CHAPTER NINETEEN- Attack, Animagus, and Apple Pie (Harry's point of
view)
By Monday morning at breakfast, Ron was awake. I asked him what had happened, and he looked at me. He was extremely pale, and shaking slightly. "Nothing."
"What do you mean 'nothing'?!" I demanded. "You just fell. What happened?"
"I just saw a vision." He said quietly.
"Oh, a vision." I replied. We were both silent a few moments. "Well?"
"Well what?" He asked.
"What was the vision?" I asked.
"Nothing." He said quickly. A little too quickly if you ask me.
"Okay, what did you see." I said.
"Nothing, Harry. Nothing." He promised.
I snorted. "Yeah right."
"Well, its not important." He said, staring into his breakfast.
"Then you can tell me." I said and he chewed at his bottom lip.
"I just saw some stuff that's gonna...."
"Gonna?" I asked. "Gonna what?"
"Er, nothing."
"Tell me!" I demanded.
"It does involve you." He said
"Well?!" I demanded.
"That's all I can-er-should-er-that's all you can know." He said.
"Did you see someone die?"
"No! No, of course not. No." Ron said, his ears turning red.
"Who died? Er, dies?" I asked.
"It's not going to happen for a while." He said, clenching his fork.
"Tell me!" I demanded.
Ron just glared at me. "Drop it."
"Drop what?" Jasmine sat down with us.
"Ron won't tell me something." I complained bitterly.
"Oh honestly, you guys fight like brothers." Jasmine said, rolling her eyes.
"Ron, tell me." I said.
Ron pushed his breakfast away from him. "I forgot my things in my dorm." He left the hall, shuffling along.
"What happened?" Jasmine asked.
I sighed. "He fell from his broom because he saw a vision. In the vision, he saw someone die and won't tell me who."
"Oh." Jasmine said quietly. "Maybe you're better off not knowing."
"It can be prevented though. Whoever dies can have the Stone with them and we can bring them back." I said.
"But that is misusing it."
"Jasmine, if it's someone I know and/or love then-"
"I think the Stone should be destroyed." Jasmine said quietly.
"What?!" I demanded.
"Harry," She said, looking at me. "what if the Stone falls in the wrong hands?"
"I won't let it." I said sharply.
"You don't know that." She said softly, resting her hand on my shoulder.
"What if its YOU that dies? Or Ron again? Or Hermione? Or Luna? I don't want any of you guys gone." I said, gripping her hand. "We haven't even been real brother/sister for two years yet. I am not going to allow you to be gone." I said.
She smiled. "Thanks, Harry. But you know, death is but the next great adventure." She said.
I frowned. "That's what Dumbledore told me once."
"Is it?" Jasmine asked with a smile. I sighed and leaned against the table.
"I don't want you gone, Jasmine. Nor do I want Hermione, Luna and especially Ron. I've already lost my best friend once." I said.
"I know, Harry. But no one can escape death. They can't even cheat it. The Stone-sure it brings you back but for how long? You'll just die again. And someday, you might not have someone to perform the ritual." She said.
I sighed. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we should destroy the-"
"What is it?" She asked as I stopped.
"I don't know where the Stone is!" I said.
"Who had it last?" She asked.
"Let's see. We brought Ron back.... we took him into the living room.... we wanted to know if-oh yes! Remus ran out and retrieved the book and Stone."
"Remus has it?" She asked.
"I think so, yes." I said, glancing at the teacher's table. "I'll ask him at lunch."
"All right." She said. She glanced over at the Slytherin table and smiled.
"I just wish you and Malfoy would break up."
"Give me one good reason other then you hate him." She said.
"Uh." I blinked and smiled. "Jasmine Malfoy sounds dreadful."
"It sounds better then Jasmine Potter." She snapped. I scowled and folded my arms angrily.
***
"Remus." I said as he started to head into the Great Hall.
"Harry." He replied.
"I need to talk to you. Alone." So we went to his office. "You still have the Stone?" I asked.
"Yes." He said.
"'Cause Jasmine and I decided it should be destroyed." I said.
Remus raised his eyebrows. "Hmm, that's a very mature decision."
"Jasmine convinced me." I said quietly.
"Yes, I expect she did. I'll go get it tonight. It's in my room." He said.
"Okay, good." I replied with a relieved sigh. After tonight the Stone would be destroyed and we wouldn't have to worry about Voldemort getting it.
***
The cloaked figure ransacked the room, searching for the Stone. "Master wants it, and put the job in my hands so I WILL get it!" She told herself. It was very easy to sneak in. After all, the idiot left his window open and she just had to fly right in.
"Where is it?!" She demanded, flinging the mattress over. Where would he hide it? There was plenty of places, since it was so small. And she had to get it ASAP since Potter was going to destroy it that night. The woman pulled her wand out and began waving it about going "Accio!"
Finally, she heard a thump. In his desk. She found the secret compartment and inside was the Stone. The woman smiled and picked it up. So small, so trivial, yet so powerful.
She pocketed it, and turned into her Animagus form and flew out the window and towards the Forbidden Forest. She landed on the ground and turned back human. "Did you get it?" Another Death Eater asked.
"Of course I did." The woman held the Stone up. It glittered in the sunlight that filtered through the leaves.
"Wow, its so.. . small." The male Death Eater said.
"I know, so trivial." The female said.
"Here, I'll hang on to it." The male held his hand out.
"Uh, no. I'm the one who risked my life." The female snapped.
"I'm higher then you. Give it to me." The male said. The woman put it down her cleavage.
"No."
"Give it to me!" The man pounced and the woman dodged.
"Go away!" The woman shouted, fumbling for her wand. The man seized her wrist and she kicked him in the shin, making sure to dig her pump heel in him.
The man grabbed her ankle and pulled. She fell to the ground and moaned in pain. The man put his hand down the front of her robes and grabbed the Stone. "Adios, bitch." The man pointed his wand and in a flash of green light, the woman was dead.
***
Professor Lamia watched as the kids tried turning into their animals. All of them had opted to do the personality form. It meant that the animal they turned into, reflected their personality. He didn't expect ANY of the students to even appear to even START showing themselves transforming until their seventh year. But he stared in shock as one of the students got white fur along his face.
"ZTOP!" Lamia screamed. Everyone froze. Lamia rushed over to the student.
"What happened?" He asked nervously.
"You have fur!" Lamia said, touching the white fur.
"I do?!" He asked in shock.
"Keep trying." Lamia insisted. The kid bit his bottom lip and closed his eyes. Nothing happened. "Vhat are you doing divverently?"
"Uh, I'm mostly concentrating on becoming an animal."
"And you veren't lazt time??"
"Not entirely." The student admitted.
"Well zink ov EXACTLY vhat you vere." Lamia said. The student closed his eyes. The white fur spread along his entire body and the next moment- he was an animal.
*** (Ron's point of view)
Something was different. VERY different. Everything looked bigger and different. I felt so small and scared. Professor Lamia bent down to look at me. "Look at vhat haz happened clazz! Zis ztudent haz become an animal!"
I was an animal?! I looked around the room. Everyone was looking at me. Peggy walked over and picked me up. "Oh Ron! Oh you're so adorable!" She said, kissing the top of my head. So I was a small animal. I wondered how to do the thought-speak and stared into Peggy's eyes.
"Take him over to the mirror." Harry said so Peggy took me over to the mirror. I stared in the mirror in surprise. Peggy stood there with a white rabbit in her arms. No, not entirely white. There was flaming red fur between the ears.
"Whoa!" I said. I knew no one heard me. Peggy put me down and I hopped over to the mirror, my little nose running faster then anything I had ever seen before. Why had I turned into a rabbit? Okay, I was going for the personality animal cause it was easier but my animal-personality was a RABBIT?! How could I be like a ra-oh shit.
Okay, so I WAS thinking of THAT with Peg. But that wasn't my entire personality! I was not a hormonal sex-oriented guy! Okay so I was with Peggy, and that was what I was thinking of but it WASN'T MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY! I tried stomping about, but only succeeded in hopping around looking crazy. "I think Ron's mad he turned into a rabbit." Dean laughed.
Peggy picked me up. Maybe that was a bad idea after all, in her arms I was right there with her-er, but that's not the point!!
I then realized I didn't know how to turn back to human. I closed my eyes and thought of my human self. A few minutes later, I was human and on top of Peggy who had fallen. "Geroff of me!" She snapped. I scrambled to my feet, hoping no one would see how red I was. "Sorry." I whispered. I felt totally embarrassed. Not only was I a freaking RABBIT but- ugh, I hoped no one would ever find out WHY I was a rabbit. Oh great, now I could turn into a rabbit and not something COOL.
"Vhy did you turn into a vabbit?" Professor Lamia asked.
I went, if possibly, redder. "I don't know."
"Vere you thinking ov anything particular?" He asked.
Once again I went even REDDER. "No."
"You zaid you vere thinking of zomething. Vhat vere you thinking ov?" He asked.
I was wringing my hands, and glancing at Peggy. Oh man I'd hate to think what would happen if she found out! "I uh can't remember."
Lamia raised his eyebrows. "Iz that zo?"
"Uh, yes." I said, gulping.
"Vell." He turned to the rest of the class. "Clazz dizmizzed." Everyone started to leave but Lamia grabbed my shoulder. "Not you."
After everyone left, Lamia pointed to a seat. I sighed and sat down. "Listen, I couldn't help but thinking of it! My girlfriends been on my mind so much and the reason I didn't want to mention it is cause it's so embarrassing and-"
"No, no, no. I didn't vant to talk about that." He said, and sat down on his desk. "I have never met anybody who could turn into an Animaguz zo quickly." He said.
"Oh." I said quietly and got even redder. Oh great now I had just told him why I turned into a rabbit!
"You are ze vone who got thirteen O.W.Lz, vight?"
"Vight. I mean right."
"Iz there anything zpecial about you?" He asked.
"I don't know." I said and began to wonder if me being dead and returned to life had to do with me becoming an Animagus so soon.
"Vell, you can go." He said. I nodded and left. I went down the stairs when Peggy appeared.
"I-" I began but she smacked me reallllly hard. I stumbled back into the wall. 'What on earth is that for?!"
"I just realized WHY you turned into a rabbit!" She snapped angrily.
Shit. "I'm sorry!" I said.
"It is COMPLETELY humiliating! Let's just hope no one finds the reason you turned into a rabbit."
"I said I'm sorry! I can't help it! You drive me crazy!" I insisted. She folded her arms and glared at me. "I'm sorry!" I repeated.
She sighed and shook her head. "Well it's too late now. I'm going to Pomfrey's for a check-up, you coming?"
"I dunno. Will you let me?" I asked.
"Of course. Besides, you make such an adorable little rabbit with that flaming red fur." She said with a smile. I grinned back, glad she wasn't extremely angry.
***
Jared Ice walked down the streets of Hogsmeade. He was an extremely handsome, strong wizard and had the most knee-wobbling smile you would ever see. A lot of the witches he past sighed happily at him. He had just moved to Hogsmeade barely a week ago, and was already one of the most known wizards there. All the girls insisted he was ten times more handsome then Gildaroy Lockhart.
Jared walked into the Three Broomsticks and flashed his smile at Rosmerta. "A Butterbeer please." He said.
"Coming right up Mr. Ice." Rosmerta giggled and handed him a mug. He kissed the back of her hand, and went to sit in a corner. Soon six people came in. Three witches and three wizards. The three witches were very pretty but Jared knew one was married, one engaged and the third-well, she was free.
Jared got up and walked over. "Hello." He said.
"Hi." The six replied.
Jared turned to the smallest witch and smiled. "I couldn't help notice you."
"A lot of people say that." One of the wizards, Sirius Black, said.
The witch Jared talked to smacked Sirius upside the head, and then smiled at Jared. "Thank you."
"Jared Ice." He said, shaking her hand.
"Emerin Elm." She replied. Jared, ofcourse, already knew her name but didn't let her know this.
"It is something so indescribable to meet someone as lovely as you." Jared said, flashing his smile. "Mind if I join you?"
"I don't mind." Emerin said and pushed the wizard next to her out of his seat. Literally. He landed on the floor.
"Ouch, Emerin!" Bert Sallis snapped. Jared knew better then to make him angry. After all, Bert was the one who had an obsession over guns. And more often then not had more then one with him.
"No, no, no. If there is not enough seats then forget it. I don't want to kick any of you out." He said, helping Bert up.
"There's enough seats." Emerin got another chair. Jared flashed her his smile and sat down. Perfect.
***
"Oh my God guys look at this!" Harry shouted at breakfast, Friday March 21st.
"What?" Everyone asked.
"Listen!" Harry cleared his throat. "The other day, I.W.A. officials found the dead body of a Death Eater in the Forbidden Forest around Hogsmeade. The Death Eater, killed by the death curse, was identified as one Rita Skeeter!"
"Oh my God!" Ron and Hermione said.
"What's wrong?" Jasmine asked.
"Rita was one of the most annoying reporters on earth. She always wrote all these horrible lies." Harry said.
"Once she made me sound like some sort of-some sort of-"
"Scarlet woman." Ron piped up and Hermione scowled.
"I found out she was an unregistered Animagus and made her keep her quill to herself for a year. I guess she went to You-Know-Who's side."
"Harry, Jasmine, I need to talk to you." Remus appeared looking worried.
"Okay." The brother and sister followed Remus into the hall.
"I looked everywhere for the Stone but its gone."
"What?!" They demanded.
"At first I thought I misplaced it but its GONE!"
"Someone took the Stone, oh great." Jasmine moaned.
"Bet you it was a Death Eat-" Harry suddenly remembered the newspaper article. "Wait, what if Rita took the Stone, and had a fight with another Death Eater who killed her?" He asked.
"Makes sense." Remus said.
"Now we just need to find whoever has the Stone even though by now Voldemort probably has it." Harry said with a heavy sigh.
Narrator: Little did Harry and his friends know that the Stone was NOT in Voldemort's clutches but the pocket of one Jared Ice! And yes I am the narrator even though this is the only time I appear in this story!
Jared Ice sipped his Butterbeer, watching Emerin talk. He had asked her on a date for that Friday night and she accepted. "You are so pretty." He said.
"Thank you." Emerin replied. Later that night they were in his home, on the couch snogging. "I have never met such a wonderful man like you!" Emerin said.
"I've never met such a wonderful woman like you." Jared replied, stroking her hair. That was a lie ofcourse. He was doing this just so he could get to the Potter child. Oh, he could easily waltz into Hogwarts and-okay so that wouldn't be easy. But there was other ways of getting the Potter kid. But this way, Jared might get one of three things. 1) he might convince Emerin to become a Death Eater or 2) he'd make a stupid goody-two-shoe witch completely miserable when he was through, or 3) he might get some action.
Jared smiled and kissed Emerin's cheek. Oh she was like putty in his hands. "I had seen you in the Three Broomsticks a few times, I never got enough nerve to ask you out." He said.
"I'm glad you did." Emerin said gently.
"So am I." Jared whispered.
"Er, if you don't mind.... where's the loo?"
"Down the hall. Turn left, third door." Jared kissed her cheek as she left. He sighed as he rested back against his couch. This was going to be quick and easy.
Speaking of quick.... Jared checked his watch as quite a few minutes past and no sign of Emerin. Where was that weird little spinster?
"So sorry." Emerin appeared with a broad smile on her face. "But your bathroom was so nice, it took a few minutes to take in the atmosphere."
"I suppose it did." Jared said and patted the couch next to him. Emerin slipped next to him and kissed him gently on the lips.
"I'll have to go in about an hour."
"Then let's make the best of our time together." Jared whispered, wrapping his arms around the tiny woman and kissing her.
*** (Hermione's point of view)
Dearest Hermione,
I cannot wait to see you this summer. I am counting down the days until we can be together again. I do not have much time to write, for I have Quidditch practice and need to go there in a minute. We have a game against Canada coming up in 14 days now and coach is driving us pretty hard. According to him we shouldn't have any time for ourselves. And ofcourse now that I am out of school, I'm driven the hardest. Well, reply back my love.
Love,
Viktor
I smiled and reread the letter a few times before writing a reply back. I sent it off with Viktor's owl, then headed to the library. I spread my things along the table and began studying. It was an incredibly warm day for early April, and so almost the entire school was outside. But I was a Prefect and needed to keep up my perfect grades.
"Hermione." I glanced up as Ginny appeared.
"Hey." I said.
"I have a question." She said nervously.
"Okay." I said, putting my quill down.
"Listen, I have a slight problem."
"With school?"
"No with..... well see there's this guy I really like but the problem is he's younger then me." Ginny said.
"So?" I asked.
"Well I know 'so' but its just.. .. do you think it would work?" She asked, chewing her bottom lip.
"How much younger is he then you?" I asked, having a feeling it was Lupus.
"Just a year but still." Ginny said, messing with her thick flaming red braid.
"If you like Lu-uh, if you like him then age doesn't matter." I said with a smile.
"Well I figured that, that's why I asked you."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well you're dating Viktor, he's four years older then you."
"Well my father is six years older then my mother." I said.
"So you think that him being a year younger then me doesn't matter?"
"No."
"Good. Thanks, Hermione. He asked me to be his girlfriend but I told him I needed to think about it." Ginny smiled and left.
I picked my quill back up and turned back to my History homework. But I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't help but feel as if something bad was coming up. Ofcourse that could easily be from my past years at Hogwarts. Something usually did happen, always bad but sometimes good. For instance Harry discovering his godfather and stuff like that. But the bad easily outdid the good.
I sighed and leaned against the table, feeling rather drowsy. Maybe I was studying too hard. But I did want to keep up my good grades and we were nearly out of Hogwarts. After this only one more year. I sighed again and stared down at my homework. It would be quite sad, our seventh year. Our last year together as students. But we were best friends and would keep up with each other afterwards, wouldn't we? But that is what I promised my old Muggle friends from my old school, before I went to Hogwarts. They thought I just went to an ordinary boarding school. I promised I'd still be friends with them, yet I hadn't talked to any of them for a couple years now.
But these guys were different. Harry, Ron, Jasmine-they were all WAY different then my Muggle friends. And I didn't mean simply because they were magic. I was so much closer to these guys, especially Harry. I really did not want to lose them. I already lost Ron once and if I felt that horrible about losing HIM, I couldn't even fathom how I'd feel if something happened to Harry.
Of course Harry wasn't exactly Mr. Safety. He put his life in danger too many times to count. But I knew he didn't care. What he cared about was everyone else. He always put other people in front of him. I knew he wasn't perfect or anything, just incredibly brave and good and just. And even though he wasn't a saint, he's as close to one then anyone I ever knew.
I was a bit jealous of Luna. But I knew it was because Harry was spending a lot of his time with her. I didn't love Harry or anything. Well I loved him but not in that way.
I sighed a third time. That was the biggest problem about dating Viktor. We couldn't spend so much time together. Harry and Luna, Ron and Peggy, Jasmine and Malfoy. They were always together. Heck, even Sirius was spending more time with Trixie then he was with Remus and Bert. But I loved Viktor. He was so perfect, at least to me.
I sighed once more, and went back to doing my homework.
*** (Jasmine's point of view)
"Harry, I need to talk to you." I whispered. It was the Saturday morning after we discovered the Stone was gone.
"What is it?" He asked after we found an empty classroom.
"I'm really worried about Draco."
"So?" Harry asked.
"Harry." I warned.
"Well what can I say? I hate him."
"Harry, he's acting weird."
"It's Draco Malfoy-he IS weird."
"Harry!" I snapped, stamping my foot. "He is my boyfriend and I LOVE him."
"Yech."
"Harry, PLEASE!"
"Okay so what is so unusual about Malfoy besides the obvious?"
"HARRY!"
"I was asking a civilized question!"
"No you weren't now be serious!"
"I'm Harry."
"ARGH!"
"Okay! Sorry! What's wrong with you vampiric boyfriend?"
I scowled but knew this was as nice about Draco as Harry would get. "He's pale-"
"How can you tell?"
"Let me finish!" I griped. "He's tired, pale, and kind of twitchy like. He doesn't spend as much time with me anymore. He seems thin, not in the physical sense but like.... like too much butter spread on a piece of bread."
"Well what do you want me to do? Get rid of his crust?"
"HARRY!!!" I screamed angrily.
"What?!" He demanded, scowling. "He is your boyfriend, not mine. I don't know what's wrong with him."
"I want you to find out."
"WHAT?! Malfoy hates me! He'd never tell me!"
"Yes he would. Just say that you know I am worried about him, and that you want to know if anything is wrong with him on my behalf."
"But that'd be a lie."
"No it won't, will it?" I hissed.
"Awwwwww MAN!" He yelled, kicking the desk. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have a sister." He groaned, shaking his head.
I smiled and hugged him. "Thanks, bro."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He pushed me off, scowling ferociously. He left the room grumbling angrily to himself. I grinned, and headed outside to (hopefully) enjoy the sunshine.
When I got outside, I found Ron and Peggy. Peggy was sitting with her back to a tree trunk, and Ron was laying on his back on the ground with his head in Peggy's lap. She was reading while running her fingers through Ron's hair, and Ron seemed asleep. Peggy glanced up and smiled at me. "Hi Jasmine."
"Hey Peggy. Is he asleep?"
"Yeah, dropped off about ten minutes ago." Peggy said as I sat down by her.
"Whatcha reading?" I asked.
" 'Outcast Of Redwall'." She said, holding the book up for me to see.
"It's odd isn't it." I asked, glancing up as the pale blue sky.
"What, the book?"
"No, life at Hogwarts. At least for my brother, Ron and Hermione."
"It seems like it." Peggy said, blowing a strand of hair from her face.
"What do you think is going to happen?" I asked, staring into her face.
"When?'
"Anytime."
"I don't know. Besides, you need to be more specific then that."
"Before the end of this school year." I said with an unhappy sigh.
"I don't know."
"Voldemort has the Stone."
"What?!" Peggy looked at me, eyes wide with fear.
"Harry, Remus and I suspect that Rita-the Death Eater that was killed-stole it, and got into a fight with another Death Eater. He or she killed Rita so he or she could take the Stone to Voldemort and get all the praise."
"It's a possibility." She said quietly. "You don't seemed too terribly worried."
"Well first off what you said was just a GUESS. And in any case, The I.W.A. has been becoming more and more publicly involved." Peggy said, blowing another strand of hair from her face. "And if legend has it right, they are extremely powerful."
"True." I said, recalling the tiny bit about the I.W.A. I read in books. "But I'm also worried about other things."
"Harry will be fine."
"Yeah I-how did you know I was worried about Harry?"
"I think we're all worried about Harry." Peggy admitted with a slight shrug.
"But that is understandable. I don't know if you know, but it seems every year for these guys something happens and Harry nearly dies."
"But he's always saved. Unless your brother is a ghost."
"Hey, don't knock ghosts. They can be very valuable." I said, thinking of Jason when he informed me that Azkaban was emptied. In fact at that moment I spotted quite a few dead things. There were five ghost trees sitting near us. There would probably be more then that but 1. dead plants could just.... disappear if they want, simply not be anymore and 2. dead plants could also move. Anyway, there was a lot of ghost rats and other small animals scurrying about. A few ghost birds fluttering and twittering. And too many ghost flowers to count. But I also spotted a few human ghosts. I only knew one of them. His name was Jonathan Windva, and he was a gamekeeper before the gamekeeper before Hagrid.
"Someone always tells me that bravery alone cannot save you. But I think it can in Harry's case." Peggy said.
"How so?" I asked.
"Harry is the only guy I know, who is brave enough to run away."
"A lot of people at my old school call that cowardly."
"Okay so Harry's fighting Voldemort," Peggy said, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Ron told me about their fourth year so I know this is true. Anyway, Harry and Voldemort are fighting. Harry was in a lot of pain, right?"
"Yeah, he told me." I said quietly, wondering what Peggy was talking about.
"A lot of people I know would try A) worm their way out it, B) beg to be freed or C) just let Voldemort kill them. But Harry-"
"He ran off."
"To fight another day."
"Maybe you're right."
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Maybe Harry is just a complete coward."
"But then why would he be put in Gryffindor?"
"Exactly."
I smiled at Peggy. "I should talk to you more often."
"Thanks." Peggy replied.
"Well, I'm going to see if I can find Harry or Draco. Bye."
"Bye." I got up and headed to the castle, feeling a lot better.
***
Peggy sighed as she rested on the couch. She kept sighing over and over. "What's wrong?" Ron asked from where he studied (forced by Peggy).
"I'm hungry."
"You just ate."
"I'm craving something."
"What are you craving?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
"If you are craving something then you should know what."
Peggy sighed and folded her hands together over her tummy. She could feel it getting a bit bigger. Not much, she was only about fourteen weeks in. "I'm hungry."
"You said that."
"I'm craving something."
"If you tell me what, I'll go to the kitchens and get it for you."
"I don't know what I'm craving."
"Then stop complaining."
"Ron, you're supposed to be understanding!"
"I'm trying but you're-never mind."
"I'm what?!" Peggy demanded, sitting up.
"I said never mind." Ron said, bent over his homework.
"Tell me." Peggy growled.
"Just forget it."
"No."
"Peggy."
"Ron!"
"You're being very annoying, okay? Annoying and whiny!!"
"Annoying?!" Peggy demanded, leaping to her feet. "ANNOYING?! WHINY?!!?!?"
Ron slammed his quill down and stood to his feet. "Yes!" He screamed.
"Why you little-fine! If you feel that way I'll go and leave you alone!!" Peggy stormed up to her dorm. Ron swore under his breath and followed her. He found her on her bed, arms folded and teeth clenched.
"Peggy, I'm sorry."
"I'm sure you are." She growled.
"I've been stressed!!" He insisted.
Peggy snorted. "Try being pregnant."
"Peg, luv.. ." Ron sat next to her on her bed and put his arm around her. "I am so sorry. I haven't been too understanding of you. I have been focused on myself."
"You're just saying that." Peggy grumbled.
"Peggy! I'm sorry!" Ron said, rubbing her back.
Peggy sniffled and rested her head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry, too. Its my hormones. They're all.. . weird."
"Yeah." Ron kissed the side of her head. "So you forgive me?"
"Yes if you go to the kitchens. I figured out what I'm craving."
"Oh?"
Peggy smiled. "Apple pie."
By Monday morning at breakfast, Ron was awake. I asked him what had happened, and he looked at me. He was extremely pale, and shaking slightly. "Nothing."
"What do you mean 'nothing'?!" I demanded. "You just fell. What happened?"
"I just saw a vision." He said quietly.
"Oh, a vision." I replied. We were both silent a few moments. "Well?"
"Well what?" He asked.
"What was the vision?" I asked.
"Nothing." He said quickly. A little too quickly if you ask me.
"Okay, what did you see." I said.
"Nothing, Harry. Nothing." He promised.
I snorted. "Yeah right."
"Well, its not important." He said, staring into his breakfast.
"Then you can tell me." I said and he chewed at his bottom lip.
"I just saw some stuff that's gonna...."
"Gonna?" I asked. "Gonna what?"
"Er, nothing."
"Tell me!" I demanded.
"It does involve you." He said
"Well?!" I demanded.
"That's all I can-er-should-er-that's all you can know." He said.
"Did you see someone die?"
"No! No, of course not. No." Ron said, his ears turning red.
"Who died? Er, dies?" I asked.
"It's not going to happen for a while." He said, clenching his fork.
"Tell me!" I demanded.
Ron just glared at me. "Drop it."
"Drop what?" Jasmine sat down with us.
"Ron won't tell me something." I complained bitterly.
"Oh honestly, you guys fight like brothers." Jasmine said, rolling her eyes.
"Ron, tell me." I said.
Ron pushed his breakfast away from him. "I forgot my things in my dorm." He left the hall, shuffling along.
"What happened?" Jasmine asked.
I sighed. "He fell from his broom because he saw a vision. In the vision, he saw someone die and won't tell me who."
"Oh." Jasmine said quietly. "Maybe you're better off not knowing."
"It can be prevented though. Whoever dies can have the Stone with them and we can bring them back." I said.
"But that is misusing it."
"Jasmine, if it's someone I know and/or love then-"
"I think the Stone should be destroyed." Jasmine said quietly.
"What?!" I demanded.
"Harry," She said, looking at me. "what if the Stone falls in the wrong hands?"
"I won't let it." I said sharply.
"You don't know that." She said softly, resting her hand on my shoulder.
"What if its YOU that dies? Or Ron again? Or Hermione? Or Luna? I don't want any of you guys gone." I said, gripping her hand. "We haven't even been real brother/sister for two years yet. I am not going to allow you to be gone." I said.
She smiled. "Thanks, Harry. But you know, death is but the next great adventure." She said.
I frowned. "That's what Dumbledore told me once."
"Is it?" Jasmine asked with a smile. I sighed and leaned against the table.
"I don't want you gone, Jasmine. Nor do I want Hermione, Luna and especially Ron. I've already lost my best friend once." I said.
"I know, Harry. But no one can escape death. They can't even cheat it. The Stone-sure it brings you back but for how long? You'll just die again. And someday, you might not have someone to perform the ritual." She said.
I sighed. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we should destroy the-"
"What is it?" She asked as I stopped.
"I don't know where the Stone is!" I said.
"Who had it last?" She asked.
"Let's see. We brought Ron back.... we took him into the living room.... we wanted to know if-oh yes! Remus ran out and retrieved the book and Stone."
"Remus has it?" She asked.
"I think so, yes." I said, glancing at the teacher's table. "I'll ask him at lunch."
"All right." She said. She glanced over at the Slytherin table and smiled.
"I just wish you and Malfoy would break up."
"Give me one good reason other then you hate him." She said.
"Uh." I blinked and smiled. "Jasmine Malfoy sounds dreadful."
"It sounds better then Jasmine Potter." She snapped. I scowled and folded my arms angrily.
***
"Remus." I said as he started to head into the Great Hall.
"Harry." He replied.
"I need to talk to you. Alone." So we went to his office. "You still have the Stone?" I asked.
"Yes." He said.
"'Cause Jasmine and I decided it should be destroyed." I said.
Remus raised his eyebrows. "Hmm, that's a very mature decision."
"Jasmine convinced me." I said quietly.
"Yes, I expect she did. I'll go get it tonight. It's in my room." He said.
"Okay, good." I replied with a relieved sigh. After tonight the Stone would be destroyed and we wouldn't have to worry about Voldemort getting it.
***
The cloaked figure ransacked the room, searching for the Stone. "Master wants it, and put the job in my hands so I WILL get it!" She told herself. It was very easy to sneak in. After all, the idiot left his window open and she just had to fly right in.
"Where is it?!" She demanded, flinging the mattress over. Where would he hide it? There was plenty of places, since it was so small. And she had to get it ASAP since Potter was going to destroy it that night. The woman pulled her wand out and began waving it about going "Accio!"
Finally, she heard a thump. In his desk. She found the secret compartment and inside was the Stone. The woman smiled and picked it up. So small, so trivial, yet so powerful.
She pocketed it, and turned into her Animagus form and flew out the window and towards the Forbidden Forest. She landed on the ground and turned back human. "Did you get it?" Another Death Eater asked.
"Of course I did." The woman held the Stone up. It glittered in the sunlight that filtered through the leaves.
"Wow, its so.. . small." The male Death Eater said.
"I know, so trivial." The female said.
"Here, I'll hang on to it." The male held his hand out.
"Uh, no. I'm the one who risked my life." The female snapped.
"I'm higher then you. Give it to me." The male said. The woman put it down her cleavage.
"No."
"Give it to me!" The man pounced and the woman dodged.
"Go away!" The woman shouted, fumbling for her wand. The man seized her wrist and she kicked him in the shin, making sure to dig her pump heel in him.
The man grabbed her ankle and pulled. She fell to the ground and moaned in pain. The man put his hand down the front of her robes and grabbed the Stone. "Adios, bitch." The man pointed his wand and in a flash of green light, the woman was dead.
***
Professor Lamia watched as the kids tried turning into their animals. All of them had opted to do the personality form. It meant that the animal they turned into, reflected their personality. He didn't expect ANY of the students to even appear to even START showing themselves transforming until their seventh year. But he stared in shock as one of the students got white fur along his face.
"ZTOP!" Lamia screamed. Everyone froze. Lamia rushed over to the student.
"What happened?" He asked nervously.
"You have fur!" Lamia said, touching the white fur.
"I do?!" He asked in shock.
"Keep trying." Lamia insisted. The kid bit his bottom lip and closed his eyes. Nothing happened. "Vhat are you doing divverently?"
"Uh, I'm mostly concentrating on becoming an animal."
"And you veren't lazt time??"
"Not entirely." The student admitted.
"Well zink ov EXACTLY vhat you vere." Lamia said. The student closed his eyes. The white fur spread along his entire body and the next moment- he was an animal.
*** (Ron's point of view)
Something was different. VERY different. Everything looked bigger and different. I felt so small and scared. Professor Lamia bent down to look at me. "Look at vhat haz happened clazz! Zis ztudent haz become an animal!"
I was an animal?! I looked around the room. Everyone was looking at me. Peggy walked over and picked me up. "Oh Ron! Oh you're so adorable!" She said, kissing the top of my head. So I was a small animal. I wondered how to do the thought-speak and stared into Peggy's eyes.
"Take him over to the mirror." Harry said so Peggy took me over to the mirror. I stared in the mirror in surprise. Peggy stood there with a white rabbit in her arms. No, not entirely white. There was flaming red fur between the ears.
"Whoa!" I said. I knew no one heard me. Peggy put me down and I hopped over to the mirror, my little nose running faster then anything I had ever seen before. Why had I turned into a rabbit? Okay, I was going for the personality animal cause it was easier but my animal-personality was a RABBIT?! How could I be like a ra-oh shit.
Okay, so I WAS thinking of THAT with Peg. But that wasn't my entire personality! I was not a hormonal sex-oriented guy! Okay so I was with Peggy, and that was what I was thinking of but it WASN'T MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY! I tried stomping about, but only succeeded in hopping around looking crazy. "I think Ron's mad he turned into a rabbit." Dean laughed.
Peggy picked me up. Maybe that was a bad idea after all, in her arms I was right there with her-er, but that's not the point!!
I then realized I didn't know how to turn back to human. I closed my eyes and thought of my human self. A few minutes later, I was human and on top of Peggy who had fallen. "Geroff of me!" She snapped. I scrambled to my feet, hoping no one would see how red I was. "Sorry." I whispered. I felt totally embarrassed. Not only was I a freaking RABBIT but- ugh, I hoped no one would ever find out WHY I was a rabbit. Oh great, now I could turn into a rabbit and not something COOL.
"Vhy did you turn into a vabbit?" Professor Lamia asked.
I went, if possibly, redder. "I don't know."
"Vere you thinking ov anything particular?" He asked.
Once again I went even REDDER. "No."
"You zaid you vere thinking of zomething. Vhat vere you thinking ov?" He asked.
I was wringing my hands, and glancing at Peggy. Oh man I'd hate to think what would happen if she found out! "I uh can't remember."
Lamia raised his eyebrows. "Iz that zo?"
"Uh, yes." I said, gulping.
"Vell." He turned to the rest of the class. "Clazz dizmizzed." Everyone started to leave but Lamia grabbed my shoulder. "Not you."
After everyone left, Lamia pointed to a seat. I sighed and sat down. "Listen, I couldn't help but thinking of it! My girlfriends been on my mind so much and the reason I didn't want to mention it is cause it's so embarrassing and-"
"No, no, no. I didn't vant to talk about that." He said, and sat down on his desk. "I have never met anybody who could turn into an Animaguz zo quickly." He said.
"Oh." I said quietly and got even redder. Oh great now I had just told him why I turned into a rabbit!
"You are ze vone who got thirteen O.W.Lz, vight?"
"Vight. I mean right."
"Iz there anything zpecial about you?" He asked.
"I don't know." I said and began to wonder if me being dead and returned to life had to do with me becoming an Animagus so soon.
"Vell, you can go." He said. I nodded and left. I went down the stairs when Peggy appeared.
"I-" I began but she smacked me reallllly hard. I stumbled back into the wall. 'What on earth is that for?!"
"I just realized WHY you turned into a rabbit!" She snapped angrily.
Shit. "I'm sorry!" I said.
"It is COMPLETELY humiliating! Let's just hope no one finds the reason you turned into a rabbit."
"I said I'm sorry! I can't help it! You drive me crazy!" I insisted. She folded her arms and glared at me. "I'm sorry!" I repeated.
She sighed and shook her head. "Well it's too late now. I'm going to Pomfrey's for a check-up, you coming?"
"I dunno. Will you let me?" I asked.
"Of course. Besides, you make such an adorable little rabbit with that flaming red fur." She said with a smile. I grinned back, glad she wasn't extremely angry.
***
Jared Ice walked down the streets of Hogsmeade. He was an extremely handsome, strong wizard and had the most knee-wobbling smile you would ever see. A lot of the witches he past sighed happily at him. He had just moved to Hogsmeade barely a week ago, and was already one of the most known wizards there. All the girls insisted he was ten times more handsome then Gildaroy Lockhart.
Jared walked into the Three Broomsticks and flashed his smile at Rosmerta. "A Butterbeer please." He said.
"Coming right up Mr. Ice." Rosmerta giggled and handed him a mug. He kissed the back of her hand, and went to sit in a corner. Soon six people came in. Three witches and three wizards. The three witches were very pretty but Jared knew one was married, one engaged and the third-well, she was free.
Jared got up and walked over. "Hello." He said.
"Hi." The six replied.
Jared turned to the smallest witch and smiled. "I couldn't help notice you."
"A lot of people say that." One of the wizards, Sirius Black, said.
The witch Jared talked to smacked Sirius upside the head, and then smiled at Jared. "Thank you."
"Jared Ice." He said, shaking her hand.
"Emerin Elm." She replied. Jared, ofcourse, already knew her name but didn't let her know this.
"It is something so indescribable to meet someone as lovely as you." Jared said, flashing his smile. "Mind if I join you?"
"I don't mind." Emerin said and pushed the wizard next to her out of his seat. Literally. He landed on the floor.
"Ouch, Emerin!" Bert Sallis snapped. Jared knew better then to make him angry. After all, Bert was the one who had an obsession over guns. And more often then not had more then one with him.
"No, no, no. If there is not enough seats then forget it. I don't want to kick any of you out." He said, helping Bert up.
"There's enough seats." Emerin got another chair. Jared flashed her his smile and sat down. Perfect.
***
"Oh my God guys look at this!" Harry shouted at breakfast, Friday March 21st.
"What?" Everyone asked.
"Listen!" Harry cleared his throat. "The other day, I.W.A. officials found the dead body of a Death Eater in the Forbidden Forest around Hogsmeade. The Death Eater, killed by the death curse, was identified as one Rita Skeeter!"
"Oh my God!" Ron and Hermione said.
"What's wrong?" Jasmine asked.
"Rita was one of the most annoying reporters on earth. She always wrote all these horrible lies." Harry said.
"Once she made me sound like some sort of-some sort of-"
"Scarlet woman." Ron piped up and Hermione scowled.
"I found out she was an unregistered Animagus and made her keep her quill to herself for a year. I guess she went to You-Know-Who's side."
"Harry, Jasmine, I need to talk to you." Remus appeared looking worried.
"Okay." The brother and sister followed Remus into the hall.
"I looked everywhere for the Stone but its gone."
"What?!" They demanded.
"At first I thought I misplaced it but its GONE!"
"Someone took the Stone, oh great." Jasmine moaned.
"Bet you it was a Death Eat-" Harry suddenly remembered the newspaper article. "Wait, what if Rita took the Stone, and had a fight with another Death Eater who killed her?" He asked.
"Makes sense." Remus said.
"Now we just need to find whoever has the Stone even though by now Voldemort probably has it." Harry said with a heavy sigh.
Narrator: Little did Harry and his friends know that the Stone was NOT in Voldemort's clutches but the pocket of one Jared Ice! And yes I am the narrator even though this is the only time I appear in this story!
Jared Ice sipped his Butterbeer, watching Emerin talk. He had asked her on a date for that Friday night and she accepted. "You are so pretty." He said.
"Thank you." Emerin replied. Later that night they were in his home, on the couch snogging. "I have never met such a wonderful man like you!" Emerin said.
"I've never met such a wonderful woman like you." Jared replied, stroking her hair. That was a lie ofcourse. He was doing this just so he could get to the Potter child. Oh, he could easily waltz into Hogwarts and-okay so that wouldn't be easy. But there was other ways of getting the Potter kid. But this way, Jared might get one of three things. 1) he might convince Emerin to become a Death Eater or 2) he'd make a stupid goody-two-shoe witch completely miserable when he was through, or 3) he might get some action.
Jared smiled and kissed Emerin's cheek. Oh she was like putty in his hands. "I had seen you in the Three Broomsticks a few times, I never got enough nerve to ask you out." He said.
"I'm glad you did." Emerin said gently.
"So am I." Jared whispered.
"Er, if you don't mind.... where's the loo?"
"Down the hall. Turn left, third door." Jared kissed her cheek as she left. He sighed as he rested back against his couch. This was going to be quick and easy.
Speaking of quick.... Jared checked his watch as quite a few minutes past and no sign of Emerin. Where was that weird little spinster?
"So sorry." Emerin appeared with a broad smile on her face. "But your bathroom was so nice, it took a few minutes to take in the atmosphere."
"I suppose it did." Jared said and patted the couch next to him. Emerin slipped next to him and kissed him gently on the lips.
"I'll have to go in about an hour."
"Then let's make the best of our time together." Jared whispered, wrapping his arms around the tiny woman and kissing her.
*** (Hermione's point of view)
Dearest Hermione,
I cannot wait to see you this summer. I am counting down the days until we can be together again. I do not have much time to write, for I have Quidditch practice and need to go there in a minute. We have a game against Canada coming up in 14 days now and coach is driving us pretty hard. According to him we shouldn't have any time for ourselves. And ofcourse now that I am out of school, I'm driven the hardest. Well, reply back my love.
Love,
Viktor
I smiled and reread the letter a few times before writing a reply back. I sent it off with Viktor's owl, then headed to the library. I spread my things along the table and began studying. It was an incredibly warm day for early April, and so almost the entire school was outside. But I was a Prefect and needed to keep up my perfect grades.
"Hermione." I glanced up as Ginny appeared.
"Hey." I said.
"I have a question." She said nervously.
"Okay." I said, putting my quill down.
"Listen, I have a slight problem."
"With school?"
"No with..... well see there's this guy I really like but the problem is he's younger then me." Ginny said.
"So?" I asked.
"Well I know 'so' but its just.. .. do you think it would work?" She asked, chewing her bottom lip.
"How much younger is he then you?" I asked, having a feeling it was Lupus.
"Just a year but still." Ginny said, messing with her thick flaming red braid.
"If you like Lu-uh, if you like him then age doesn't matter." I said with a smile.
"Well I figured that, that's why I asked you."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well you're dating Viktor, he's four years older then you."
"Well my father is six years older then my mother." I said.
"So you think that him being a year younger then me doesn't matter?"
"No."
"Good. Thanks, Hermione. He asked me to be his girlfriend but I told him I needed to think about it." Ginny smiled and left.
I picked my quill back up and turned back to my History homework. But I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't help but feel as if something bad was coming up. Ofcourse that could easily be from my past years at Hogwarts. Something usually did happen, always bad but sometimes good. For instance Harry discovering his godfather and stuff like that. But the bad easily outdid the good.
I sighed and leaned against the table, feeling rather drowsy. Maybe I was studying too hard. But I did want to keep up my good grades and we were nearly out of Hogwarts. After this only one more year. I sighed again and stared down at my homework. It would be quite sad, our seventh year. Our last year together as students. But we were best friends and would keep up with each other afterwards, wouldn't we? But that is what I promised my old Muggle friends from my old school, before I went to Hogwarts. They thought I just went to an ordinary boarding school. I promised I'd still be friends with them, yet I hadn't talked to any of them for a couple years now.
But these guys were different. Harry, Ron, Jasmine-they were all WAY different then my Muggle friends. And I didn't mean simply because they were magic. I was so much closer to these guys, especially Harry. I really did not want to lose them. I already lost Ron once and if I felt that horrible about losing HIM, I couldn't even fathom how I'd feel if something happened to Harry.
Of course Harry wasn't exactly Mr. Safety. He put his life in danger too many times to count. But I knew he didn't care. What he cared about was everyone else. He always put other people in front of him. I knew he wasn't perfect or anything, just incredibly brave and good and just. And even though he wasn't a saint, he's as close to one then anyone I ever knew.
I was a bit jealous of Luna. But I knew it was because Harry was spending a lot of his time with her. I didn't love Harry or anything. Well I loved him but not in that way.
I sighed a third time. That was the biggest problem about dating Viktor. We couldn't spend so much time together. Harry and Luna, Ron and Peggy, Jasmine and Malfoy. They were always together. Heck, even Sirius was spending more time with Trixie then he was with Remus and Bert. But I loved Viktor. He was so perfect, at least to me.
I sighed once more, and went back to doing my homework.
*** (Jasmine's point of view)
"Harry, I need to talk to you." I whispered. It was the Saturday morning after we discovered the Stone was gone.
"What is it?" He asked after we found an empty classroom.
"I'm really worried about Draco."
"So?" Harry asked.
"Harry." I warned.
"Well what can I say? I hate him."
"Harry, he's acting weird."
"It's Draco Malfoy-he IS weird."
"Harry!" I snapped, stamping my foot. "He is my boyfriend and I LOVE him."
"Yech."
"Harry, PLEASE!"
"Okay so what is so unusual about Malfoy besides the obvious?"
"HARRY!"
"I was asking a civilized question!"
"No you weren't now be serious!"
"I'm Harry."
"ARGH!"
"Okay! Sorry! What's wrong with you vampiric boyfriend?"
I scowled but knew this was as nice about Draco as Harry would get. "He's pale-"
"How can you tell?"
"Let me finish!" I griped. "He's tired, pale, and kind of twitchy like. He doesn't spend as much time with me anymore. He seems thin, not in the physical sense but like.... like too much butter spread on a piece of bread."
"Well what do you want me to do? Get rid of his crust?"
"HARRY!!!" I screamed angrily.
"What?!" He demanded, scowling. "He is your boyfriend, not mine. I don't know what's wrong with him."
"I want you to find out."
"WHAT?! Malfoy hates me! He'd never tell me!"
"Yes he would. Just say that you know I am worried about him, and that you want to know if anything is wrong with him on my behalf."
"But that'd be a lie."
"No it won't, will it?" I hissed.
"Awwwwww MAN!" He yelled, kicking the desk. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have a sister." He groaned, shaking his head.
I smiled and hugged him. "Thanks, bro."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He pushed me off, scowling ferociously. He left the room grumbling angrily to himself. I grinned, and headed outside to (hopefully) enjoy the sunshine.
When I got outside, I found Ron and Peggy. Peggy was sitting with her back to a tree trunk, and Ron was laying on his back on the ground with his head in Peggy's lap. She was reading while running her fingers through Ron's hair, and Ron seemed asleep. Peggy glanced up and smiled at me. "Hi Jasmine."
"Hey Peggy. Is he asleep?"
"Yeah, dropped off about ten minutes ago." Peggy said as I sat down by her.
"Whatcha reading?" I asked.
" 'Outcast Of Redwall'." She said, holding the book up for me to see.
"It's odd isn't it." I asked, glancing up as the pale blue sky.
"What, the book?"
"No, life at Hogwarts. At least for my brother, Ron and Hermione."
"It seems like it." Peggy said, blowing a strand of hair from her face.
"What do you think is going to happen?" I asked, staring into her face.
"When?'
"Anytime."
"I don't know. Besides, you need to be more specific then that."
"Before the end of this school year." I said with an unhappy sigh.
"I don't know."
"Voldemort has the Stone."
"What?!" Peggy looked at me, eyes wide with fear.
"Harry, Remus and I suspect that Rita-the Death Eater that was killed-stole it, and got into a fight with another Death Eater. He or she killed Rita so he or she could take the Stone to Voldemort and get all the praise."
"It's a possibility." She said quietly. "You don't seemed too terribly worried."
"Well first off what you said was just a GUESS. And in any case, The I.W.A. has been becoming more and more publicly involved." Peggy said, blowing another strand of hair from her face. "And if legend has it right, they are extremely powerful."
"True." I said, recalling the tiny bit about the I.W.A. I read in books. "But I'm also worried about other things."
"Harry will be fine."
"Yeah I-how did you know I was worried about Harry?"
"I think we're all worried about Harry." Peggy admitted with a slight shrug.
"But that is understandable. I don't know if you know, but it seems every year for these guys something happens and Harry nearly dies."
"But he's always saved. Unless your brother is a ghost."
"Hey, don't knock ghosts. They can be very valuable." I said, thinking of Jason when he informed me that Azkaban was emptied. In fact at that moment I spotted quite a few dead things. There were five ghost trees sitting near us. There would probably be more then that but 1. dead plants could just.... disappear if they want, simply not be anymore and 2. dead plants could also move. Anyway, there was a lot of ghost rats and other small animals scurrying about. A few ghost birds fluttering and twittering. And too many ghost flowers to count. But I also spotted a few human ghosts. I only knew one of them. His name was Jonathan Windva, and he was a gamekeeper before the gamekeeper before Hagrid.
"Someone always tells me that bravery alone cannot save you. But I think it can in Harry's case." Peggy said.
"How so?" I asked.
"Harry is the only guy I know, who is brave enough to run away."
"A lot of people at my old school call that cowardly."
"Okay so Harry's fighting Voldemort," Peggy said, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Ron told me about their fourth year so I know this is true. Anyway, Harry and Voldemort are fighting. Harry was in a lot of pain, right?"
"Yeah, he told me." I said quietly, wondering what Peggy was talking about.
"A lot of people I know would try A) worm their way out it, B) beg to be freed or C) just let Voldemort kill them. But Harry-"
"He ran off."
"To fight another day."
"Maybe you're right."
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Maybe Harry is just a complete coward."
"But then why would he be put in Gryffindor?"
"Exactly."
I smiled at Peggy. "I should talk to you more often."
"Thanks." Peggy replied.
"Well, I'm going to see if I can find Harry or Draco. Bye."
"Bye." I got up and headed to the castle, feeling a lot better.
***
Peggy sighed as she rested on the couch. She kept sighing over and over. "What's wrong?" Ron asked from where he studied (forced by Peggy).
"I'm hungry."
"You just ate."
"I'm craving something."
"What are you craving?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
"If you are craving something then you should know what."
Peggy sighed and folded her hands together over her tummy. She could feel it getting a bit bigger. Not much, she was only about fourteen weeks in. "I'm hungry."
"You said that."
"I'm craving something."
"If you tell me what, I'll go to the kitchens and get it for you."
"I don't know what I'm craving."
"Then stop complaining."
"Ron, you're supposed to be understanding!"
"I'm trying but you're-never mind."
"I'm what?!" Peggy demanded, sitting up.
"I said never mind." Ron said, bent over his homework.
"Tell me." Peggy growled.
"Just forget it."
"No."
"Peggy."
"Ron!"
"You're being very annoying, okay? Annoying and whiny!!"
"Annoying?!" Peggy demanded, leaping to her feet. "ANNOYING?! WHINY?!!?!?"
Ron slammed his quill down and stood to his feet. "Yes!" He screamed.
"Why you little-fine! If you feel that way I'll go and leave you alone!!" Peggy stormed up to her dorm. Ron swore under his breath and followed her. He found her on her bed, arms folded and teeth clenched.
"Peggy, I'm sorry."
"I'm sure you are." She growled.
"I've been stressed!!" He insisted.
Peggy snorted. "Try being pregnant."
"Peg, luv.. ." Ron sat next to her on her bed and put his arm around her. "I am so sorry. I haven't been too understanding of you. I have been focused on myself."
"You're just saying that." Peggy grumbled.
"Peggy! I'm sorry!" Ron said, rubbing her back.
Peggy sniffled and rested her head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry, too. Its my hormones. They're all.. . weird."
"Yeah." Ron kissed the side of her head. "So you forgive me?"
"Yes if you go to the kitchens. I figured out what I'm craving."
"Oh?"
Peggy smiled. "Apple pie."