Chapter 9
"ARG!!!!" Harry groaned as he fell to the floor, his head throbbing.
"Mr. Potter you need to close your mind, rid yourself of emotion!" Dumbledore said as he walked over to Harry and lent him a hand.
Harry took it reluctantly and got to his feet, his knees feeling wobbly, and un easy. He sat in a chair closest to him in the Headmasters office and rested his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry," Harry apologized as his shoulders weighed down with defeat. "This is really hard."
Dumbledore shook his head as a small grin played on his face. Taking a seat next to Harry he placed his cane at the side and folded his hands neatly in his lap.
"It's not that your not trying hard enough. Those wounds you have, you so stubbornly wish to keep are getting in the way. Head wounds aren't very easy to deal with when your training for Occlumency." he explained to Harry. He congered Harry's back pack and handed it to him. "That's enough for tonight Harry, just go to bed and get some rest. Don't forget to clear your mind before though."
Harry nodded and greeted goodnight to Professor Dumbledore and made his way to the dormitories. His head was throbbing as if he had been hit by a garbage truck. Not to mention his black eye wasn't doing any better. It was aching more than his head. It seemed to have its own painful throb of a heart beat.
After stepping through the portrait hole he made his way into the dark common room with a dimly lit fireplace. It was well after midnight, and Harry was exhausted. He dropped his backpack on the ground and took a seat by the fire.
In the great hall the morning after Harry's head still throbbed from the lesson the night before. He couldn't even find enough strength to eat his breakfast before him. He only held his head in his hands.
"Harry, you should really let the school nurse heal your wounds, you'll do much better." Ron suggested to Harry as he continued to stuff eggs in his face. Making it hard to make anything out of what he was saying.
Hermione watched Harry with some compassion lurking in her eyes. Harry looked up and gratefully smiled at her for her ultimate understanding of his situation. She smiled back slightly as he had to her, looking down at her plate shyly. Ron looked between the two as his cheeks flared with egg stuffing with a curious and jealous look. Harry looked to Ron and gulped hard returning his eyes to the still full plate of breakfast before him.
Ron looked towards Hermione as she returned her eyes to her working fork. She looked up at Ron and smiled a pearly white smile. He smiled at her slightly, and his lips glided back into a frown as she looked away.
Finally the owls started to soar through the window and ceiling, dropping off envelopes and packages from the children's friends and family. A large package fell in front of Luna Lovegod who wasn't paying attention as she read her issue of the Quibbler. Another girl grabbed the package and ripped the envelope from the top. She read it aloud.
"These are for you Luna. You asked me to send them to you. I just hope you know how great of a time I had showing you around here in America. With lots of love XOXO, ... Rory." the girl started to laugh as Luna's eyes went wide and she tore the package and the letter from the girls grip, her cheeks turning a crimson red.
"Who's Rory?" the girl asked as she giggled.
"A friend!" she said angrily and raced out of the great hall clutching the package to her side, almost knocking Hagrid in his bum on her way out.
Ron shrugged his shoulders along with Harry as Hermione giggled excitedly. She was chewing her nails as the girl had been reading Luna's letter, like it was suspenseful. When to Harry it just sounded like a bunch of crap. All the other girls at the gryffindor table tuned in as the scene had unwrapped itself before them, holding onto the table with a fierce grip as they made faces that one would make when seeing a new born child.
"Awe that's so sweet of the boy. Girls love to be cherished like that." Hermione said dreamily as she looked out into the distance of the Great Hall.
Ron's head shot up as if he had just realized a fantastic idea. He grabbed his napkin and wiped his face of all the egg residue. He smiled and grabbed his bag and hurried out of the Great hall. Neither Harry or Hermione saw him until later that day in the Common room.
"Where did you speed off to during breakfast?" Harry asked as he packed his school bag up for the following day. Thankfully the next day would be Friday, and he'd have two days off for the weekend to do absolutely nothing.
"Oh, nowhere. I just had to go to the owelry to write my mum, and brother." he answered as he slumped down on the couch in front of Hermione who was laying on the rug reading Dean Koonz Strangers. Not even noticing that Ron had walked in..
Harry gave him a look of suspicion and wonder as he watched Ron staring down at Hermione, with fancy dancing in his eyes. Neville plopped down next to Ron knocking him out of his dream state and Hermione away from her book to gawk at the jelly that was all over his front. Neville's eyes were droopy and his hair was sleek with sweat. Ron scooted away not wanting the jelly to get on his own robes. Harry started to laugh and tried to hold back but ended up failing miserably.
"What in bloody Hell happened to you?" Ron asked as a smile played on his lips.
Neville shook his head like a dog and blinked hard a couple of times, looking down at himself sadly. "I hate first years. They know more mischievous magic than me."
"Neville. Everyone know more magic than you." Hermione said as she returning her gaze back to her book. Neville glared at her, then rested his head against the back of the couch.
"I hate you for giving up Prefect Ron. If it weren't for you I'd be in my safe bed right now. Instead of being chased around by first years like a chicken with its head cut off."
Ron laughed at Neville's comment and patted him on the shoulder, " Now why would I take away the first years piñata, that's just wrong."
Neville glared at him with rage as she started to roar, flying to his feet, and chased a laughing Ron around the common room up to the dormitories where you heard the wisp of wands and the screams of Neville as he came charging down the stairs with a group of first years trailing him behind zapping him in the butt.
Harry laughed as he watching Neville leaping around the common room like a frog and turned to look at Hermione who was completely mesmerized by her Novel. Almost instinctively she looked up when Harry looked at her, and caught his eye. They stared at each other for a little bit before Hermione smiled at him and he shyly smiled back. Then they both seemed to feel a heat on both their heads and both turned behind them to find Ron standing at the portrait staring at the two, with jealousy raging in his eyes at Harry.
The Great Hall was rather excited and lively the next morning since it was Friday. Harry was even Happier than usual. Even though his head was throbbing terribly he held a smile on his face and gulped down his breakfast. The owls came swooping down halfway threw Harry's eggs and the daily prophet fell onto his plate by Hedwig. He smiled and unrolled in, and that's when his smile faded.
"What is it Harry?" Semus asked as he had watched Harry's quickly changed expression.
"There's been four more killings in America since last Friday. This time its been surprise attacks on Aurors. The ministry here in Britain thinks he's trying to hit America because its weaker than the ministry here." Harry explained as he dropped his fork and read on, "Some Aurors from here are going to be shipped over by the ministry to protect America."
"But then what about us? I mean his main target is here in Britain," Hermione added as she leaned in towards the center of the table, listening closely.
Ron piped in, "Yeah like Hermione said. What if its all just some kind of diversion for the ministry here to let go of some of its best men only to get attacked by Voldemorts Army head on?"
Harry only shook his head as he looked down at the paper in disbelief. How could the Ministry make such a critical decision? They could lose everything.
"Well it doesn't really matter, the ministry is recruiting an army here in Britain to fight Voldemorts the same as he is doing in America." Luna stated as she hid behind her Quibbler with headphones dangling around her neck( the present from Rory in America).
"Their recruiting? How come its not in the Prophet?" Harry wondered allowed.
"Why? Its all over the walls of the shops in Hogsmeade, there's no need for Newspapers ads." Luna shrieked as she continued to stare aimlessly at the Quibbler.
Harry looked down at the paper and bit his lip over his own naive thinking. He looked up at Ron and Hermione and met their gazes. They smiled at him slightly as they both saw the nervousness in his eyes digging away at his inside.
"I'm going to go for a stroll before class, Ill see you two later." Harry told them as he was about to get up. Crookshanks, Hermione's fat cat jumped up onto his lap as started rub up against his chest and purr loudly. He smiled and picked her up setting her on the floor as he flung his back pack over his shoulder, taking one last look at Hermione. She smiled at him and watched him walk out of the Great Hall until she couldn't see him any longer.
A clumsy owl came flying down towards the table at a terribly fast speed, landing right into Ron's plate of pancakes. Splashing the milk all over the table and all over Ron. Hermione leapt in shock as the bird crashed, rolling in doubles across the table. After it lifted itself back up it hopped over to a embarrassed Ron and dropped a wrinkled envelope. His red cheeks rose happily with his smile as he tore the letter open and began to read. Hermione leaned over to read to but he slowly leaned away so she couldn't see and shook his head.
"Have you ever heard of Private Hermione?" he asked crazily, getting up from his seat and throwing his bag over his shoulders pointing at the clumsy owl. "You get to the owelry this time...don't make any pit stops with the local birds." he demanded as he walked out of the Great Hall not even saying goodbye to Hermione.
She shrugged to herself and continued eating her toast and reading her book.
"ARG!!!!" Harry groaned as he fell to the floor, his head throbbing.
"Mr. Potter you need to close your mind, rid yourself of emotion!" Dumbledore said as he walked over to Harry and lent him a hand.
Harry took it reluctantly and got to his feet, his knees feeling wobbly, and un easy. He sat in a chair closest to him in the Headmasters office and rested his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry," Harry apologized as his shoulders weighed down with defeat. "This is really hard."
Dumbledore shook his head as a small grin played on his face. Taking a seat next to Harry he placed his cane at the side and folded his hands neatly in his lap.
"It's not that your not trying hard enough. Those wounds you have, you so stubbornly wish to keep are getting in the way. Head wounds aren't very easy to deal with when your training for Occlumency." he explained to Harry. He congered Harry's back pack and handed it to him. "That's enough for tonight Harry, just go to bed and get some rest. Don't forget to clear your mind before though."
Harry nodded and greeted goodnight to Professor Dumbledore and made his way to the dormitories. His head was throbbing as if he had been hit by a garbage truck. Not to mention his black eye wasn't doing any better. It was aching more than his head. It seemed to have its own painful throb of a heart beat.
After stepping through the portrait hole he made his way into the dark common room with a dimly lit fireplace. It was well after midnight, and Harry was exhausted. He dropped his backpack on the ground and took a seat by the fire.
In the great hall the morning after Harry's head still throbbed from the lesson the night before. He couldn't even find enough strength to eat his breakfast before him. He only held his head in his hands.
"Harry, you should really let the school nurse heal your wounds, you'll do much better." Ron suggested to Harry as he continued to stuff eggs in his face. Making it hard to make anything out of what he was saying.
Hermione watched Harry with some compassion lurking in her eyes. Harry looked up and gratefully smiled at her for her ultimate understanding of his situation. She smiled back slightly as he had to her, looking down at her plate shyly. Ron looked between the two as his cheeks flared with egg stuffing with a curious and jealous look. Harry looked to Ron and gulped hard returning his eyes to the still full plate of breakfast before him.
Ron looked towards Hermione as she returned her eyes to her working fork. She looked up at Ron and smiled a pearly white smile. He smiled at her slightly, and his lips glided back into a frown as she looked away.
Finally the owls started to soar through the window and ceiling, dropping off envelopes and packages from the children's friends and family. A large package fell in front of Luna Lovegod who wasn't paying attention as she read her issue of the Quibbler. Another girl grabbed the package and ripped the envelope from the top. She read it aloud.
"These are for you Luna. You asked me to send them to you. I just hope you know how great of a time I had showing you around here in America. With lots of love XOXO, ... Rory." the girl started to laugh as Luna's eyes went wide and she tore the package and the letter from the girls grip, her cheeks turning a crimson red.
"Who's Rory?" the girl asked as she giggled.
"A friend!" she said angrily and raced out of the great hall clutching the package to her side, almost knocking Hagrid in his bum on her way out.
Ron shrugged his shoulders along with Harry as Hermione giggled excitedly. She was chewing her nails as the girl had been reading Luna's letter, like it was suspenseful. When to Harry it just sounded like a bunch of crap. All the other girls at the gryffindor table tuned in as the scene had unwrapped itself before them, holding onto the table with a fierce grip as they made faces that one would make when seeing a new born child.
"Awe that's so sweet of the boy. Girls love to be cherished like that." Hermione said dreamily as she looked out into the distance of the Great Hall.
Ron's head shot up as if he had just realized a fantastic idea. He grabbed his napkin and wiped his face of all the egg residue. He smiled and grabbed his bag and hurried out of the Great hall. Neither Harry or Hermione saw him until later that day in the Common room.
"Where did you speed off to during breakfast?" Harry asked as he packed his school bag up for the following day. Thankfully the next day would be Friday, and he'd have two days off for the weekend to do absolutely nothing.
"Oh, nowhere. I just had to go to the owelry to write my mum, and brother." he answered as he slumped down on the couch in front of Hermione who was laying on the rug reading Dean Koonz Strangers. Not even noticing that Ron had walked in..
Harry gave him a look of suspicion and wonder as he watched Ron staring down at Hermione, with fancy dancing in his eyes. Neville plopped down next to Ron knocking him out of his dream state and Hermione away from her book to gawk at the jelly that was all over his front. Neville's eyes were droopy and his hair was sleek with sweat. Ron scooted away not wanting the jelly to get on his own robes. Harry started to laugh and tried to hold back but ended up failing miserably.
"What in bloody Hell happened to you?" Ron asked as a smile played on his lips.
Neville shook his head like a dog and blinked hard a couple of times, looking down at himself sadly. "I hate first years. They know more mischievous magic than me."
"Neville. Everyone know more magic than you." Hermione said as she returning her gaze back to her book. Neville glared at her, then rested his head against the back of the couch.
"I hate you for giving up Prefect Ron. If it weren't for you I'd be in my safe bed right now. Instead of being chased around by first years like a chicken with its head cut off."
Ron laughed at Neville's comment and patted him on the shoulder, " Now why would I take away the first years piñata, that's just wrong."
Neville glared at him with rage as she started to roar, flying to his feet, and chased a laughing Ron around the common room up to the dormitories where you heard the wisp of wands and the screams of Neville as he came charging down the stairs with a group of first years trailing him behind zapping him in the butt.
Harry laughed as he watching Neville leaping around the common room like a frog and turned to look at Hermione who was completely mesmerized by her Novel. Almost instinctively she looked up when Harry looked at her, and caught his eye. They stared at each other for a little bit before Hermione smiled at him and he shyly smiled back. Then they both seemed to feel a heat on both their heads and both turned behind them to find Ron standing at the portrait staring at the two, with jealousy raging in his eyes at Harry.
The Great Hall was rather excited and lively the next morning since it was Friday. Harry was even Happier than usual. Even though his head was throbbing terribly he held a smile on his face and gulped down his breakfast. The owls came swooping down halfway threw Harry's eggs and the daily prophet fell onto his plate by Hedwig. He smiled and unrolled in, and that's when his smile faded.
"What is it Harry?" Semus asked as he had watched Harry's quickly changed expression.
"There's been four more killings in America since last Friday. This time its been surprise attacks on Aurors. The ministry here in Britain thinks he's trying to hit America because its weaker than the ministry here." Harry explained as he dropped his fork and read on, "Some Aurors from here are going to be shipped over by the ministry to protect America."
"But then what about us? I mean his main target is here in Britain," Hermione added as she leaned in towards the center of the table, listening closely.
Ron piped in, "Yeah like Hermione said. What if its all just some kind of diversion for the ministry here to let go of some of its best men only to get attacked by Voldemorts Army head on?"
Harry only shook his head as he looked down at the paper in disbelief. How could the Ministry make such a critical decision? They could lose everything.
"Well it doesn't really matter, the ministry is recruiting an army here in Britain to fight Voldemorts the same as he is doing in America." Luna stated as she hid behind her Quibbler with headphones dangling around her neck( the present from Rory in America).
"Their recruiting? How come its not in the Prophet?" Harry wondered allowed.
"Why? Its all over the walls of the shops in Hogsmeade, there's no need for Newspapers ads." Luna shrieked as she continued to stare aimlessly at the Quibbler.
Harry looked down at the paper and bit his lip over his own naive thinking. He looked up at Ron and Hermione and met their gazes. They smiled at him slightly as they both saw the nervousness in his eyes digging away at his inside.
"I'm going to go for a stroll before class, Ill see you two later." Harry told them as he was about to get up. Crookshanks, Hermione's fat cat jumped up onto his lap as started rub up against his chest and purr loudly. He smiled and picked her up setting her on the floor as he flung his back pack over his shoulder, taking one last look at Hermione. She smiled at him and watched him walk out of the Great Hall until she couldn't see him any longer.
A clumsy owl came flying down towards the table at a terribly fast speed, landing right into Ron's plate of pancakes. Splashing the milk all over the table and all over Ron. Hermione leapt in shock as the bird crashed, rolling in doubles across the table. After it lifted itself back up it hopped over to a embarrassed Ron and dropped a wrinkled envelope. His red cheeks rose happily with his smile as he tore the letter open and began to read. Hermione leaned over to read to but he slowly leaned away so she couldn't see and shook his head.
"Have you ever heard of Private Hermione?" he asked crazily, getting up from his seat and throwing his bag over his shoulders pointing at the clumsy owl. "You get to the owelry this time...don't make any pit stops with the local birds." he demanded as he walked out of the Great Hall not even saying goodbye to Hermione.
She shrugged to herself and continued eating her toast and reading her book.