Ok I'm really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sorry about Ron. It's not his fault. Please don't hate me. All will be revealed. Anyway! One more thing. All those Harry/Hermione haters, something to your liking will happen in this chapter but let me warn you, it may not last……
LogicalRaven: Nope! Can't tell ya what's up with Ron! It's a deeply guarded plot secret! Mwahahaha! Hermione and Harry will break up soon, in fact it's this chapter! So that should make you happy, but won't make you happy is chapter 24! Heh, heh, heh!
Princess Plankton: Ok, that's not exactly right but you can have this stuffed squid for effort. The chapter wasn't supposed to be obvious, but hey! You have a warped mind. I'm sure you can live being second top of my thankyou's list, is that a problem?
Lara: Lol! You crack me up Lara. Just remember you are NOT Libby! Well not Libby from Sabrina anyway. By the way I was quite scared by the fact that you didn't put monkeys in your review! *cries* my soul is broken, lol. It was just slightly…….abnormal…….*strokes beard*
Indigal: Hee, hee, I'm confusing you aren't I? That was the idea, don't worry all will be revealed eventually. Yeh I know things aren't over between them but it's only a matter of chapters, or paragraphs, about 15 paragraphs. Lol! I just gave that away. Sorry if I left with I kind of cliffy for too long. Here's chapter 21! Hope ya like it!
Ghetx2o: Yup! Ron is expelled! Mwahahahahahahaha! Ahem, sorry got carried away with my evilness there. I don't hate Ron either, he's cool, but it had to be done, you shouldn't hold all the evil stuff he's done against him. All will be revealed soon. Each time you review you seem to give me more praise. I'm very, very flattered, thankyou so much for all your kindness. *gives you pancakes* WHAT!? I like pancakes! Lol. Here's my 21st chappie for ya! Hope ya it!
Dory1727: They might be connected *looks shifty* I'm not saying nothing. Dam! That's a double negative, I hate double negatives! *curses* Sorry about Ron, I miss him too *sniffs* he'll be back though, just cos he's expelled doesn't mean he's gone forever. You're right about 'Thank Merlin' I probably wasn't concentrating, I'll change it some time…..or not, cos I'm lazy. Oh well thanks for reviewing! Just one question what does jw mean?
h-potter2003: Yes I know the whole thing with Ron is not like him! It's not supposed to be how he would act! That's the point, there's something going on which none of my reviews know about yet! There's something going on with Ron to make him like that. Hope you get it now. Thanks for the review, glad you like my fic!
Erika: yeh, sorry Ron's expelled! Hahaha! You know it's really hard not telling you about whether Harry and Cho break up, it may or may not happen. All I'm saying is people can often misinterpret what they see. *cough*Cho*cough* That's all I'm saying. *walks away trying to look innocent* I'm glad you liked the chapter! I love you, in a non-emotionalistic way, if you get what I mean!
Rin: Yeh I thought it was pretty sad too. Poor Harry and Hermione. I know was acting like he normally would at the end of the chapter, well noticed, I'm not telling you why, hehe! Harry and Hermione will eventually break up soon, but not in the way you think, in fact that happens in this chapter but for different reasons. Anyway thanks for the review and hope you like this chapter!
Wingsofsilver: Sorry, Ron's gone. (Hey that rhymes) lol! but don't worry he still plays a major part in this story, even if you won't see him for a while, he's very, very important! Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chappie!
Miss-Aurelia: Ok, because I'm evil I'm not going to tell you whether you're right or wrong! Mwahahahaha! Your ideas are very interesting but they or may not be right. Heh, heh. *gives you zillions of cookies* I thought you might have to do something to join the order, like a test kind of thing, but thanks for clarifying that you don't!
Zou-Chang: NO! Never! I cannot tell you what's wrong with Ron. It's a closely guarded plot secret! Mwahahahaha! You'll just have to wait like all my other reviewers! Hee, hee.
Siriusluver: Lol maybe Ron did got to the dark side, I'm not telling! Mwahaha! Thanks for reviewing! Hope ya like chappie 21!
Aer_Terra: I'm glad you're not flaming cos I expelled Ron, it's all part of my deepest plot secrets, heh, heh, heh. lol. I'm not telling you anything! Mwahahaha! Not about Ron or Kieran or the Order or Hermione and Harry. You'll just have to wait. Of course you can send me an e-mail whenever you like, but my e-mail address has just changed. It's now sheenrox@smartemail.co.uk I can't wait to read your fic, I bet it's sooooo cool!
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When Hermione lifted her head both hers and Harry's robes were soaked with tears and her face was barely recognisable. Harry tried to smile weakly and brush the tears from her eyes.
"Come on, let's go inside." Hermione nodded and took his hand as they walked across the grounds together. Hermione admired Harry's calmness. She wondered how he could just let all this happen and hardly show an emotion. He'd been through so much in his life and yet he managed to act so normal when all she could do was crumble.
Harry may have looked calm on the inside but inside he stomach, brain and entire body was swirling with emotion. Sadness, anger, confusion and love. He kept his feeling buried or Hermione's sake, but when he was left alone Harry wondered what he would do.
They walked in silence until they reached Gryffindor common room. Everyone stared at them, but neither raised their heads, barley registering where they were, never mind who was near by or what they could be thinking. Hermione and Harry went too their dormitories and Harry collapsed immediately on his four-poster. No-one else was in the dormitory, complete stillness filled the room, but it didn't feel like it to Harry.
He wanted to cry out for help, but he couldn't move, he could only lie still letting his thoughts overwhelm him. Harry felt a lonely tears fall from his eye, which he brushed away frustration rising in him. He was angry. Why was Ron gone? Whose fault was it? He had to blame someone. Someone had to pay for this. The memories flashed past his eyes. Hermione. It was her. She'd told Professor McGonagall. She had got Ron expelled.
He sat up suddenly. He wanted to find Hermione, he wanted to make her pay. But she was in her dormitory, and he couldn't get in. Harry looked at his watch. Nearly 8:30. He sighed. He was so tired. He closed his eyes trying to block everything. But the image of Hermione wouldn't leave his mind. Tomorrow, he thought vaguely. Tomorrow she would see what she'd done to him. And with that thought Harry drifted into a dreamless sleep.
He woke early next the next morning, he sat up slowly and realised he was still wearing the clothes he had been yesterday. He took a cold shower trying to wake himself up and wash away the memories of the previous evening. Thinking of Ron, brought back Hermione. Harry tensed with anger. How could she have done that to one of her best friends.
He got up, showered and dressed quickly, before heading down to the common room. It was still early and there was barely anyone in the large open room, so Harry sat in an armchair not far from some 3rd years who looked like they were doing early morning homework and kept glancing nervously at him, and especially at the lightning bolt scare, marked across his forehead.
Harry settled into his usual train of thought stewing over the dull throb of anger in his stomach for Hermione. The Gryffindor common room began to fill steadily, people drifting in to meet their friends and going down to breakfast. No-one gave him more than a quick glance as he sat oblivious to anything really going on around him.
Eventually Harry got up and went down to breakfast himself. He ate quickly and silently, before returning to his dormitory, hoping Hermione hadn't spotted him yet. he wasn't ready to face her, he thought he might explode at her, though maybe that's what she deserved. Harry pondered as he sat in the empty dormitory.
It wasn't long before the door opened and someone came in. Harry, who was sitting on the widow sill, didn't move. His gaze was fixated upon the Hogwarts school grounds, which were dappled with small areas of snow in the late winter. Harry showed no interest to whoever it was, taking it to be Neville, Seamus or Dean coming to get something from their trunks. But when they spoke his heart tightened.
"Harry?….." It was Hermione, her voice was shaking and nervous. Harry composed himself and stayed totally still, remembering what she'd done to his best friend. Changed or not, Harry could never stop being friends with Ron, even after he knocked him out and put him in hospital.
"Harry…..are you ok?" Hermione asked tentatively. Harry had to think of something quickly.
"You're not supposed to be here." he said bluntly, keeping his voice devoid of emotion.
"I know, I just wondered where you were, I wanted to talk to you." Hermione replied. Harry could tell he was making her nervous, he didn't care, he wanted to make her feel bad.
"I'm fine, you can leave now." Harry said, his voice still flat.
"Are you sure Harry? You sound upset, are you sure you don't want to talk?" Hermione asked. There was silence for at least a minute. Harry didn't want to reply. Yes he did want to talk, but not like she did.
"Why did you do it?" Harry asked after several moments of agonising silence for Hermione.
"Do what?" she asked, though Harry could tell she knew exactly what he meant.
"Why did you tell Professor McGonagall…..about Ron?" Harry said. Hermione paused for several seconds.
"I was scared." She said eventually. "He could have done anything to you, he looked really angry."
"You've done more damage than he ever could." Harry said coldly.
"I couldn't just stand by and watch you get hurt Harry, you're my best friend, and my boyfriend, I had to help." Harry felt a surge of anger, tear through him. he turned from the window and looked straight at her with his piercing green eyes.
"And Ron's not your best friend, he's just some random person who you barely know." Harry said sharply. Hermione looked awkward and dropped her gaze to the floor.
"I'm sorry Harry, I had to do something, I couldn't stand by and watch you get hurt. Of course he was my bes-" But Harry cut her off.
"Was! He was your best friend, and now he's different you don't want to know. We've been best friends for six years, and just because of one mistake, you're just forgetting everything! Some friend Hermione." Harry's head was spinning with anger, as he watched Hermione look shocked and upset at his words.
"Harry of course he's still my friend, but do you really expect me to think of him in the same way as I used to after he put you in hospital, he's changed, he's different, surely you can see that too." Hermione sounded half pleading half disbelieving.
"No, I still think of him as the same person and I always will. He made a mistake, he got angry with me and Seamus, we all lose it sometimes!" Harry's voice was getting louder and more furious. Hermione sensed she was making is worse, so she tried to back track.
"I know what you mean, and I'm really sorry about everything, he's still my best friend, I know, please you have to understand, I couldn't let him hurt you. Harry……." Hermione had tears in her eyes, but Harry felt no sympathy.
"I would have been fine if you hadn't told McGonagall, what worse could have happened!? So I ended up in the hospital wing! I'm not seriously harmed, I could have told them anything happened! But Ron can't be saved! He's gone forever and it's your fault!" Harry yelled anger still mounting, he felt like running, or screaming or lashing out at something. But he stood still, he wasn't moving until he'd said everything he meant.
"Harry he could have killed you!" Hermione yelled through her first tears, she sounded desperate and frustrated.
"Ron and me were, and still are, best friends! He would never do that! Don't you see it Hermione!? We've fallen out before, but we never really stopped being friends." Harry's voice dropped suddenly as he realised truly what this meant for their friendship.
"How can we ever be as close as we were? we'll be spending 90% of our time apart. When will I see him? The holidays, that's all, and even then how can anything ever be the same? I've always thought about going through school with a best friend, graduating, leaving school and getting jobs together, all the normal stuff friends do. My aunt and uncle made that hard enough. Hogwarts and Ron gave me another shot at a real life, even with Voldemort, I always had Ron, but now, now he's gone. Gone because of you." Harry wasn't yelling anymore, he felt empty, yet filled with sadness, not hate. He ran. Ran from the dormitory slamming the door forcefully behind him.
He ran across the common room, ignoring the strange looks he received from those he past by. He almost knocked over Neville as he sprinted down the marble staircase but barely noticed. He bolted out of the entrance halls doors, out into the grounds. But he didn't stop there either. He ran across the grounds not stopping or even slowing until he reached the banks of the great lake.
He skidded to a halt just before he would have hit the water and stood breathing heavily, anger still coursing through him. He picked up a stone and through it as hard as he could into the lake. It skimmed the water three or four times before disappearing under the surface of the lake. He did this several times as if trying to release his anger through the grey stones between his fingers.
Eventually he collapsed on the ground, making sure to avoid the melting snow. The ground was hard and cold, but Harry didn't care, he sat there for several minutes simply gazing over the water trying to empty his mind. The anger began to die in him and he started to relax.
He probably would have stayed there all night if someone hadn't come up behind him, and tried to talk to him.
"Harry…..?" The voice was quiet and soft, a voice Harry would know anywhere. Cho. He bit his lip but didn't answer, turn around or make any sign that he'd heard her speak. She sat beside him and took his hand. "What's happened?" she asked.
Normally Harry would have found her annoying. He didn't normally like talking to people when he'd had an argument. But Cho was different. He wanted to talk to her, to tell her everything. But he didn't know where to begin. He sighed.
"What is it?" she asked again, Harry could tell she was looking at him but he stared fixatedly at the glistening lake in front of him. "You don't have to tell me." Cho said caringly.
"No it's ok," Harry replied, he did want to talk to her, he just didn't know how to say it. "It's just……" he trailed off, still not knowing how to put it into words.
"Is it about Ron?" Cho asked. Harry was surprised that she had guessed.
"Yeh….." he sighed again. "Well it's not just Ron, it's Hermione too." He still wouldn't meet her gaze. He squinted at the bright sun as it drifted from behind a cloud.
"What's happened? Has he been suspended again?"
"No," Harry replied, another wave of sadness drifting over him. "He's been expelled." Harry felt his voice crack as if he was going to cry. But he didn't. he gritted his teeth and finally looked at Cho. Cho put a hand to her mouth, looking shocked. She put her arms around him and hugged him close. Harry managed to smile and return the embrace, glad at least she understood how much Ron had meant to him.
"I'm so sorry, you must feel so awful." Cho said comfortingly, once she'd let go of him.
"Yeh I do, he was my best friend, and now I'll barley get to see him." Harry replied, sighing for the umpteenth time. Cho hugged him again.
"You know you can always talk to me." She said, Harry was grateful that she would always be there, but felt guilty that she was being so kind and he had lied to not so long ago. Never mind he thought, that relationship's over now.
"Thanks Cho, that means a lot, me and Hermione aren't talking either, anymore." He said, knowing she would be too nice to ask.
"How come?" Cho asked, looking sympathetic.
"You don't have to feel sorry for me, it's her fault I just lost my best friend, she told McGonagall about Ron, that's why he got expelled." Harry replied. Feeling the anger rise again.
"Really?" Cho said disbelievingly. "I can't believe she'd do that."
"Yeh me too, so we had an argument, well sort of. And now we're not speaking to each other." Harry felt glad to get all this off his chest.
"Well I'm glad you told her what you thought, I think she probably deserved whatever you said to her." Cho said. Harry felt another rush of gratitude towards her.
"Thanks, we should go back inside." Harry said smiling properly and standing up. He reached out his hand to help her up which she took and he pulled her to her feet. Then they walked hand in hand back up to the castle. When they reached the top of the marble staircase where they parted ways. Harry turned to her.
"Thanks for coming to talk to me, I'll talk to you properly soon. I know you want to ask me about Voldemort and everything I told you." Harry said feeling a lot more confident that he could control his emotions, than recently.
"Yeh, ok. But you don't have to." Cho replied. Harry smiled.
"How about tomorrow after dinner? Meet you usual place?" Harry asked.
"Yeh sure, see you then." Cho replied. Then she pulled him nearer and kissed him. Harry felt a flash of happiness rip through him. he'd almost forgotten what is was like to kiss Cho like this. He held her close and savoured the taste of her lips once again.
"See you tomorrow." Harry said, a grin spread across his face, he felt generally happier than he had in several days.
"Bye Harry." Cho said smiling sweetly as they turned to go their separate ways.
Harry went up to the common room with more of a spring in his step and a happy feeling in his heart. He'd never realised how good Cho made him feel. He felt genuinely happy, he had even managed to forget about Ron and Hermione, until he reached the common room. Hermione was sitting by the window staring out into grounds. Harry went straight passed her, hoping she wouldn't see him. As he reached the staircase he heard her call out.
"Harry wait……" but he continued to walk up the stone steps pretending he hadn't heard her. Neville was lying on his bead reading when Harry entered his dormitory. But he looked up when Harry opened the door.
"Hi Harry," he said.
"Oh hi Neville," Harry replied as he bent down to retrieve his school bag from under his bed.
"Harry, Professor McGonagall was looking for you before, she said you have to go and see her as soon as possible." Neville said.
"How come?" Harry asked, hoping it wasn't about Ron.
"I dunno, but I think you should go." Neville replied. Harry shrugged.
"Ok thanks Neville I'll go now." Harry stood up straight and turned to leave once again. He went back down the stone staircase and almost ran from the common room, but this time Hermione didn't notice him. Harry wondered what Professor McGonagall could want. He reached her office. And knocked on the door.
"Come in." said Professor McGonagall's voice from inside. Harry pushed open the door, and went inside. Professor McGonagall wasn't alone in her office. Someone else sat in one of her chairs. He looked slightly taller than Harry with deep blue eyes and light brown hair, his hair fell just above his shoulders, he looked very handsome and mature in the dim light of Professor McGonagall's office. Harry had never met him, but he had a strange suspicion that he'd seen this boy before.
"Harry, this is Kieran O'Reilly."
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Finally! It's taken me so long to get Kieran in this fic! *sighs* Can anyone guess what's gonna happen now! Surely it's not that hard! Anyway! Please review! I love you all *hands out cookies* but only for reviewers!