A/N: So... I guess you didn't have to wait too long, after all. I've been writing like crazy all week, so I really hope I get lotz and lotz of reviews!!! -:- hint hint -:- Um... oh, and some more new characters are introduced in this chapter, but I don't think this one is as weird as the last one... well... maybe it is... So anyway, enjoy the chapter! I haven't started Chapter 5, but since I'm visiting my cousin all of next week, I should post the week after... or something like that. I'm apologizing beforehand for that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, though I really wish I did... but I don't! And I'm not making any money off of writing fanfiction, it's just for pure entertainment (of the readers, you, and the writer, me).
Chapter Four: Start of Term
In the dead of night, the entire corridor lit only by Hermione's wand, the pair trudged on.
"Someone please help me..." a feminine voice murmured.
Harry and Hermione faced each other. "Did you hear that?" they inquired in unison.
"Yeah," they answered together.
Upon reaching the dark Entrance Hall of Hogwarts Castle, Harry and Hermione immediately noticed the silhouette of a person laying on the ground.
"Hello?" Harry said. He retracted the Cloak from over their heads. "Melanie?"
The person lifted their head. Harry ignited his wand, and cautiously (after telling Hermione to wait) stepped up to Summers and bent over her form.
"Are you alright?" he asked cautiously.
"I'm fine," she replied in an icy tone. "I don't need your help, Potter."
"Well, now that the introductions are over, let's get you to the Hospital Wing. Hey, Herms, help me out," Harry said.
Melanie began to push herself off the ground, but failed and ended up passing out.
Hermione conjured a stretcher and they took the injured girl to the infirmary.
On their way back, after being shunned out by Madam Pomfrey, Harry noticed Hermione fidgeting.
"I had another dream. I didn't know if it was real or not, but I took a chance. Hermione, before you say anything, I know it was stupid. I know it was risky. But even if she hadn't been there, I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that she might have been there and I didn't do anything about it," Harry explained. He took a deep breath, awaiting the expected lecture. When it didn't come, he turned to face Hermione who was biting her lip in concentration.
"You have some tough nights, don't you, Potter?" she said finally.
Harry grinned. "Yeah, but tonight was a special case."
"Wonder who the girl was?" Hermione said.
Harry began to explain the dream to her.
"That's very interesting, isn't it, though?" Hermione said when he'd finished.
"What?" Harry asked.
"That Voldemort was after her. I wonder what reason he had for it?"
Harry shrugged. "Beats me." His shoulders sagged a bit. "I'm bushed!"
They got back to the Common Room and Hermione was firm in her decision to stay with Harry the rest of the night.
-----
The infirmary was in chaos the next morning. Professor Dumbledore was trying in vain to question the girl, Melanie, who refused to divulge the information.
Gunner and Felice were trying desperately to get into the Hospital Wing, as were Harry and Hermione.
Finally, a millennia later, Dumbledore stepped out of the infirmary. Harry and the others slipped passed him and went unnoticed by Pomfrey.
They reached the bed upon which Melanie was laying.
Harry tapped her on the shoulder cautiously. From her behavior the previous night, he was pretty sure that she held some sort of unknown grudge against him.
Melanie opened her eyes. She looked around at the four faces as if in a complete daze, before she regained her senses. "Gunner, where's Drake? I need to find him!" she said immediately upon spotting Benson and Felice.
"He's in Romania," Gunner answered. "Don't worry about that right now, Mel. You need to rest."
Harry looked back and forth between them. I'm not even going to ask this time. Just watch and wait...
"He's... He's coming here for term, right?" Melanie asked.
"Yes, he'll be here in a few weeks," Gunner answered. Felice cleared her throat.
"Felice... nice to see you," Melanie answered, nonchalantly.
Gunner stiffened up slightly. "Your husband got her bit by a vampire, Mel."
"He what!?" Melanie cried.
Harry noticed that her condition looked much worse in the light of day. Her face was covered in scratches and bruises. Her left arm was held in a sling, and her right one had a scratch going clear across her entire forearm.
Her appearance, though disheveled, was attractive all the same. She had elbow-length dirty-blonde hair, beautiful aquamarine eyes and she looked the age of nineteen or twenty.
What connection these people had with each other, with Voldemort, and with himself, Harry hadn't the slightest clue... and frankly, it was getting to be agitating. He wanted desperately to know what was going on, but no one seemed to want to tell him.
"Mel, if you don't tell him that he needs to back off, I will," Gunner said firmly.
"I'll talk to him. Is the condition bad?"
"She can't control it yet," Benson answered. "I'll help her with it and she should be able to do it willingly by next month."
Harry and Hermione excused themselves, clearly seeing that they were neither needed nor wanted there.
"Everything just keeps getting weirder and weirder by the day," said Harry.
Suddenly, what could only be described as Weasley feuding was heard down the corridor.
"Ginny, get off my back! When and if I want to tell you, I will. But for now, leave me alone!" Ron exclaimed.
"Whoa, hey," said Harry. He took Ron by the shoulders. "What's going on?"
"Gin won't leave me alone," Ron said begrudgingly.
"I see that much," Harry replied sarcastically.
"He's got a secret, and it's about me, but he won't tell me," Ginny said as she approached.
"Now, Ron," said Harry, "that's not fair... you should really tell her... after all, if she had a secret about you, she'd tell you... wouldn't you, Gin?"
Harry looked at Ginny in a 'say-yes-or-I-can't-help-you-anymore' way.
"Oh, uh, yes, yes... of course I would," said Ginny. She looked around in a distracted manner. "Whatever, I don't have time for this. I'll catch you later, Harry, Herm. Ronald, you'd better tell me what's going on, or it'll be a howler from Mum in your face!"
With that said, Ginny stalked down the corridor, her footfalls left echoing on the stone walls.
"I'm officially bored!" said Harry. "I've been left in complete darkness, having no clue as to what's going on, and I'm spending the rest of my bloody summer at school!"
Hermione put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Aww, poor baby. Why don't we visit Hagrid, hmm? Something interesting is always going on with him!" she suggested.
"That's not a bad idea at all," Harry said. "Alright, let's go."
"Ron, you wanna come with?" Hermione asked, turning her attention to the redhead.
"Sure... we haven't spent much time together lately anyway," Ron replied.
As they grew increasingly closer to Hagrid's hut, Harry got progressively more and more worried.
Why had she suggested something like that? Why had he agreed?
Hagrid was in his garden, tending to his overgrown vegetables when Harry, Hermione and Ron approached.
"Hagrid," said Harry.
Hagrid turned away from his gigantic pumpkins and faced the trio.
"Harry, Hermy, Ron!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry noticed, but forcefully held back a smile. Upon noticing this, Hermione gave him a sharp nudge to the ribs. Ron gave both of them a 'what the heck is going on?' look.
"So, Hagrid... how was your summer?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"Same as always," Hagrid replied.
"How's..." Hermione began. She looked to Harry who had a 'don't do it, Hermione!!!' expression on his face. Hermione rolled her eyes again and finished her sentence, "Grawp?"
Ron looked thoroughly confused now. "WHO?" he asked. (A/N: I'm not entirely sure, but I could've sworn that Ron's never heard of Grawp before... excuse me if that's not the case. Sorry.)
"Me half-brother, Ron," Hagrid answered, at which his eyes took on a glazed, delighted shade of smoky-black.
"Oh... oh, okay." Ron looked horrified, which mirrored the expression on Harry's face. "That's explains everything," he finished sarcastically.
"Grawp's been a good boy over the summer," Hagrid said. The teenagers remained silent.
Hagrid stared at them through his beady black eyes. The half-giant that Harry had known for the better part of five-and-a-half years was still as unkempt as ever. Hagrid's famous wiry beard and hair looked even more-so messy than before. Even though Ron was a foot or so taller than the other two, Hagrid still towered above him. The only person who was remotely close to the half-giant's height was Dumbledore, but he too probably only stood to his shoulder.
"How's yer summer been, Harry?" Hagrid asked, breaking the minute-long silence.
Harry's face darkened a slight bit.
Hermione jumped in to answer for him. "Oh, Harry and I both spent our summer at The Burrow. We had a blast! Um... he and I... we..." she trailed off.
"Oh, I see," said Hagrid.
This caused both Hermione and Harry to blush slightly. "Yeah..." he muttered.
"Geez, well it's getting a bit dark out here. I suppose we'll head back to the castle. See you later, Hagrid," Ron said.
Hagrid smiled. "Yep. Stop by any time ya like."
They headed back to the castle.
"That was a tad bit strange," said Hermione, and she turned around to look back at Hagrid's hut.
The Common Room was filled with all the Gryffindors who were staying at the school the rest of the week until term started, when Harry, Hermione and Ron arrived.
Ginny was napping on the couch and Neville was reading a book at one of the tables (looking very much like Hermione when she did her homework). Felice and Gunner seemed to be arguing about something or other near the bay windows.
Ron picked up a Quidditch magazine and dashed off upstairs.
Hermione pulled Harry over to Felice and Gunner. They listened in on a bit of the argument.
"You've got to let me help you with it, Felice!" Gunner was saying.
Felice rolled her eyes. "I've got it taken care of, Gunner. Don't vorry about me so much!"
Hermione butted into the conversation by saying, "It seems as if you two do more arguing than anything else."
Harry stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his head on her shoulder. "I'm tired, it's been a long day," he groaned.
"You big baby. You didn't do anything today but sit around!" Hermione scolded.
"Yes, but last night I had to wake up at two o'clock in the morning to save someone! I'm a hero remember?" Harry said dryly.
Hermione's hazel eyes turned a darker shade of brown. "Don't be bitter, Harry."
"I'm not. Besides, I think I'm entitled to a bit of bitterness now and then!" Harry replied.
Hermione sighed. "I think you need to go to sleep," she concluded.
"Sure, why not, Mum," he answered.
"I should hope not!" Hermione exclaimed.
Felice and Gunner had stopped their arguing a while ago and were now watching as the two storms clashed rivaling their own argument.
"What? You don't like my Mother? Is that it, Hermione?"
Hermione pulled herself out of his grasp and said sharply, "Harry! You're twisting this around! That's not what I meant at all."
"Sure it wasn't."
"I AM sure it wasn't!" Hermione replied angrily. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and stalked away.
With a quick wink and smirk to the couple sitting by the window, Harry dashed off after her.
-----
The next morning, Harry sat with Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, eating some porridge when Gunner, Felice and (now recovered) Melanie approached.
Melanie, who looked incredibly bored, walked right past them to where Draco Malfoy was sitting next to Lisa Turpin at the Slytherin table.
"What's up with her? I saved her life, and yet she still hates me," said Harry. "I don't get it."
Gunner glanced at Felice then began his story. "I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this from you for long..." He sighed deeply as if to say 'Dammit, why'd I have to be the one to do this?'. "Her father used to be a Death Eater... before — before your father caught him and reported him to the Ministry of Magic who sentenced him to a lifetime in Azkaban. That's why she hates you and that's why she's so bitter. That as well as the fact that she's married to my brother."
Harry leaned forward. "She's married to your brother?" he asked Gunner.
Felice answered this time. "His betrothed, she vas. If you had been at their vedding, you vould know how much these two despise each other! They glared through the whole ceremony."
Gunner's eyes darkened a slight bit at mention of his brother. It seemed to Harry, as if neither Gunner nor Felice got along very well with the other Benson brother. He waited patiently until Gunner began again.
"My family is part of a long line of warlocks, which are more powerful beings similar to wizards, and craft-users similar to witches. We've had a tradition from since I can remember that each child born into a family of these powerful beings must marry a child born to another of these rare families. My brother's wife was born into the Summers family who had close ties to the Bensons. So, they were married when Drake turned twenty-one," Benson explained.
Harry tried his best to absorb the information he was receiving. It was (Hermione would be proud of him) quite intriguing to him that such cultures and beliefs were held so strongly.
"Malfoy seems to be having a blast behind his girlfriend's back," Hermione muttered.
Harry turned around to see what she was talking about when he spotted that Malfoy was kissing Lisa Turpin again.
"The Gryffindors will have a field day with it," Harry answered.
"What's that guy's deal anyway?" Gunner asked.
"Oh... just another person who wishes I was dead," Harry said impassively.
Hermione gave him a soft whack on the arm, indicating that she didn't like what he was implying.
Once again, as had happened the night before, Hermione's demeanor changed and she whispered quietly into Harry's ear, "I um... can we — no wait — we've got to talk to Ron."
Harry looked at her with an expression of bewilderment on his face. "Is... everything... all right?" he asked.
Gunner and Felice looked on, but stayed out of the couple's conversation.
"Oh, yes. Everything's fine. Let's just go find Ron!" Hermione said.
"Right... okay," Harry answered slowly. This difference in Hermione's personality wasn't something that he was used to. "So sorry to rush off like this, but you heard the lady," he added to the still silent Benson and Anderson.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry inquired once they were in the Entrance Hall outside the Great Hall.
"Nothing's wrong, Harry. I promise," Hermione said. She continued walking to who knew where, but Harry took her arm and stopped her.
Quite suddenly, a feeling of dread washed over his body and he swiftly turned around. Nothing... or no one — was there. He tossed off the cold feeling with a shake of his head.
Upon turning back around, he was met with Hermione's lips. They continued their journey after a short kiss, this time with no questions asked.
They found Ron speaking with Luna in the Clock tower Courtyard (A/N: from PoA the movie... just a courtyard beyond a clock tower).
"Oh, there you are. Been looking for you," Ron said when he spotted them. The couple approached him swiftly. "I've just gotten word from the twins — well, I got the bit of news yesterday — that Dean Thomas and Justin Finch-Fletchley —"
"Ron is this —"
"Gossip? Yes it is. Well Dean Thomas and Justin Finch-Fletchley got into a bit of a scuffle at the twins' shop yesterday... over Ginny."
"Was this the big secret you didn't want to tell Gin?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded. "Yeah. She'd just about keel over in shock if I told her!"
"Ron, this isn't right. You should tell her, since it obviously has to do with her," said Hermione. "She'd do it for you!"
Ron began to protest. "She would not! She wouldn't even tell you, Hermione!"
Hermione huffed indignantly. "I highly doubt that!" she replied.
"No, no. He's quite right," Luna supplied.
"Ginny may seem innocent, but I'm telling you, she's got horns to hold up that halo of hers," Ron said.
"Nice to see you love me so much, dear brother."
Ginny walked up to Ron with a malicious smirk on her face. In her hands she clutched a long piece of parchment.
"I just received a letter from the twins telling me all about Dean and Justin's fight as well as about how Fred and George knew you would not tell me about it," she hissed. "Besides... I got a letter from both Justin and Dean two days ago!"
Ron blushed a slightly pink color at this revelation and began trying to apologize. He, Ginny and Luna continued arguing while Harry and Hermione made a stealthy departure.
-----
Hermione received a copy of the Evening Prophet that night at dinner. She flipped it open to come face-to-face with four different people.
Harry read over her shoulder the title, "Candidates for the Position of Minister of Magic Nominated".
Underneath each picture was a name and description.
The first photograph was of a short, bald man with a beard. The name 'David Carmichael' was printed beneath his wizarding snapshot.
Out of the four individuals, one stood out to Harry. It was a very stern looking man who had tousled hair and a twisted smirk on his face. He went by the name of 'Gregory Stevens'. The man's photograph sent a chill through Harry's body which he didn't like at all. The description didn't tell much but that Stevens had gone to Beauxbatons and had worked in France until fifteen years ago when he moved to England.
Harry stared at the man's estranged smile for a full minute until Hermione folded up the paper.
"Doesn't seem too promising, does it?" she said.
Harry was staring at the table; his bottle-green eyes seemed to peer through the wood, boring into the stone floor of the Great Hall. That feeling of dread returned within the pit of his stomach.
Hermione put a hand on his back. She leaned toward him and whispered, "Want to go upstairs and talk about it?"
Harry nodded mutely and without a word to the others, they left the Hall.
Upon arriving in the Common Room, Harry flopped down into an armchair, putting his head into his hands.
Hermione kneeled in front of him and began to stroke his hair. She cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look her in the eyes. Those oh-so-beautiful chocolate-colored eyes that had mesmerized him many times. The same eyes that held a concerned gleam in them now, rivaling his own frightened ones.
"Harry, what's wrong?" she asked. He moved his arms away and she crawled into his lap. "Talk to me... I'm here for you."
Harry sighed deeply, that feeling of dread washing over him again. "Voldemort isn't happy... in fact, he's dreading something horrible."
Hermione gasped slightly. "A-A-Are you s-sure?" she stuttered.
He gave a nod. "I'm positive. Now, I don't know if that means something good on our part... or if we should be worried," he concluded.
Hermione was biting her lip now, as she'd done so many times before when she was trying to finish an Arithmancy problem or a Potions essay.
Just then, Ron came bustling in, shortly followed by the other Gryffindor summer occupants and Luna Lovegood. (A/N: I'm assuming that they are allowed inter-house entries... as long as they know the password right? Since Harry and Ron snuck into the Slytherin Common Room that time in second-year using the Polyjuice Potion.)
Hermione gave Harry an 'I'm sorry' look to which Harry nodded in understanding. He leaned forward and whispered, "We can talk later."
"Get a room!" Ron scolded, laughing as he found Hermione and Harry. Both Harry and Hermione grinned nervously at their other best friend. Things were simply not going according to plan... not that they had one to begin with.
-----
The rest of the week whizzed by faster than expected and Harry found himself sitting down beside Hermione in the Great Hall on the day of the Start of Term feast.
He looked over to Felice who had begun her training (with help from Gunner and Melanie of course). She'd told Harry and the others that she'd prefer it if they didn't tell anyone about her condition. She'd said the last thing she wanted was to become an outcast in a place that she'd never been before.
Hermione had insisted that Harry tell Dumbledore about his feeling of dread, to which he'd put down his foot and said no. He thought he would be wasting the headmaster's time by discussing petty things like that. So ensued the couple's second-ever serious argument. As of yet, Hermione was still not talking to Harry.
Professor Dumbledore stood up to give his traditional 'what to do and what not to do and welcome first-years' speech. He added a bit at the end that was new to everyone. "And now, I'd like to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Mr. Drake —"
A man with perfect jet-black hair and malevolently silver eyes cut the headmaster off. "Just Drake, Professor." His accent matched one of an American. He was tall with a lean, steady body. His smile was slightly twisted and his eyes became a tad bit darker.
"Well then, I'd like to welcome Professor Drake. Good luck to you. The position is not an easy one, as I'm sure your students will be anxious to tell you. Now, tuck in." After speaking those two very important words, food beyond comprehension appeared on the tables.
Harry, without even taking a glance at the food, turned to Gunner. "Is that —"
"My dear brother? Yes," Gunner answered with a slight bitterness overtaking his tone.
Meanwhile, Melanie's eyes had brightened and she was up and dashing toward the staff table. Drake had also stood and embraced her when she approached.
Harry could see them talking, and watched as Melanie pointed to the Gryffindor table. She looked slightly angry as she spoke to her husband, who had the same twisted smile adorning his face.
Harry turned his attention away from them and decided to concentrate on his oh-so-very-angry girlfriend who, even sitting beside him, was glaring at her chicken.
He leaned over and very lightly, pecked her on the cheek, then whispered, "I'm sorry."
The now pink Hermione stopped glaring at her food and faced him. "No you're not. Otherwise, for your benefit you would have told Dumbledore!" Her glare had been redirected at him.
"'Mione, come on, look at him. He's busy as it is," Harry protested.
Her face now held a pleading look. "Please? Do it for me!" she insisted.
Harry sighed. "Fine... tomorrow..." he mumbled.
Hermione grinned. "Yay! Thanks," she said in a very un-Hermione voice.
They finished dinner in peace.
Gunner and Felice stole away to their empty classroom after the feast, saying Felice needed to continue practicing.
Hermione followed Harry upstairs and into the Boys' Dorms once again.
Harry lay in bed with his head resting in Hermione's lap.
"You're a great girlfriend," he muttered lazily. "Couldn't've found a better one."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you." She leaned down and kissed him. Hermione held the kiss longer than he'd expected causing him to sit up.
She wrapped her arms around his neck when he encircled his own around her waist, bringing her closer to him. Hermione pulled away first. She traced her finger across his jaw line, then replaced her finger with her lips. Her trail of kisses continued down his neck, and as if suddenly realizing what she was doing, she stopped and pulled away.
"U-Uh... I've got to go," she muttered, and left.
-----
She avoided him the next day. Harry searched high and low in the Common Room but she was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, Gunner caught him with a panicked look on his face. "Harry... they know..." he said.
"Who knows what?" Harry asked, still looking around for Hermione.
"Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil heard me talking to Felice and now they know all about the Vampire's Curse!" Gunner explained.
"Curse? You never said anything about a curse!" Harry replied.
"When a person gets bitten by a vampire, it is called the Vampire's Curse," said Gunner. "Now what the hell am I supposed to do?"
"I'll figure something out. Just hang low for now and act normal. Try and get Felice's accent under control," Harry said.
Putting Hermione's avoidance behind, Harry began searching for Lavender and Parvati.
"Lavender! Parvati! Come here!" he said once he spotted them. He pulled them into a secluded corner away from roaming eyes and ears. "Listen, you can't tell anyone about what you heard."
"Heard? What did we hear? We didn't hear anything."
"Look, Lav, I'm really not in the mood for this, so... I'll do anything... just don't tell anyone that Felice is a vampire!"
"Anything?" Lavender asked. Her lips spread into a malicious smile.
"Anything!" Harry said.
With every passing second, Harry was regretting his offer. He knew they would think of something horrible for him to do.
"You have to kiss us... both of us... once and we won't utter a word about any of it... not even the kisses," Lavender said, running her finger over his chest.
Harry grimaced. Hermione would be beyond furious. He couldn't deceive her like that! But he had no choice. "Fine... make it quick. I'm in a hurry to find my girlfriend," he said and emphasized 'girlfriend'.
Both witches squealed in delight.
"You've got a girlfriend?" Parvati asked.
"That makes it all the more delightful!" Lavender finished.
Harry looked around to make sure no one was watching and quickly planted a kiss on each of them. Though Lavender did try to keep him longer, he forcefully pulled away and rushed out of the portrait hole.
"Dammit... what did I get myself into? How the hell do I explain this one to her?" Harry muttered to himself.
"Explain what?"
Harry turned around slowly to catch her walking toward him, books in hand and school robes on.
"Hey..."
A/N: Wow... okay, I admit... weird. But it wasn't bad, was it? I actually really enjoyed writing this chapter... I've never finished writing a whole chapter so quick before. Hope you liked the chapter, and please please please review! Thanks to all who have already reviewed, I really appreciate each and every one! They are what fuel my fire, drop me a review... or two or three.
-:- Wicked Dreamz -:-
Chapter Five: "The Truth Beyond the Curtain"
Harry's committed a sin... he's kissed someone else.... What will Hermione have to say for this? Plus, the new Minister of Magic is elected... but is he what the Wizarding World really wants? And... Draco Malfoy's in trouble and the only people who can help him are connected to his mortal enemy... now what?