall cut him off. "No, Harry. Dumbledore told me to keep you all together."
Harry snorted. "I don't think Dumbledore knew what was going to happen when he gave you those orders."
"Maybe not, but I won't risk your safety on something that can be done just as easily with a letter. Don't push this, Harry. My answer is final." McGonagall said and returned to her letter.
Harry left the room quietly. He walked down the hall to the room Hermione shared with Parvati and Lavender. He knocked softly and waited. A tired looking Parvati opened the door. Her eyes brightened slightly when she saw Harry. "What is it, Harry?"
"I need to speak to Hermione."
Parvati nodded and led Harry inside. Harry saw Lavender still in bed, but he couldn't find Hermione.
"Where is she?"
Parvati gestured to the balcony with her chin and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Something's going on, Harry. She seems really down. She didn't sleep at all and she been out there all morning."
Harry forced his face to remain emotionless. He had almost forgotten that the rest of the class didn't know anything about Ron being a Sentinel. He wondered what McGonagall had told the rest of the class to explain Ron and Hermione's disappearance. "Don't worry, I'll talk to her."
Parvati nodded and seemed mollified. Harry was almost sickened by the amount of trust that everyone put in him. Don't they know that more scared than they are. Why do they always turn to me for answers.
Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts and stepped out onto the balcony. Hermione was standing at the railing and looking out into the courtyard, but her eyes were a million miles away.
Harry stepped next to her as to not surprise her. "What's up, girly?"
Hermione didn't look at Harry when she said. "I can feel him, Harry."
"Who?"
"Ron. I can feel him."
"How?"
"I don't know. Sometimes it's strong and I can feel his arms around me, holding me. But sometimes it's weak like his breath on the back of my neck."
Harry had no idea what she was talking about, but he imagined it had something to do with the bond that she shared with Ron. Maybe it wasn't only one-way. Maybe she could feel him, too. "That must be comforting. To know he's there." he said.
Hermione turned to him, and her eyes were filled with tears. "It was comforting. It didn't even want to go to sleep, just in case it would leave if I fell asleep. But it's changed." Her chin dropped to her chest and a tear fell from her cheek.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
It took a moment for Hermione to find her voice. "They're hurting him, Harry. He's in so much pain. I feel it too. It's like a dull ache in my soul."
Anger stiffened Harry's spine. He gripped the railing until his knuckles turned white. "Damn the Brotherhood."
"We have to get him out of there, Harry." Hermione sobbed.
Why do you look to me for the answers?, Harry thought. You're the smart one. He looked over at Hermione and saw how close to breaking she was. He saw how hard she was trying not to cry and stopped feeling sorry for himself. "I'm working on it." he said
"What are we going to do?"
"First thing we'll do is go back to England. The Weasley's have the right to know what's going on."
Hermione's eyes brightened at the prospect of going to the Burrow. She had almost as many good memories of the place as Harry did. "McGonagall will never allow it." she said.
Harry smiled. "No, she won't allow it. But we're going anyway."
"How?"
"We'll take the Floo Network. I figure some places in America have to have Floo access. Quentin will know a place."
Hermione began to get excited. She needed to do something. Anything that got her out of the hotel would be fine. "Let's go to his room."
Quentin was awake when they knocked on his door. They explained their plan and Quentin smiled at their recklessness. "I'd imagine that this very hotel is in the Network. It is run by a wizard, after all."
Harry nodded. "We need you to find it. Hermione and I probably couldn't get off of this floor before McGonagall stopped us."
"Sure, I'll find it."
As Quentin went to look for a fireplace in the Hotel, Harry and Hermione split up. Hermione went back to her room to get ready for the trip, and Harry went to the room he knew Susan was staying in. He needed to talk to her, even if all he did was apologize.
When he knocked, the door opened almost immediately. It was Headmaster Corey. She and Susan must have been sharing a room. "What is it, Mr. Potter?" she asked.
"I need to talk to Susan." he said.
She didn't seem surprised at all. She smiled slightly as she said, "Just a moment." She turned and went back into the room.
Harry held his breath until the door opened again. As always, Susan was wearing a plain, gray dress. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders and her white lock glowed palely in the dim light of the hallway. She was beautiful.
Harry cleared his throat quickly and said, "I came here because I owe you an apology. I'm sorry."
One of her thin eyebrows shot up on her forehead. "Why do you think you owe me an apology?"
Realizing that Susan wasn't going to make this easy, Harry said, "For lying to you about my name. I was trying to keep my identity a secret. I know that doesn't sound like much of an explanation, especially considering that I announced who I was anyway."
Susan didn't back down. "No, what I meant was 'Why do you think you owe ME, in particular, an apology?"
"Well...the dance...and the kiss." Harry wanted to tell her how the hour he had spent with her had been one of the best times of his life. But from the look on her face, she obviously didn't feel the same.
"Did you think that just because you are famous, that you can lie to people?" Susan asked acidly. She was really getting worked up now. If he hadn't been the object of her displeasure, Harry would have noticed how beautiful she was when she was angry. "Well you can't!" she screamed. "It's not fair."
Susan took a few steps until she was directly in front of Harry. Even though she barely came up to his chin, Harry couldn't help but flinch when she brought her finger up to poke him in the chest. "It's not fair that the one time I have a good experience with a man, he ends up lying to me. I admit, Harry Potter, that you swept me off my feet in a way that I never thought could happen." Tears started forming in her large, brown eyes. "But-" she screamed as if angry at her own weakness, "it's over, now."
Harry felt his heart fall and land somewhere near his stomach. He, too, wanted to cry, but he kept his face straight. "I understand." He turned and began walking down the hallway, towards his room, but Susan's voice stopped him.
"Good. It's important that you understand. Because if you didn't understand, we could never start over."
Harry whipped his head back to Susan. "Start over?"
Susan smiled slightly. "Yeah. I have to admit, that in that hour, I almost fell in love with James Evans. But you aren't James Evans. You are Harry Potter and you'll have to be content with being my friend." she said as she extended her small hand to him.
Harry took her hand and said, "Friends."
For now, they both thought.
Harry couldn't help smile. They stared into each other's eyes and it wasn't until almost a minute later that they both realized that they were still holding hands. They both pulled their hands back. Susan tried to cover her embarrassment by smoothing out her dress. Harry hid his by pretending to cough. To fill in the silence, Harry asked, "So, what are you doing today?" he asked.
"Why?" Susan asked.
Harry laughed. "I want to do something with you. That's what friends do! They hang out."
Susan smiled. "Oh...I'm not doing anything."
"Good. We should get out of here, then."
"Get out of the hotel?" she asked.
"No." Harry said. "Out of the country."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at her puzzled expression.
Harry told her about the trip to the Burrow he was going to be taking later that day.
"Is Quentin going?" she asked.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know yet. I haven't really asked him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he chose to come along."
Susan nodded. "I'll have to ask my Headmaster." she said as she turned back to her door.
Harry caught her arm. "No, No, No. Don't ask her."
"Why not?"
"Well...we don't exactly have permission ourselves and I wouldn't want your Headmaster mentioning it to McGonagall."
"You're sneaking out?" Susan asked in a voice that reminded Harry of Hermione in her first year at Hogwarts.
"Yeah. You should come."
"I don't know, Harry."
"Scared?" Harry asked in the same way he had at the banquet.
The effect was very similar. Harry watched as Susan's mouth hardened at the challenge. "Just tell me when."
"Come to my room at about two. That would make it about eight o'clock in England."
"England? Is that where we're going?"
"Yep. We'll only be there a couple of hours. We'll be back by dinner. Just tell your Headmaster that you're going to the beach or out to breakfast with the famous Harry Potter." Harry said with wink and walked down the hallway toward his own room.
***
Susan smiled and went back into her hotel room. It was only after ten minutes of daydreaming about a slim boy with flashing, green eyes that she realized she was falling in love, all over again. "Damn you, Harry Potter." she said as she went to get ready for trip.
***
With spirits that hadn't been that high since the Ron's disappearance, Harry whistled as he walked down the hallway. When opened the door to his room, he saw that Quentin was already in there.
"I found it, Harry!" Quentin exclaimed.
"Found what?" Harry asked.
"A fireplace. It's in the sub-basement."
Preoccupied by his thoughts of Susan, Harry had forgotten all about the mission he had given Quentin.
"Are you sure it's connected with the Floo Network?" Harry asked.
"I'm not positive, but the bucket filled with Floo powder right next to it gives me a pretty good feeling." he said sarcastically.
"That's great! Hey, do want to come?"
Quentin laughed. "I thought you'd never ask."
"Cool. So that makes me, you, Hermione and Susan."
"Susan? You talked to her."
Harry sighed. "Yeah."
"And you convinced her to come. You smoothie." Quentin said as he ruffled Harry's hair.
"It's more like I dared her to come."
"Whatever." Quentin said. "At least I won't have to watch you two mope around the hotel anymore."
"Shut up." Harry said with a smile.
The door opened and Hermione walked in. "I'm all set to go."
Harry nodded. "Good. I figure we'll leave here around two. That'll make it around eight, and everyone will be home at the Burrow."
"Sounds good." she said.
Sorry about the bad ending, but I've gotta go. Tell me what you think. Do you like Susan? Your opinion is the only thing I'm writing for, so tell me the truth.
Ron rolled onto his belly, his head gripped tightly in his large hands. He spasmed on the floor as a new wave of pain washed over him. He told himself not to scream. He had been in his cell for almost three days now, and the pain was getting worse all the time. It felt like someone was stabbing a red-hot poker into his brain.
Jared had taught him meditation technique that would help with the pain. Ron concentrated his thoughts through the red haze that had covered his mind. Forcing the pain into a far corner of his brain, Ron looked around his cell for the thousandth time.
For the most part, his cell was made of stone. The door was made of sturdy wood. Ron had tried dozens of times to break the door down, but without the power from his bond with Hermione, he was as weak as any other sixteen year old boy. His shoulder was aching and bruised from his unsuccessful attempt at shattering the door.
He was lying on a straw mattress that the Core had given him. Straw stuck out of it at weird angles, but Ron welcomed anything that took his mind from the blinding pain in his head.
During his first day, the Core had attempted to train him. But when the first lesson had to be stopped because of the pain, they had stopped coming into his cell. Maybe they were just waiting for him to die. Ron knew that if this went on much longer, he WOULD die. He felt himself waste away.
Ron knew that his meditation techniques were failing when he felt the pain creep back into his brain. Don't scream, Ron. Don't scream. You promised yourself you wouldn't scream.
Ron brought his hands back up to his head, and within minutes he was breaking his promise.
***
Within the same building, sat Jared Langford and Joseph Dent. They were staring into a bowl of water. Within the ripples, they could see the Weasley boy writhe around on the floor of his cell. He was screaming at the top of his lungs.
For one wild moment, Jared considered running to the boy's cell and releasing him. He looked to the man sitting next to him thought better of it.
Joseph Dent stared with cold, impassion at the scene in the bowl. He stoked his chin with one hand and tapped on the armrest of his chair with the other. He was the definition of calmness.
Jared looked at the bowl for a moment longer before saying, "We have to let the boy go, Master Dent. He's dying."
Dent merely shook his head.
"But, sir." Jared said. "I've never seen the separation effect someone so quickly. It's only been three days and the boy is losing it. If he doesn't die soon , he'll go insane. A body can only take so much pain."
Dent continued to stroke his chin. "You've never seen the separation effect someone so quickly because you've never seen someone with so much strength before. The boy will last. He has to."
"Why, sir? How is this helping? We can't even teach him anything. He can barely stand."
For the first time that day, Dent turned his eyes away from the bowl of water. "The boy's power is growing, Mr. Langford. The longer the separation from his bond-mate, the stronger he grows. When he finally is reunited with her, Mr. Weasley will be the most powerful one of us all.
"How long, sir?"
"Two more days. At the most."
Two days, if he doesn't die first, Jared thought as he forced his eyes to return to the gruesome scene in the water bowl.
***
The third day of Ron's absence, Harry realized that the Weasley's had been left in the dark about all that had happened recently. Chances were that they didn't even know what a Sentinel was, let alone that there youngest boy was one. The Weasleys had become Harry's family over the last five years, and he felt responsible to let them know the truth.
Harry woke early that third day and went over to McGonagall's room. McGonagall, of course was awake. It seemed like the woman never slept. When Harry knocked on her door, he heard a soft "Cone in." from inside.
Harry pushed the door open and saw McGonagall was writing a letter at her large desk. She looked up at Harry and smiled. "What brings you awake at this hour, Harry? I doubt the rest of the class will be awake for an hour or so yet."
Harry smile at the polite conversation McGonagall was trying to stir up, but cut right to the chase. "I was thinking that maybe the Weasleys should be informed about all that has happened around here."
McGonagall's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, dear. I had completely forgotten to write to them. With these strategy meetings, I've had little chance to think about anything else. Of course you are right, Harry. I'll send them a letter immediately.", she said as she pulled out a blank parchment.
"Actually, I was hoping that I could go to them in person. They've done so much for me. I have an obligation to tell them."
McGonagall's face softened slightly. "I know how you feel, Harry. But it's out of the question. Now that you've revealed yourself, I can't in good conscience let you leave the hotel, let alone travel back to England by yourself. I'll send them a letter."
"I won't be alone. I'm sure Hermione would insist on going and maybe Quentin-"
McGonagall cut him off. "No, Harry. Dumbledore told me to keep you all together."
Harry snorted. "I don't think Dumbledore knew what was going to happen when he gave you those orders."
"Maybe not, but I won't risk your safety on something that can be done just as easily with a letter. Don't push this, Harry. My answer is final." McGonagall said and returned to her letter.
Harry left the room quietly. He walked down the hall to the room Hermione shared with Parvati and Lavender. He knocked softly and waited. A tired looking Parvati opened the door. Her eyes brightened slightly when she saw Harry. "What is it, Harry?"
"I need to speak to Hermione."
Parvati nodded and led Harry inside. Harry saw Lavender still in bed, but he couldn't find Hermione.
"Where is she?"
Parvati gestured to the balcony with her chin and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Something's going on, Harry. She seems really down. She didn't sleep at all and she been out there all morning."
Harry forced his face to remain emotionless. He had almost forgotten that the rest of the class didn't know anything about Ron being a Sentinel. He wondered what McGonagall had told the rest of the class to explain Ron and Hermione's disappearance. "Don't worry, I'll talk to her."
Parvati nodded and seemed mollified. Harry was almost sickened by the amount of trust that everyone put in him. Don't they know that more scared than they are. Why do they always turn to me for answers.
Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts and stepped out onto the balcony. Hermione was standing at the railing and looking out into the courtyard, but her eyes were a million miles away.
Harry stepped next to her as to not surprise her. "What's up, girly?"
Hermione didn't look at Harry when she said. "I can feel him, Harry."
"Who?"
"Ron. I can feel him."
"How?"
"I don't know. Sometimes it's strong and I can feel his arms around me, holding me. But sometimes it's weak like his breath on the back of my neck."
Harry had no idea what she was talking about, but he imagined it had something to do with the bond that she shared with Ron. Maybe it wasn't only one-way. Maybe she could feel him, too. "That must be comforting. To know he's there." he said.
Hermione turned to him, and her eyes were filled with tears. "It was comforting. It didn't even want to go to sleep, just in case it would leave if I fell asleep. But it's changed." Her chin dropped to her chest and a tear fell from her cheek.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
It took a moment for Hermione to find her voice. "They're hurting him, Harry. He's in so much pain. I feel it too. It's like a dull ache in my soul."
Anger stiffened Harry's spine. He gripped the railing until his knuckles turned white. "Damn the Brotherhood."
"We have to get him out of there, Harry." Hermione sobbed.
Why do you look to me for the answers?, Harry thought. You're the smart one. He looked over at Hermione and saw how close to breaking she was. He saw how hard she was trying not to cry and stopped feeling sorry for himself. "I'm working on it." he said
"What are we going to do?"
"First thing we'll do is go back to England. The Weasley's have the right to know what's going on."
Hermione's eyes brightened at the prospect of going to the Burrow. She had almost as many good memories of the place as Harry did. "McGonagall will never allow it." she said.
Harry smiled. "No, she won't allow it. But we're going anyway."
"How?"
"We'll take the Floo Network. I figure some places in America have to have Floo access. Quentin will know a place."
Hermione began to get excited. She needed to do something. Anything that got her out of the hotel would be fine. "Let's go to his room."
Quentin was awake when they knocked on his door. They explained their plan and Quentin smiled at their recklessness. "I'd imagine that this very hotel is in the Network. It is run by a wizard, after all."
Harry nodded. "We need you to find it. Hermione and I probably couldn't get off of this floor before McGonagall stopped us."
"Sure, I'll find it."
As Quentin went to look for a fireplace in the Hotel, Harry and Hermione split up. Hermione went back to her room to get ready for the trip, and Harry went to the room he knew Susan was staying in. He needed to talk to her, even if all he did was apologize.
When he knocked, the door opened almost immediately. It was Headmaster Corey. She and Susan must have been sharing a room. "What is it, Mr. Potter?" she asked.
"I need to talk to Susan." he said.
She didn't seem surprised at all. She smiled slightly as she said, "Just a moment." She turned and went back into the room.
Harry held his breath until the door opened again. As always, Susan was wearing a plain, gray dress. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders and her white lock glowed palely in the dim light of the hallway. She was beautiful.
Harry cleared his throat quickly and said, "I came here because I owe you an apology. I'm sorry."
One of her thin eyebrows shot up on her forehead. "Why do you think you owe me an apology?"
Realizing that Susan wasn't going to make this easy, Harry said, "For lying to you about my name. I was trying to keep my identity a secret. I know that doesn't sound like much of an explanation, especially considering that I announced who I was anyway."
Susan didn't back down. "No, what I meant was 'Why do you think you owe ME, in particular, an apology?"
"Well...the dance...and the kiss." Harry wanted to tell her how the hour he had spent with her had been one of the best times of his life. But from the look on her face, she obviously didn't feel the same.
"Did you think that just because you are famous, that you can lie to people?" Susan asked acidly. She was really getting worked up now. If he hadn't been the object of her displeasure, Harry would have noticed how beautiful she was when she was angry. "Well you can't!" she screamed. "It's not fair."
Susan took a few steps until she was directly in front of Harry. Even though she barely came up to his chin, Harry couldn't help but flinch when she brought her finger up to poke him in the chest. "It's not fair that the one time I have a good experience with a man, he ends up lying to me. I admit, Harry Potter, that you swept me off my feet in a way that I never thought could happen." Tears started forming in her large, brown eyes. "But-" she screamed as if angry at her own weakness, "it's over, now."
Harry felt his heart fall and land somewhere near his stomach. He, too, wanted to cry, but he kept his face straight. "I understand." He turned and began walking down the hallway, towards his room, but Susan's voice stopped him.
"Good. It's important that you understand. Because if you didn't understand, we could never start over."
Harry whipped his head back to Susan. "Start over?"
Susan smiled slightly. "Yeah. I have to admit, that in that hour, I almost fell in love with James Evans. But you aren't James Evans. You are Harry Potter and you'll have to be content with being my friend." she said as she extended her small hand to him.
Harry took her hand and said, "Friends."
For now, they both thought.
Harry couldn't help smile. They stared into each other's eyes and it wasn't until almost a minute later that they both realized that they were still holding hands. They both pulled their hands back. Susan tried to cover her embarrassment by smoothing out her dress. Harry hid his by pretending to cough. To fill in the silence, Harry asked, "So, what are you doing today?" he asked.
"Why?" Susan asked.
Harry laughed. "I want to do something with you. That's what friends do! They hang out."
Susan smiled. "Oh...I'm not doing anything."
"Good. We should get out of here, then."
"Get out of the hotel?" she asked.
"No." Harry said. "Out of the country."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at her puzzled expression.
Harry told her about the trip to the Burrow he was going to be taking later that day.
"Is Quentin going?" she asked.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know yet. I haven't really asked him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he chose to come along."
Susan nodded. "I'll have to ask my Headmaster." she said as she turned back to her door.
Harry caught her arm. "No, No, No. Don't ask her."
"Why not?"
"Well...we don't exactly have permission ourselves and I wouldn't want your Headmaster mentioning it to McGonagall."
"You're sneaking out?" Susan asked in a voice that reminded Harry of Hermione in her first year at Hogwarts.
"Yeah. You should come."
"I don't know, Harry."
"Scared?" Harry asked in the same way he had at the banquet.
The effect was very similar. Harry watched as Susan's mouth hardened at the challenge. "Just tell me when."
"Come to my room at about two. That would make it about eight o'clock in England."
"England? Is that where we're going?"
"Yep. We'll only be there a couple of hours. We'll be back by dinner. Just tell your Headmaster that you're going to the beach or out to breakfast with the famous Harry Potter." Harry said with wink and walked down the hallway toward his own room.
***
Susan smiled and went back into her hotel room. It was only after ten minutes of daydreaming about a slim boy with flashing, green eyes that she realized she was falling in love, all over again. "Damn you, Harry Potter." she said as she went to get ready for trip.
***
With spirits that hadn't been that high since the Ron's disappearance, Harry whistled as he walked down the hallway. When opened the door to his room, he saw that Quentin was already in there.
"I found it, Harry!" Quentin exclaimed.
"Found what?" Harry asked.
"A fireplace. It's in the sub-basement."
Preoccupied by his thoughts of Susan, Harry had forgotten all about the mission he had given Quentin.
"Are you sure it's connected with the Floo Network?" Harry asked.
"I'm not positive, but the bucket filled with Floo powder right next to it gives me a pretty good feeling." he said sarcastically.
"That's great! Hey, do want to come?"
Quentin laughed. "I thought you'd never ask."
"Cool. So that makes me, you, Hermione and Susan."
"Susan? You talked to her."
Harry sighed. "Yeah."
"And you convinced her to come. You smoothie." Quentin said as he ruffled Harry's hair.
"It's more like I dared her to come."
"Whatever." Quentin said. "At least I won't have to watch you two mope around the hotel anymore."
"Shut up." Harry said with a smile.
The door opened and Hermione walked in. "I'm all set to go."
Harry nodded. "Good. I figure we'll leave here around two. That'll make it around eight, and everyone will be home at the Burrow."
"Sounds good." she said.
Sorry about the bad ending, but I've gotta go. Tell me what you think. Do you like Susan? Your opinion is the only thing I'm writing for, so tell me the truth.