Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter... damn it, I knew there was something I forgot to do in my life! (That was to make millions writing Harry Potter, but J.K. Rowling did it first... damn... lol) I'm not makin any money off of this here fic, so you people who are looking for something illegal can just go screw yourselves... lol.
A/N: Here's chapter two, hope you enjoy!
Chapter Two: News
Two weeks after Harry's arrival at the Burrow, he realized that something was really wrong with Mrs. Weasley. When he tried to ask Ron or Ginny about it, the only answer he got was, "Don't ask."
One morning, promptly a week before their return to Hogwarts, Harry and the others were sitting around the table eating breakfast, when Hedwig arrived with a collection of letters tied to her leg.
Harry took them off one by one and picked up the first. It was a letter from... Gringotts? Of all places? The official seal was printed on the back (a goblin and a wizard shaking hands with GRINGOTTS printed over them). He opened the letter up, stuck his piece of toast in his mouth and read the letter:
Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,
We condole you on the recent loss of your godfather, Mr. Sirius Alexander Black. But, it is our unfortunate duty to leave you Mr. Black's last will and testament. Mr. Black's executor is Albus Dumbledore, who we have entrusted with the documents. We will trust that you will keep these documents in good hands when you obtain them.
Gringotts bids you a pleasant day.
Mr. Alfred J. Lennox
Gringotts Bank
By the time he got done reading, the toast resided feebly in Harry's lap and his face had turned stark-white. Ron must have noticed that something was wrong because he took the letter out of Harry's hands and read it.
Harry looked down at his lap, shading his face from the others. He knew Hermione noticed the tears that dripped, but she said nothing in regards to it. Instead, she sat there helplessly while he closed himself up, out of their reach.
Without another word — the other letters long since forgotten — Harry stood up and ran quickly upstairs.
Half way up, he stopped and leaned against the wall.
Hermione approached him, tears in her own eyes as well.
"Hermione —"
"Shut up! Just... shut up!" she cried.
Harry was utterly shocked at her sudden outburst, but complied with her wishes.
She leaned against the wall opposite him and slid down until she was sitting on the ground. Her head rested in her hands, and her shoulders shook from the force of her sobs.
Harry made no move to console her. At the moment he was feeling grief, anger and frustration himself. He was afraid that he'd snap at her if he even tried.
Finally, after an eternity in which Harry watched, strained, as Hermione cried and sobbed, Hermione stood and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
He pulled her to him tightly, his arms secured around her waist.
This had been the first time he had seen her grieve Sirius' death. When the actual event had occurred she'd been knocked out, and when she found out she'd seemed unfazed. But now... now all of it was pouring out. Harry knew that everything had been bottled up inside where no one but herself knew about it. He knew because he'd been through the same thing. The same hole for a month and a half.
He needn't have cried. If he had not cried, she wouldn't be there in his arms sobbing.
"I'm... sorry," she whispered.
"W-Why?"
"Because of everything that's happened..."
"It wasn't your fault... if you blame anyone, you should blame me."
Hermione abruptly stepped away and turned around so that her back was facing Harry.
"You know why I told you to shut up earlier?" she asked with a small amount of bitterness apparent in her tone.
"N-No."
"Because you always blame yourself. Don't you know that it wasn't your fault!? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT NOT EVERYTHING ALWAYS REVOLVES AROUND YOU, HARRY POTTER? YOU HAVE THE SCAR, BIG DEAL. YOU'VE BEATEN VOLDEMORT A FEW TIMES, SO WHAT? THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION ALL THE TIME. JUST BECAUSE YOUR GODFATHER'S DEAD TODAY DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE ALL GOING TO STOP LIVING OUR LIVES TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THROUGH THIS. I PROMISED MYSELF THIS SUMMER THAT I WOULDN'T CONSOLE YOU. I PROMISED MYSELF THAT YOU NEEDED TO REALIZE THIS ON YOUR OWN. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MAKING IT REALLY HARD, HARRY! LIFE GOES ON, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU NEED TO CATCH UP WITH IT!"
Harry was taken aback. He'd never been on the receiving end of Hermione's temper, that was Ron's job. But for once in his life, he had been the cause of Hermione's anger.
"I — I'm sorry?" he tried feebly.
"You should be! I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I just want you to know that you need to continue with your life. I didn't want to put it so brutally, but you gave me no choice."
Harry looked down at the ground.
Hermione gave off a slightly hysteric laugh.
"Why do you always look down?"
She lifted his chin with her forefinger, forcing him to look into her hazel eyes.
As though the words had just gotten through to him, Harry's face turned pale. "Help me... please, 'Mione? Help me."
Suddenly, Hermione took his chin in her hands. Her lips connected with his in a forceful kiss. The sudden forceful contact had hurt them both. Harry could taste blood over the taste of Hermione.
This kiss was unlike any other they'd shared. It was full of emotion. All the grief, sadness, frustration and anger had been poured into it, giving it life and passion.
Hermione tried to get closer to him, but it was physically impossible; they were as close as they were going to get. Harry leaned against the wall again, using it for support.
As oxygen became a necessity, they were forced to separate.
"You have blood all over your mouth," said Hermione, staring at his bleeding lips.
"You too."
They cleaned it off. "Are you ready to go back down?" Hermione asked cautiously.
Harry nodded. He took her hand and they went downstairs, a lot closer — emotionally — than they had been before.
Ron and Ginny seemed to know what had just occurred. The looks on Harry and Hermione's faces told them something had changed. Harry realized just then that they probably heard Hermione's yelling. Not to mention, their lips were swollen and bleeding.
Harry sat back down and Hermione stood behind him.
There was more post to be opened. Harry took another letter from Hedwig.
This one was from Hogwarts. It was heavier this year.
He pulled out the first letter, flipped it open and began to read out loud:
Dear Mr. H. Potter,
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has a proposition to make to you. We have faith that you will not deny our request.
Promptly two months ago, an illegal club known as the Defense Academy had been led by you. At the time it was illegal. ONLY because Professor Umbridge had been teaching.
Our proposition to you is that you (along with Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Ronald Weasley) reinstate the D.A. But this time, we wish for you to make it school wide, open to any student who wishes to join.
Along with this offer, we would like to offer you the position of Hogwarts Dueling Master. Professor Dumbledore himself has said that there is no one better for the job than you Mr. Potter.
Please send a reply owl as soon as possible. We shall await your answer.
And by the way, your life-long ban from Quidditch has been lifted. Your Firebolt is waiting in my office. I'm sure you'll pick it up when you get to school.
Have a pleasant break.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Transfiguration
"Whoa," said Harry. "They want me to be club coordinator and dueling master?"
"Apparently," said Hermione. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "Good job. I'm proud to have such a 'high-ranked' boyfriend."
"And here I thought you liked me because of me..." Harry joked.
He picked up the next letter and opened it, scanning the contents:
Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have received 8 out of 10 OWLS. Your results were as follows:
Defense Against the Dark Arts:
Practical: Outstanding
Theoretical: Outstanding
Extra Points: 5 (equivalent to one OWL)
Overall: Outstanding (2 OWLs)
Divination:
Practical: Poor
Theoretical: Acceptable
Overall: Dreadful
Charms:
Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Theoretical: Exceeds Expectations
Overall: Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration:
Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Theoretical: Exceeds Expectations
Overall: Exceeds Expectations
Potions:
Practical: Acceptable
Theoretical: Acceptable
Overall: Acceptable
Care of Magical Creatures:
Practical: Outstanding
Theoretical: Outstanding
Overall: Outstanding
Astronomy:
Practical: Poor
Theoretical: Exceeds Expectations
Overall: Acceptable
History of Magic
Theoretical: N/A- Student was unable to complete test.
Herbology:
Practical: Outstanding
Theoretical: Outstanding
Overall: Outstanding
Congratulations on your outstanding achievement, Mr. Potter!
— Attached to this letter is a schedule form that you must fill out. You may take the following NEWT Level subjects:
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Charms
Transfiguration
Care of Magical Creatures
Herbology
— Then you have the choice of an enrichment subject or club:
Defense Academy
Arithmancy
Muggle Studies
Ancient Runes
Wizard's Chess Club
Dueling Club
Fencing Club
Debate Team
Good luck on future tests!
Griselda Marchbanks
"WOW! I'm so proud of you, Harry! Eight out of ten! That's wonderful!" Hermione squealed.
She walked around and kissed him.
Ginny stood up from her spot at the table and gave Harry a hug.
"Harry! That's great," said Ron.
Harry was staring at the results. "That's strange though. Why would they give me an OWL just because I can conjure a Patronus?"
Both Ron and Hermione shrugged at him.
Harry nodded.
The next thing in Harry's large pile of letters was a copy of the wizarding newspaper The Daily Prophet.
"Wonder why there's a Prophet? I didn't order one," said Harry, but he opened it up anyway and began to read.
What he found on the front page made his face fall and his eyes to widen.
The headline read, "Mass Escape in Azkaban Prison"
A mass breakout in Azkaban Prison occurred
yesterday, as reports Rita Skeeter, special
correspondent. Many of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's
so called "Death Eaters" who were captured at the
Ministry of Magic headquarters last May managed
a mass escape from Azkaban prison just yesterday.
The names of the escapees have yet to be released.
Another notary occurrence was that every Dementor
who guarded the fortress have claimed to have no
involvement whatsoever in the escape of more than
ten potentially murderous people. Minister of Magic,
Cornelius Fudge refuses to release further information.
Harry gulped. "I-I can't believe this," he muttered.
Hermione stared him with a concerned expression masking her face. "What is it, Harry?" she asked.
"All the Death Eaters that were captured last term escaped from Azkaban yesterday," Harry explained gravely.
The remaining color on Hermione's face drained away quickly and she mumbled, "Oh my," before she fainted.
-----
"Hermione, Hermione, wake up," said Harry.
He looked down at her pale face and urged her to wake up. "Come on, Herms. Wake up," he prodded.
She coughed a little bit, and slowly her eyes opened up. "Ohhh, where am I?" she grumbled.
Harry smiled. She was awake and okay. "You're at The Burrow, sweetheart. Come on, up you go."
She sat up with Harry's help, while looking around at her surroundings. Ron and Ginny were staring at her with worried expressions on their faces, and what was this? Luna Lovegood stood next to Ron who had his arm wrapped around her waist.
She looked at Harry with surprise masking her face. "When—"
"Say, 'Mione, now that you're up, why don't we go upstairs? There are a few things I need to discuss with you," Harry suggested, quickly cutting her off.
She nodded. "Right, okay," she answered.
Harry helped her to her feet and the two of them quickly climbed the stairs to Ginny's room.
Hermione sat down on the edge of her bed, then stared up at Harry expectantly.
"So, you were saying...?" she prodded.
"Oh... yes, yes of course. Ron and Luna are an 'item' as they say," said Harry. He began to pace. "Um... there's a bit of a crisis going on at the moment down at Ministry Headquarters..."
"Yes, what is it?"
A/N: There's chapter two... hope you liked it! Drop me a review... or two. They fuel my fire! Thank you to all those who reviewed for the last chapter, I appreciate it. And yes, I do wish boys nowadays were as brave as Harry, but alas they're not... I do still love them though, lol. My apologies for the cliffhanger. I have most of Chapter 3 done already, so you won't have to wait very long...
Chapter 3: "The Chaos Ensues"
The crisis Harry was speaking of is revealed and so is a good many other things which might give our favorite heroes and heroines something to think about...