Yay! Chapter 19! I suppose you'll all be kinda shocked by this chapter and the next one and all hate me, but please bear with me, not all is as it seems…….
DelPiero: Hey! Thanks for reviewing, I really hope you get inspiration for your fic soon it's really cool. Let me know if you write another chapter please! I'm glad you still like my fic! Always great to hear you're appreciated!
Shreya: Whoa! You really liked it that much! Thankyou so much! I love great reviews like that. Sorry to tell you a cannot write R rated stuff! So you might have to look else where, but I'm glad you liked it anyway!
Indigal: Sorry if I confused you, I wanted to get some weird, unexplainable stuff in this fic. So I'm glad it's working! You'll have to wait to find out what's up with Ron, I was afraid someone might get it really quickly, but it seems not! Yeh Harry's having a hard time, but since when has he not! Anyway! I'm glad you thought it was so great *grins* thanks for reviewing, love ya!
Kemenran: Can't tell you what happens next, you'll have to read and find out! *grins evilly* I'm not giving stuff away. Glad you liked the chappie! Hope you like this one just as much!
LogicalRaven: I'm glad you liked the Ravenclaw/Gryffindor thing, I took me ages to figure out how I was going to do that! The Ron/Hermione thing will all change in this chapter as you've probably guessed, something's up with Ron so something's gotta happen! But no it's not why Ron's being weird, sorry. Hope you like this chappie!
Lita: You won't find out about that stuff for ages! Sorry! I'm evil I know, that's just the way I am, but if you want a hint as to how this is all going to come together, you should re-read my disclaimers (as boring as they are) that's all I'm saying!
Rachellah: Ok, I don't get what was so funny, but I'll let you laugh, hope I didn't keep you waiting to long for an update! Enjoy this chapter and keep reviewing.
Ghetx2o: You never cease to amaze me with the amount you seem to love my story, thankyou so very much for all the praise you've given me, you'll never be forgotten! *gives you lots of cookies* Yeh sorry if I confused you, I can be a bit weird sometimes and make people think, but at least I'm not predictable! Yeh Harry's being a b*****d but hey! Everything will be all right eventually! I'm really glad you liked the part with Dumbledore, it took me so long to figure out how to get that right. Hope you like this chapter!
Foxysquid: Love you too Lara! Happy Birthday again for Thursday! I'll see you soon for your party! Whoo hoo! I've only just realised the monkey thing, you have an unhealthy obsession! Lol! hurry up and update your Sabrina fic! *cries* pleesios!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love ya!
Wingsofsilver: Yup! Ron sure is evil, but don't hold it against him, it gets worse in the next two chapters, and it's not his fault. But I can't give it away, so you'll just have to wait! Hope you like this chappie!
SiriusLuver77: Wow! Do you really think I'm that good, thanks so much! *hugz you* I've never been told that! I take it you liked the chapter then! Hope you like this one too!
Xavier II: hmmm what could be going on! Haha! can't tell ya! *laughs evilly* Ron go back to Hermione??????? You'll have to wait and see…….Hope you enjoy chapter 19!
Erika: S'ok I don't mind about you not reviewing! Glad you liked my last two. I know Harry's being a lying prat, but h loves Cho, he has to lie, or I'd have to break them up, and that's not coming until later! I mean……um…..pretend I never said that!
HoshiHikari4ever: Hope you understand a bit more, I tried to make it work as best as I could. The Ron breaking up with Hermione isn't explained, you'll have to wait until I post that chapter! Mwahahahahaha! Hope you like this chappie!
Dbrules17: Glad you like my fic so much! I love Harry/Cho too! And I know what you mean about them being rare!
Aer_Terra: I try to make my chapters about the right length. Sorry if you want them longer, I'll try! I like leaving you in suspense! Hee, hee! It's always nice to know people appreciate my writing, thanks for that! You'll have to wait to find out about Harry and Cho……..hahahaha! I am all evil! I have a Yahoo address two actually but I mostly use elaine_rulz@yahoo.co.uk
Arrehj: Sorry if I'm keeping you in suspense! I'm evil like that! Everyone wants Harry to dump Hermione and I have to keep saying you'll just have to wait! Hahahaha!
Cho345Chi: Thanks for the advice at least you're being honest. I'll try to improve my fic. I'm glad you liked some aspects of my story and I'll try to do more of Hermione's POV though this fic isn't centred around her. I kinda like keeping Hermione's thoughts secret so I keep you guessing about how she's going to react. Anyway thanks for your opinion and I hope you read this chapter even if you didn't think my fic was very good.
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Harry sat by the lake thinking. He seemed to spend his whole life thinking. But there was so much to think about. Voldemort, Cho, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, The Order. He found the lake a relaxing place to go. He found himself calming down. The swirling torrent of thought calmed down, and the whirlpool of feelings could settle down and be sorted out.
He currently at with his head in his hands. His conversation, (if you could call it that) with Cho, had brought back so many painful memories. Only now did Harry realise how much he'd buried deep within him, only for it to be surfaced that evening. The emotion he had pushed so far away, that even he had forgotten it, had been brought into the light. He'd never really known how much memory he was harbouring.
He must have sat there well over an hour before he came to remember the time. Ron and Hermione were probably wondering where he was. Well Hermione would be, but Ron was so distant these days, it felt like Ron was no longer his friend. Harry felt a stab of emotional pain shoot through him. Ron had been his best friend since their first year, surely they wouldn't stop being friends now. Ron was just going through a phase, after all he had been away for two months, it must be hard to get used to again.
Harry stood up and decided to head back up the common room, as much as he would have preferred to stay by the lake, he knew they would be waiting for him, and he really couldn't be bothered with awkward questions from Hermione.
Harry was so tired and full of thoughts when he arrived back at the common room he failed to notice Hermione's still slightly tear-stained face, her sad expression and her weak greeting. He mumbled and quick goodnight and went straight to his dormitory. He collapsed on his bed. He was emotionally exhausted, but he couldn't sleep.
He listened to the muffled snoring of the other boys in his dormitory, but the familiar sound couldn't calm him enough for tiredness to overcome him. No matter how much he tried to empty his mind of thought so he could sleep, he just became more and more frustrated with himself. Eventually Harry resigned himself to defeat and let darkness engulf him, he let his thoughts swirl around, making no attempt to sort through them or make sense of anything
By morning Harry had managed to get about half an hours sleep, but he still felt unable to build on that. he got up early. It was Saturday no-one was up when Harry went down to the common room. So he sat in silence, wondering if Cho would attempt to talk to him today. He didn't feel like answering her questions. He needed at least a day to recover from everything that had come rushing back the previous night.
As Harry sat by the empty fire grate in the early morning sun, he became suddenly aware of how tired he was, his eyes began to droop, and he fell into sleep. Sinister dreams haunted his troubled sleep. All the memories he had conjured up from the very depths of his soul swam in his minds eye as he slept. As such it was quite a relief to be jolted awake by a soft voice in his ear.
"Harry…..Harry wake up….." it sounded far away, but it became closer and clearer until he opened his eyes tiredly to see the smiling Hermione looking down upon him. Harry sighed and sat up straight. His neck ached, from sitting in an awkward position and his body still ached with tiredness, but stood up and rubbed his eye all the same.
"You must have been tired," she said. Harry suddenly realised Hermione didn't know where he'd been last night, how come she hadn't asked. Harry shrugged it off and gave her a tired smile.
"Yeh I was, lets go down to breakfast." So they both left the common room and went down to the great hall. Harry ate his breakfast in silence, for two reasons. Partly because he didn't have the energy to talk, and partly because he was still thinking about last night. He got up from table and left the hall, leaving Hermione talking to a prefect from another house. He intended to go back to his dormitory and get an hours sleep or something, but he'd barley started to climb the marble staircase when someone called his name.
"Harry! Wait!" called a female voice from a few feet behind him. Harry's stomach tightened, he would recognise the voice anywhere. He gritted his teeth and turned to face Cho.
"Hi Cho," he said forcing a smile as she ran up to him.
"Harry can I talk to you?" She asked nervously. Harry sighed and was about to speak when she cut in. "Not now, maybe tonight, same place same time?" she said hopefully.
"I'm sorry Cho, I can't," Harry replied, Cho's face fell, Harry opened his mouth to make an excuse when Cho interrupted again.
"No it's ok, I understand," she said half-heartedly. Harry could see she was hurt so as she turned to go he added.
"Cho I'm sorry, really," Cho smiled weakly.
"It's ok."
"Maybe in a few days we can talk properly," Harry said hoping she would perk up. he hated seeing her unhappy.
"Yeh ok."
"Cho, I do love you," he said. Cho smiled genuinely this time.
"I love you too," she replied blowing him a kiss and disappearing down the staircase and around the next corner. Harry was glad that was over. He went back into the common room, but his hopes of getting to him dormitory for some rest getting were dashed as saw two 6th years standing opposite ends of the common room screaming at each other. It was Ron and Seamus arguing again. Harry had lost count of the yelling matches he'd had to listen to from them the past week. He sighed and opened the door, maybe he could sort it out……….or not.
"WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK TO WHERE TO BELONG YOU STUPID IRISH BASTARD!" Ron's face was turning so red it matched his hair, unlike Seamus who was so livid with anger he had turned almost white.
"AT LEAST I'M NOT SO POOR I CANT AFFORD A HOUSE, WHERE DO YOU LIVE AGAIN WEALSEY? OH YEH…..A SKIP!" Harry was shocked that Seamus was resorting Malfoy insults. But he couldn't predict what Ron would do next. He pulled out his wand a screamed.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Seamus flew against the wall opposite Ron and his wand ripped though Seamus' pocket and into Ron's outstretched hand. He was so angry, that his hand was shaking. Seamus struggled to stand up against the pain in his back. He looked like he would murder Ron on the spot if he had his wand. Instead both stood glaring at each other. Harry decided now would be a good time to step in before one really did kill the other. He stepped between them and turned to look at Ron.
"Ron give Seamus his wand back," he said trying to sound demanding. Ron didn't move. "Oh come one Ron, just give him his wand, you've both got to stop this, you used to be friends."
"Yeh, until he became the most pretentious bastard on the planet!" Seamus spat not breaking his gaze from Ron's. Ron raised his wand again, but stepped forward and took hold of Ron's arm.
"No Ron, leave him alone," Ron turned his gaze to Harry.
"Why should I, he's been on my case since I got back," Ron replied. Harry knew Seamus hadn't been on Ron's case, it was Ron who'd changed so everyone around him couldn't help but feel annoyed. But he wasn't going to say that. "I haven't done anything, and even if a had who's he to lecture me, it's not like he's a prefect or anything." Ron was talking like Seamus wasn't there, this just made Seamus even angrier, and he took a step closer.
Harry suddenly had an idea. He was a prefect, he had every right to put Ron on detention or something. But so far he'd managed to avoid telling Ron he was prefect, and in this mood, Ron was sure to round on Harry if he found out but it was his only hope. But before any of them could do anything. Someone came through the portrait hole. Hermione gasped as she surveyed the scene before her. Harry was distracted for a moment and Ron took the opportunity to wrench his arm out of Harry's grasp and point his wand at him. Hermione gasped again, Ron pretended not to notice. Harry knew if he moved to take out his wand, Ron would hex him, so he stayed unmoving. Considering his options.
"Get out of the way, this has nothing to do with you." He said to Harry, who didn't move.
"Ron you're my best friend, this has everything to do with me." Harry's voice was quiet and unwavering. But Ron didn't flinch.
"You can't do anything, now move or I'll make you," Ron replied threateningly. Still Harry stayed stock still. Ron wasn't going to hurt him, his anger was concentrated upon Seamus.
"Ron put you're wand down," Harry was so fixated on Ron, he didn't notice Hermione slip out of the common room away from the scene.
"You gonna make me," Ron said, "You're not a prefect, you can't do anything."
"Yes he is." Seamus said suddenly from behind Harry. Both Harry and Ron's gazes rested on Seamus who looked slightly satisfied by the impact he thought this would have. Ron eyes flicked over Harry and rested on the prefect badge pinned to the front of his robes. His face (if it was possible) became even more contort with anger.
"You took my place, you're the new Gryffindor prefect," he said, his voice shaking with rage. Harry nodded determinedly.
"Yes." Ron acted within a split second of Harry's words (well technically it's only one word).
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Harry felt himself flying towards the stone wall behind him. he felt his own wand tear from within his robes and soar into Ron's grasp alongside Seamus's Harry felt the pain rip through his body as hit the wall, he slumped to the ground in agony. Ron muttered something incoherent and Harry felt himself lifted off his feet so he hovered just above the ground, then he slammed, again, right into the wall.
Harry almost screamed as the impact to effect on him, he instinctively held onto his consciousness against the throbbing pain in his head. But as he fell to the floor again he felt his self loose it. The last thing he heard was Seamus hit the wall just as he had and slump next to Harry.
Ron stood in the common room over the two unconscious boys. He was about to turn to the stone steps and into his dormitory before…….
"ACCIO WANDS!" The three wands flew from Ron's grip and into the hands of Professor McGonagall. She looked livid with rage, her eyes stared at Ron with disbelief and anger flaming in them.
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Harry opened his eyes, all his could see was darkness. He reached for his glasses and turned on a light beside him. He was in the hospital wing. His watch read 10:30pm. Harry sighed. His head ached and his mind strained to remember everything that had happened earlier that day. He couldn't believe what Ron had done. They'd had arguments before but he'd never tried to hurt Harry physically.
He looked to the bed next to him and saw Seamus, Harry couldn't tell if he was still out cold or just sleeping. He fell back onto his pillow, the pain in his head was making him drowsy, he closed his eyes and slipped into sleep.
His dreams were haunted by Ron, all he could think was Ron, why had he done this to him and Seamus, he saw Ron's face laughing, his face became distorted and suddenly Harry was looking at Malfoy, his cold laugh rang in his ears as Malfoy turned Voldemort.
There was a flash of green light that Harry had seen so many times and he was looking at someone else. He'd never seen this person before. It was a boy about Harry's age. He had light brown hair, that settled just above his shoulders, which was highlighted by the white shining background. Harry thought in the eyes of a girl he would look handsome and sophisticated. Harry could see around him, his eyes were a deep blue and he looked about an inch or two taller than Harry. The boy laughed, it was a high, merciless laugh, just like Lord Voldemort and Harry felt his scar burn with pain.
He woke up sweating and breathing heavily. He tried to recall the dream but it was slipping from his memory, until it was gone. Harry sat up and took a drink of water. Something must have gone well for Voldemort, his scar still ached dully, but he barley felt it, Voldemort was doing something and whether Harry wanted it to or not, it would all have something to do with him eventually.
He woke again the next morning at Madam Pomfrey immediately swooped down on him and gave him a hot drink. Harry drank it as Seamus woke up in the bed next to him. Harry smiled weakly at him. Seamus returned the gesture briefly before madam Pomfrey engulfed him too. Harry asked madam Pomfrey when he would be able to leave.
"You'll have to stay here today, so I can check you haven't got concussion, but you should be able to leave tomorrow," she replied, before leaving to tend to her other patients. Harry wondered if he could wait that long to see what had happened to Ron. He lay back on his pillows wondering what Ron was doing, what had happened after he'd become unconscious.
At about 9am Hermione came running into the hospital wing. She flew at Harry and hugged him until Harry thought he was going to faint.
"Oh Harry, are you ok?!" she asked. Harry smile at her.
"Yes I'm fine, I'll be out tomorrow." He replied briefly. "What happened to Ron, they haven't suspended him again have they?" Harry asked urgently. Hermione's expression of relief turned to sadness and even guilt at Harry's words. "What? What is it?" Harry demanded. Hermione bit her lip.
"Professor McGonagall took him to Dumbledore, I haven't seen him since then, but McGonagall says his punishment will be severe." Harry's heart sank at her words. he hoped Ron wasn't going to be suspended again. As much as he should hated Ron for what he'd done to him, he couldn't hate his best friend for long. Hermione gave him another hug and she began to cry. Harry wiped away her tears and comforted her.
They sat in the hospital wing talking to Seamus for ages before Madam Pomfrey insisted Hermione was disturbing them, so she left. Harry felt slightly relieved that she had left, as much as he preferred company, to being alone with nothing to do, he felt smothered by Hermione and was sometimes glad of some quiet. He needed to think right now, about what Voldemort was up to and what was going to happen to Ron.
Harry had quite a few visitors, a lot were just random people he hardly knew, who just wanted to know what happened. He couldn't tell them the truth, he spun them a story about a Quidditch injury and they would usually leave. But Harry had one visitor that day which meant more than anything else. He was just finishing his lunch when Madam Pomfrey came bustling towards him.
"You have another visitor," she sounded very exasperated, and Harry could understand, he'd had so many people come to see him, he was getting sick of it, but he sat up and let Madam Pomfrey show whoever it was in.
"Harry!" A pair of arms flung themselves around him and embraced him tightly. Harry knew exactly who it was and his heart leapt with happiness.
"Hi Cho," he said when she finally let go.
"Oh my god! Are you ok?!" she asked urgently. Harry smiled.
"Yes I'm fine, just got a sore head," he replied, "Sit down," she sat in one of the chairs by his bed.
"What happened? everyone's been saying you've fell off your broom in Quidditch practice, but I had to find out for myself, I was so worried in case it was something serious."
"It's ok, like I said, I'm fine." Harry said grinning, but knowing he would have to tell Cho the truth. "It was Ron," Harry said uncertainly. Cho looked shocked.
"But he's your best friend, what did he do?"
"He knocked me a Seamus out, Harry gestured to the bed next to him, where Seamus lay sleeping."
"Why?" Cho asked, glancing briefly at Seamus.
"I dunno how it started, I just came into the common room and Ron and Seamus were screaming at each other, Ron sort of lost it a used "Expelliarmus on Seamus, he flew against the wall and Ron took his wand." Harry paused, to let Cho take in all the information.
"How did you get involved?" Cho asked after a moments silence.
"I couldn't let Ron do that, I had to do something," Harry replied, knowing Cho would think differently, but he didn't let her intervene. #
"I stepped between them and told Ron to give Seamus his wand back, so he tried to curse me as well, I grabbed his arm, then he told me there was nothing I could do because I wasn't a prefect or anything, but Seamus told him I was, Ron really lost it then, he was the prefect before he got suspended, he grabbed his arm back and them I was flying into the wall, he got my wand and then he made both of us (he gestured towards Seamus again), slam into the wall, we both lost consciousness and woke up here." With his last statement Harry looked around the hospital wing.
Cho grabbed him again and hugged him. Harry was taken slightly by surprise, but hugged her back.
"Cho I'm fine, don't worry," Cho lifted her head, and looked at him.
"I know, but I cant stand to think what could have happened….." she trailed off and hugged him again. "So do you know what happened to Ron," there was an edge of anger as she spoke his name.
"I dunno, apparently Professor McGonagall took him to Dumbledore and no-one seen him since," Harry sighed again, hoping Ron was going to be allowed to stay at Hogwarts. He couldn't stand it if he was suspended again. Cho looked like she wanted to say something very angry about Ron, but bit it back, she was here to see Harry, not to be bitter about the person who put him here, but she swore, she's talk to Ron and say what she thought of him as soon as she could.
Cho insisted on staying as long as possible, Madam Pomfrey almost had to drag her from the hospital wing after nearly two hours. But Harry wished she could have stayed longer, she'd kept away his thoughts of Ron and he'd temporarily forgotten about Voldemort as well.
But now as evening crept around him, it all came flooding back, including something else. He remembered the day before when Cho had tried to talk to him about what Harry told her about his previous battles with Voldemort, he felt a rush of gratitude towards Cho for not bringing it up whilst she'd been there. He fell asleep not too long later, but this time his dreams were of Cho.
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What's gonna happen to Ron. Can you guess, was it totally obvious! oh well! Hope you liked it, no-one's guessed correctly why Ron's acting weird, so I'll take it you're all in suspense, for now!