Chapter 11 - Halloween
"I'm going with Lavendar. Asked her a few weeks ago," Seamus said. He, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Dean were sitting around the common room, talking casually about the next day's Hogsmeade trip. It seemed that almost everybody had a date to go to Hogsmeade with.
"I asked Luna Lovegood yesterday," Neville said quietly. Even Neville.
"And she said yes?" Ron blurted out.
"Yes!" Neville said indignantly, "At least I'm not afraid to ask the girl I like out, Ron."
Dean let out a cough that sounded an awful lot like 'Hermione', causing everyone to fall about laughing, except Ron, who was glaring at them threateningly.
"We are only friends," he said through gritted teeth, "Why can't you guys get that through your thick skulls?"
"Well, you do get a bit Defensive when we mention it," Dean said.
"And you do glare at anyone that talks to her," Neville said.
"Face it, Ron. You fancy Hermione," Seamus said.
"So, who are you going to Hogsmeade with Dean?" Harry changed the subject to avoid the impending argument or, knowing Ron, the hexing that would arise.
"I was going to ask Aira but since she left I'm all alone," Dean sighed.
It was only four days since she left and rumors already were flying as to why she was expelled. Dumbledore encouraged the rumors that she was expelled. Harry still hadn't had to face the headmaster since then and wasn't looking forward to the next Occlumency lesson. He was still rather pissed after the Tonks thing.
"Unless you're willing to go with me Ronnie?" Dean joked, batting his eyes playfully. Ron made a face.
"I think I just might rather go with Moaning Myrtle," he said, "Or possibly Filch. Or Peeves. Even Umbridge is looking good. Or maybe Snape. Or--"
"I do believe we get it, Ron," Harry said.
"Now, that hurts, Ron. Snape over me?" Dean laughed.
"Ok, ok. Maybe that one is pushing it a bit," Ron said.
"Hey, you guys! I'd get down to the feast if I were you. You definitely do not want to miss this," Fred called over to them as he left the common room behind George. Harry noticed both of their pockets were bulging and they wore sly grins.
"Let's go!" Dean exclaimed. The five boys jumped up, chasing after the twins.
"What are you going to do?"
"Yeah what is it this time?"
"Calm down, my dear boys. You shall see in due time," George said.
"And if after, you would like to make a purchase. For the low price of ten sickles, you can have a bag of twenty," Fred said, sounding like an infomercial.
"Oh, what is it?" Seamus asked. Harry looked at Ron, and saw that he, too, knew what it was they had. And his smile showed that he also thought it would make quite an entertaining disturbance. The five boys begged and pleaded to be let in this once and by the time they arrived at the Entrance Hall, Fred and George were compelled to let them in.
"Okay, I'll give you each a few," Fred said, defeated. He handed each of them a few marble-sized balls of different colors.
"When I tell you, tap them with your wands and roll them as far away from us as you can. You'll see what they do," George said. He winked at Harry and Ron.
They all sat together at the Gryffindor table, acting as normal as usual. The Great Hall looked as magnificent as it ever did with the Halloween Feast decorations and the food was always good. Once they finished eating deserts, Fred gave a nod.
"Now," he muttered. Under the table, wands were drawn. Harry tapped the four he had in his palm and rolled them towards the Slytherin table. He saw a few balls going at the other tables, and towards the other ends of Gryffindor table, even a few headed for the staff table.
"Five - four - three - two," George counted in a whisper. At one, there were several comical squelching sounds, and bright colors shot from the little balls, plastering everything in the hall. Students, tables, and walls were all sorts of different colors and patterns. At the staff table, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Green were a nice crimson with orange stripes. And, somehow, Snape still managed to look his usual livid self under the coat of polka-dotted color on his face.
Absolute silence filled the hall, as everyone took in what just happened. Harry tried to keep a straight face, but Ron caught his eye and he had to bury his face in his arms to keep from cracking up. Slowly, students began smiling and giggling; then it turned to outright laughter.
It was when they looked around that the culprits realized their only mistake in their little prank. Every person in the hall now had a new color but a certain area at the Gryffindor table. The color began to fade out of every thing and person after sixty seconds. Once the laughter died down, Dumbledore stood. He looked about the students, his gaze stopping at Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville and he smiled.
"Well, no harm came of it. Nicely done, boys," he said.
"It was our pleasure, sir," Fred and George said cheerfully, standing to take a bow, amid applause from many.
After the feast, the twins were bombarded with orders for their new product. So much so, that they sold out their stock of them that evening and needed to make a waiting list. That evening, the exploding paint balls made appearances sporadically in the Gryffindor common room, no one tiring of the new amusement.
The next morning Filch had posted notices that the exploding paint balls were added to the broad list of items banned at Hogwarts, along with nearly every other item from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, though none of the students gave any regard to his list, anyway. The notices might as well be thrown out, for all the attention the students paid to them.
By midmorning, students were lined up at the Hogwarts gates to go into Hogsmeade. Harry left Ron with Dean and Hermione and met Whitley in the Entrance Hall and they walked together. Harry felt a bit nervous. His last trip to Hogsmeade with a girl proved to be a disaster. He tried not to think about that.
As they walked down the streets of Hogsmeade, Whitley stopped in front of a little coffee shop, the coffee shop he went in with Cho last year.
"You want to go in there?" Harry asked tonelessly.
"Harry, please be kidding," she said with raised eyebrows.
"I don't know. I thought girls liked that stuff," he shrugged, very glad she wasn't interested in going there.
"Not all of us. I think we'll be happier in there," she pointed to the Quidditch store beside it. Harry grinned.
"I think so, too," he said happily. An hour was spent in the shop, comparing brooms and other supplies. Harry couldn't resist buying new Quidditch gloves and the latest issue of Quidditch Fanatic, a magazine about the English Quidditch League players.
After, they went into the Three Broomsticks for a drink, discussing the players in the magazine, among them, Oliver Wood. Talk soon turned to school, and then somehow it got to the Dursleys.
"Not all muggles are like that, are they?" Whitley asked.
"No, it varies just like with us," Harry shrugged.
"I've never met a muggle before. I only just met Muggleborns when I came to Hogwarts. My father never let me around them. Him and my mum argued about it a lot. She thought that we were no better than them, but he thought they were below us. He wanted to send me and my brother to Durmstrang, but before she died, Mum asked him to send us here. He did love her, and so he let us come here," she said.
"Sorry about your mother," Harry said. He meant it. He knew how it felt to lose someone.
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring any of it up. I've never even told anyone before," she said.
"I don't mind. You can talk to me. I'll listen," Harry said.
"Thanks," she said, laying her head against his shoulder, "It is nice to talk to someone. I know you know what my father is. My brother is the same as him, but I think he only does it to please him. He isn't exactly good with school or sports. I always got that praise. Then, me and my father got into a fight two summers ago about our different ideas about wizards and muggles. And he just kind of pushed me to the side."
"That's his loss. You don't deserve that," Harry said.
"I hate him, but he's my father," she said quietly, "He is one of those that kill innocent people. I'm sorry he did, Harry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. That's not your fault. He did that stuff. Not you," Harry said.
"But he's my father, " she said, "He's part of--"
"He is. Not you. You can't take any blame for what he does," Harry said firmly. He knew that feeling of self guilt very well, having experienced it often enough himself. Whitley nodded.
"Hey Harry, Whitley!" Ron called, hurrying in. Whitley sat back up, taking her head off Harry's shoulder, and Harry had the urge to throw his empty Butterbeer bottle at Ron, who always seemed to walk in at bad moments.
"Hi," Whitley said.
"Yeah, hi," Harry said dully.
"Hagrid is back! Hermione's there, now. She told me to get you, so we can meet her there. She said Hagrid can't stay long," Ron said quickly.
"Do you want to go?" Harry asked Whitley unsurely. Then remembering Hermione's advice from last year, he added, "Hermione's so annoying sometimes and -er- ugly."
"Harry! That's pretty damn rude!" Whitley said, looking at him like he was Malfoy.
"But, I thought girls want to hear that stuff," Harry said, "Hermione told me to say it."
Whitley laughed, "I'm thinking she meant Cho would want to hear that. Not me. I know you don't like Hermione."
"Damn right he doesn't," Ron said, glaring at Harry.
"Can we just go see Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, we have to hurry. He won't be there long," Ron said.
Harry left some money on the table to pay for the drinks and hurried out of the shop with Whitley, following Ron. They practically ran through Hogsmeade trying to keep up with Ron. Once they arrived at Hagrid's hut, they found Hermione and him inside bustling around.
"Harry! Ron! Glad ter see ya!" Hagrid said, happily, clapping them on the back.
"You, too, Hagrid," they said.
"And who's this?" he asked, meaning Whitley.
"Harry's new girlfriend, Whitley," Ron said, smirking.
"Ah, well tha's nice. Good ter meet ya, Whitley," Hagrid said.
"Nice to meet you, too," she said.
"I can' stay very long. Jus' came ter get a few things," he held up a brown pack.
"Where are you going this time? What happened with the Atrabestas?" Harry asked.
"Nothin' 'appened with em. An' I'm goin' back," Hagrid said.
"Why did you come back here?" Ron asked. Hagrid gave a big sigh and sat down.
"You lot know who wen' with me?" he asked.
"Charlie, and two other order members," Ron said.
"Denatius Piers an' his sister, Lassandra. We 'ad a problem when we foun' one of the Atrabestas. While we were dealing with that 'un, another 'un came from behin'. Denatius was killed," Hagrid said sorrowfully.
"And you're going back? But it's too dangerous," Hermione said.
"I have to. Dumbledore needs me to. The battle will be very one sided if Voldemort gets hold of these things," Hagrid said solemnly.
"Mum is going to be really upset when she finds out. She's already a wreck with Charlie doing this. When she finds out someone died..." Ron said.
"Tha's why this stays between us. No 'un is s'pose to know I returned. On'y Dumbledore," Hagrid said, "And I though' you lot weren' s'posed to know abou' this at all."
"You should be more surprised when we don't know," Ron said.
"Tha' I should. I hafta get goin now. Wish I could stay longer bu' I hafta meet Charlie," he said, ushering them out of the hut.
"I'll be seeing you again. Soon, I hope. Bye," he said.
"Bye, Hagrid," they said before he walked away into the dark of the Forbidden Forest.
"When did he get back?" Harry asked.
"He said it was only an hour ago. He had to talk to Dumbledore and then he had to get a few things before leaving," Hermione said, "I can't believe one of them were killed. It's horrible."
"And Charlie. He's going back," Ron said.
"He'll be fine. They'll be more careful now," Harry said.
"Yeah," Ron said uncertainly.
"We should go back to the castle. It's almost time for dinner and it's getting dark," Hermione suggested.
They all agreed, walking slowly to the castle. Harry and Whitley walked together, leaving Ron and Hermione to walk together and to Harry's surprise, they were actually having a conversation. Not for very long, though, as it turned to another of their arguments.
"We definitely need to get them together," Whitley muttered so only Harry could hear. They entered the castle and went to the Great Hall after dropping off their things in their common rooms. After dinner, as Harry was leaving with Ron and Hermione to go to the room of requirements for the Sunday DA meeting, Remus joined them.
"Professor Green asked me to tell you she can't make it to tonight's meeting. And she asked me to take her place, if you didn't mind," he said.
"Yeah, that's okay," Harry said.
"She said you were working on healing. I can't say I'm very good with it, but I'm not too bad, either. I learned a while ago so I didn't have to make such frequent visits to the hospital wing," Remus said.
"Why would you have to make so many stops, there?" Ron asked thoughtlessly.
"With my condition, I often injure myself," he said.
"Oh, sorry for bringing it up," Ron apologized.
"No need to be," Remus said.
During the meeting, Remus turned out to be a great help. He was able to correct anything they were doing wrong, and he seemed to know what he was doing. By the end, every member had improved through his help. When the Hufflepuff Quidditch team came late from practice, though, there was a bit of a problem with none other than Zacharias Smith.
"I don't see why we would need help from a werewolf," he whispered while Remus was busy on the other side of the room, helping Neville. Usually Harry left Zacharias to be dealt with by the Weasleys, but this time he felt the need to do it himself.
"Say another thing about Lupin and I will make sure you regret it," Harry threatened.
"He's a werewolf, Potter," he said quietly, as if that cleared everything up, "He-"
"Stop," Harry cut him off, "I don't want to hear anything come out of your mouth unless it's I love werewolves."
Zacharias glared at him and opened his mouth to say more. Harry saw a stream of spell hit him and the words 'I love werewolves' came out. Fred lowered his wand, grinning.
"Do you really, Smith? Glad to hear it. They really are quite nice when you get to know them," George said.
"I thought maybe it would be a good way to shut him up," Fred shrugged. Zacharias was glowering at them, mouthing the words 'Fix it.' Fred pretended to be thinking on it before saying slowly, "After the meeting, I suppose I could. Don't know why you'd want your mouth back, though. It seems to cause you a lot of trouble."
With the noise and distractions of the meeting, the whole scene went on unnoticed by all else. Smith received many curious looks, having kept his lips tightly shut the whole meeting. Harry was sure he'd have left if he didn't have to wait for Fred to perform the counter curse.
"I'm not sure if I want to. I definitely find his silence a great improvement," Fred had said at the end of the meeting. He sighed and pointed his wand lazily at Smith, "Negate."
Smith grabbed his things from the ground moodily and stormed out of the room, wordlessly, with his friends following. The other members also began to leave, a few lingering to have a word with Harry.
"I'll see you around, Harry," Remus said. He grinned and added in an undertone, "Thanks for sticking up for me, too."
Harry looked at him questioningly. He was sure no one heard the quiet dispute between him and Smith.
"Wolf-like hearing," Remus shrugged, "Night, Harry."
"Night Professor," Harry said as Remus left. Only he, Ron, Hermione, and Whitley were left.
"Who's is this?" Whitley asked, holding up a tattered old cloak.
"Remus's," Harry said, "I'll run it to him."
"No need. Ron can take it to him in the morning. He has a class with him first thing tomorrow," Hermione said.
"Yeah, you know, while you've got Snape in Potions," Ron added, grinning. He never missed an opportunity to tantalize Harry about having to take potions while he didn't.
"The point is you can take it to him," Hermione rolled her eyes, "Now come on. We have to get back to the common room."
At that, she gave Harry a look. They had had many arguments over his walking Whitley to her common room after meetings. Although Snape had warned Harry about going down into the dungeons alone, Harry continued to walk Whitley back after every meeting, taking the invisibility cloak and Marauder's Map with him. He never told her about her brother and his friends cornering him that night.
"I'll see you guys in the common room," Harry said to them, ignoring Hermione's reproving gaze.
"See you," they said as they left, leaving Harry and Whitley alone.
Harry wasn't sure how it happened, but one moment they were standing together tensely and the next, they were kissing. Harry's hands were lost in her brown curls. He was taken aback when she pulled away from him abruptly. It wasn't until he saw a figure in the doorway that he realized why.
"Remus!" he said, surprised and a bit annoyed at first nonetheless, "What are you doing here?"
"I forgot my cloak," he said, "I think we should talk."
"I'll just go now," Whitley said quietly, hurrying out the door.
"I'll go, too," Harry said. He tried to follow, but Remus threw an arm out to stop him.
"Sit," Remus said. Harry sighed and dropped into one of the chairs.
"I guess we -er- need to talk," Remus said, shifting uncomfortably.
"It's not like we were going to do anything," Harry said. Well, here's another one for the list of most embarrassing moments, he thought.
"I always thought Sirius would be the one to talk to you about this. I'm not exactly good at it," Remus said. Harry's eyes widened in mortification. He did not like where this was going at all. If there was anything to make his situation worse, this was it. He dropped his head into his hands.
"Don't do this," Harry groaned through his fingers.
"I just want you to think of the consequences of any rash decisions. You're sixteen. It's your choice. Remember that that one night can have life long consequences. So use your head before you do anything," he said. Harry sank deeper and deeper into the chair as Remus continued, wishing he could disappear.
"If I promise to, will you please let me leave?" he asked.
"Harry, I'm serious," Remus said.
"I know, and so am I. I promise. I won't let anything happen," Harry said, getting to his feet. He hoped the awkward moment between them would come to an end soon.
"Alright, to your dormitory then," Remus said, "Hang on. My cloak?"
"Ron has it. He was going to give it to you in the morning," Harry said, slipping out of the door, "Night Professor."
"Night Harry," Remus said. He seemed as glad as Harry to have the awkward moment end. Harry walked in the opposite direction of Remus, towards Gryffindor common room, embarrassment fading and his former annoyance returning. When he reached his dormitory, he only wanted to go to sleep and forget that evening ever happened.
"I'm going with Lavendar. Asked her a few weeks ago," Seamus said. He, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Dean were sitting around the common room, talking casually about the next day's Hogsmeade trip. It seemed that almost everybody had a date to go to Hogsmeade with.
"I asked Luna Lovegood yesterday," Neville said quietly. Even Neville.
"And she said yes?" Ron blurted out.
"Yes!" Neville said indignantly, "At least I'm not afraid to ask the girl I like out, Ron."
Dean let out a cough that sounded an awful lot like 'Hermione', causing everyone to fall about laughing, except Ron, who was glaring at them threateningly.
"We are only friends," he said through gritted teeth, "Why can't you guys get that through your thick skulls?"
"Well, you do get a bit Defensive when we mention it," Dean said.
"And you do glare at anyone that talks to her," Neville said.
"Face it, Ron. You fancy Hermione," Seamus said.
"So, who are you going to Hogsmeade with Dean?" Harry changed the subject to avoid the impending argument or, knowing Ron, the hexing that would arise.
"I was going to ask Aira but since she left I'm all alone," Dean sighed.
It was only four days since she left and rumors already were flying as to why she was expelled. Dumbledore encouraged the rumors that she was expelled. Harry still hadn't had to face the headmaster since then and wasn't looking forward to the next Occlumency lesson. He was still rather pissed after the Tonks thing.
"Unless you're willing to go with me Ronnie?" Dean joked, batting his eyes playfully. Ron made a face.
"I think I just might rather go with Moaning Myrtle," he said, "Or possibly Filch. Or Peeves. Even Umbridge is looking good. Or maybe Snape. Or--"
"I do believe we get it, Ron," Harry said.
"Now, that hurts, Ron. Snape over me?" Dean laughed.
"Ok, ok. Maybe that one is pushing it a bit," Ron said.
"Hey, you guys! I'd get down to the feast if I were you. You definitely do not want to miss this," Fred called over to them as he left the common room behind George. Harry noticed both of their pockets were bulging and they wore sly grins.
"Let's go!" Dean exclaimed. The five boys jumped up, chasing after the twins.
"What are you going to do?"
"Yeah what is it this time?"
"Calm down, my dear boys. You shall see in due time," George said.
"And if after, you would like to make a purchase. For the low price of ten sickles, you can have a bag of twenty," Fred said, sounding like an infomercial.
"Oh, what is it?" Seamus asked. Harry looked at Ron, and saw that he, too, knew what it was they had. And his smile showed that he also thought it would make quite an entertaining disturbance. The five boys begged and pleaded to be let in this once and by the time they arrived at the Entrance Hall, Fred and George were compelled to let them in.
"Okay, I'll give you each a few," Fred said, defeated. He handed each of them a few marble-sized balls of different colors.
"When I tell you, tap them with your wands and roll them as far away from us as you can. You'll see what they do," George said. He winked at Harry and Ron.
They all sat together at the Gryffindor table, acting as normal as usual. The Great Hall looked as magnificent as it ever did with the Halloween Feast decorations and the food was always good. Once they finished eating deserts, Fred gave a nod.
"Now," he muttered. Under the table, wands were drawn. Harry tapped the four he had in his palm and rolled them towards the Slytherin table. He saw a few balls going at the other tables, and towards the other ends of Gryffindor table, even a few headed for the staff table.
"Five - four - three - two," George counted in a whisper. At one, there were several comical squelching sounds, and bright colors shot from the little balls, plastering everything in the hall. Students, tables, and walls were all sorts of different colors and patterns. At the staff table, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Green were a nice crimson with orange stripes. And, somehow, Snape still managed to look his usual livid self under the coat of polka-dotted color on his face.
Absolute silence filled the hall, as everyone took in what just happened. Harry tried to keep a straight face, but Ron caught his eye and he had to bury his face in his arms to keep from cracking up. Slowly, students began smiling and giggling; then it turned to outright laughter.
It was when they looked around that the culprits realized their only mistake in their little prank. Every person in the hall now had a new color but a certain area at the Gryffindor table. The color began to fade out of every thing and person after sixty seconds. Once the laughter died down, Dumbledore stood. He looked about the students, his gaze stopping at Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville and he smiled.
"Well, no harm came of it. Nicely done, boys," he said.
"It was our pleasure, sir," Fred and George said cheerfully, standing to take a bow, amid applause from many.
After the feast, the twins were bombarded with orders for their new product. So much so, that they sold out their stock of them that evening and needed to make a waiting list. That evening, the exploding paint balls made appearances sporadically in the Gryffindor common room, no one tiring of the new amusement.
The next morning Filch had posted notices that the exploding paint balls were added to the broad list of items banned at Hogwarts, along with nearly every other item from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, though none of the students gave any regard to his list, anyway. The notices might as well be thrown out, for all the attention the students paid to them.
By midmorning, students were lined up at the Hogwarts gates to go into Hogsmeade. Harry left Ron with Dean and Hermione and met Whitley in the Entrance Hall and they walked together. Harry felt a bit nervous. His last trip to Hogsmeade with a girl proved to be a disaster. He tried not to think about that.
As they walked down the streets of Hogsmeade, Whitley stopped in front of a little coffee shop, the coffee shop he went in with Cho last year.
"You want to go in there?" Harry asked tonelessly.
"Harry, please be kidding," she said with raised eyebrows.
"I don't know. I thought girls liked that stuff," he shrugged, very glad she wasn't interested in going there.
"Not all of us. I think we'll be happier in there," she pointed to the Quidditch store beside it. Harry grinned.
"I think so, too," he said happily. An hour was spent in the shop, comparing brooms and other supplies. Harry couldn't resist buying new Quidditch gloves and the latest issue of Quidditch Fanatic, a magazine about the English Quidditch League players.
After, they went into the Three Broomsticks for a drink, discussing the players in the magazine, among them, Oliver Wood. Talk soon turned to school, and then somehow it got to the Dursleys.
"Not all muggles are like that, are they?" Whitley asked.
"No, it varies just like with us," Harry shrugged.
"I've never met a muggle before. I only just met Muggleborns when I came to Hogwarts. My father never let me around them. Him and my mum argued about it a lot. She thought that we were no better than them, but he thought they were below us. He wanted to send me and my brother to Durmstrang, but before she died, Mum asked him to send us here. He did love her, and so he let us come here," she said.
"Sorry about your mother," Harry said. He meant it. He knew how it felt to lose someone.
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring any of it up. I've never even told anyone before," she said.
"I don't mind. You can talk to me. I'll listen," Harry said.
"Thanks," she said, laying her head against his shoulder, "It is nice to talk to someone. I know you know what my father is. My brother is the same as him, but I think he only does it to please him. He isn't exactly good with school or sports. I always got that praise. Then, me and my father got into a fight two summers ago about our different ideas about wizards and muggles. And he just kind of pushed me to the side."
"That's his loss. You don't deserve that," Harry said.
"I hate him, but he's my father," she said quietly, "He is one of those that kill innocent people. I'm sorry he did, Harry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. That's not your fault. He did that stuff. Not you," Harry said.
"But he's my father, " she said, "He's part of--"
"He is. Not you. You can't take any blame for what he does," Harry said firmly. He knew that feeling of self guilt very well, having experienced it often enough himself. Whitley nodded.
"Hey Harry, Whitley!" Ron called, hurrying in. Whitley sat back up, taking her head off Harry's shoulder, and Harry had the urge to throw his empty Butterbeer bottle at Ron, who always seemed to walk in at bad moments.
"Hi," Whitley said.
"Yeah, hi," Harry said dully.
"Hagrid is back! Hermione's there, now. She told me to get you, so we can meet her there. She said Hagrid can't stay long," Ron said quickly.
"Do you want to go?" Harry asked Whitley unsurely. Then remembering Hermione's advice from last year, he added, "Hermione's so annoying sometimes and -er- ugly."
"Harry! That's pretty damn rude!" Whitley said, looking at him like he was Malfoy.
"But, I thought girls want to hear that stuff," Harry said, "Hermione told me to say it."
Whitley laughed, "I'm thinking she meant Cho would want to hear that. Not me. I know you don't like Hermione."
"Damn right he doesn't," Ron said, glaring at Harry.
"Can we just go see Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, we have to hurry. He won't be there long," Ron said.
Harry left some money on the table to pay for the drinks and hurried out of the shop with Whitley, following Ron. They practically ran through Hogsmeade trying to keep up with Ron. Once they arrived at Hagrid's hut, they found Hermione and him inside bustling around.
"Harry! Ron! Glad ter see ya!" Hagrid said, happily, clapping them on the back.
"You, too, Hagrid," they said.
"And who's this?" he asked, meaning Whitley.
"Harry's new girlfriend, Whitley," Ron said, smirking.
"Ah, well tha's nice. Good ter meet ya, Whitley," Hagrid said.
"Nice to meet you, too," she said.
"I can' stay very long. Jus' came ter get a few things," he held up a brown pack.
"Where are you going this time? What happened with the Atrabestas?" Harry asked.
"Nothin' 'appened with em. An' I'm goin' back," Hagrid said.
"Why did you come back here?" Ron asked. Hagrid gave a big sigh and sat down.
"You lot know who wen' with me?" he asked.
"Charlie, and two other order members," Ron said.
"Denatius Piers an' his sister, Lassandra. We 'ad a problem when we foun' one of the Atrabestas. While we were dealing with that 'un, another 'un came from behin'. Denatius was killed," Hagrid said sorrowfully.
"And you're going back? But it's too dangerous," Hermione said.
"I have to. Dumbledore needs me to. The battle will be very one sided if Voldemort gets hold of these things," Hagrid said solemnly.
"Mum is going to be really upset when she finds out. She's already a wreck with Charlie doing this. When she finds out someone died..." Ron said.
"Tha's why this stays between us. No 'un is s'pose to know I returned. On'y Dumbledore," Hagrid said, "And I though' you lot weren' s'posed to know abou' this at all."
"You should be more surprised when we don't know," Ron said.
"Tha' I should. I hafta get goin now. Wish I could stay longer bu' I hafta meet Charlie," he said, ushering them out of the hut.
"I'll be seeing you again. Soon, I hope. Bye," he said.
"Bye, Hagrid," they said before he walked away into the dark of the Forbidden Forest.
"When did he get back?" Harry asked.
"He said it was only an hour ago. He had to talk to Dumbledore and then he had to get a few things before leaving," Hermione said, "I can't believe one of them were killed. It's horrible."
"And Charlie. He's going back," Ron said.
"He'll be fine. They'll be more careful now," Harry said.
"Yeah," Ron said uncertainly.
"We should go back to the castle. It's almost time for dinner and it's getting dark," Hermione suggested.
They all agreed, walking slowly to the castle. Harry and Whitley walked together, leaving Ron and Hermione to walk together and to Harry's surprise, they were actually having a conversation. Not for very long, though, as it turned to another of their arguments.
"We definitely need to get them together," Whitley muttered so only Harry could hear. They entered the castle and went to the Great Hall after dropping off their things in their common rooms. After dinner, as Harry was leaving with Ron and Hermione to go to the room of requirements for the Sunday DA meeting, Remus joined them.
"Professor Green asked me to tell you she can't make it to tonight's meeting. And she asked me to take her place, if you didn't mind," he said.
"Yeah, that's okay," Harry said.
"She said you were working on healing. I can't say I'm very good with it, but I'm not too bad, either. I learned a while ago so I didn't have to make such frequent visits to the hospital wing," Remus said.
"Why would you have to make so many stops, there?" Ron asked thoughtlessly.
"With my condition, I often injure myself," he said.
"Oh, sorry for bringing it up," Ron apologized.
"No need to be," Remus said.
During the meeting, Remus turned out to be a great help. He was able to correct anything they were doing wrong, and he seemed to know what he was doing. By the end, every member had improved through his help. When the Hufflepuff Quidditch team came late from practice, though, there was a bit of a problem with none other than Zacharias Smith.
"I don't see why we would need help from a werewolf," he whispered while Remus was busy on the other side of the room, helping Neville. Usually Harry left Zacharias to be dealt with by the Weasleys, but this time he felt the need to do it himself.
"Say another thing about Lupin and I will make sure you regret it," Harry threatened.
"He's a werewolf, Potter," he said quietly, as if that cleared everything up, "He-"
"Stop," Harry cut him off, "I don't want to hear anything come out of your mouth unless it's I love werewolves."
Zacharias glared at him and opened his mouth to say more. Harry saw a stream of spell hit him and the words 'I love werewolves' came out. Fred lowered his wand, grinning.
"Do you really, Smith? Glad to hear it. They really are quite nice when you get to know them," George said.
"I thought maybe it would be a good way to shut him up," Fred shrugged. Zacharias was glowering at them, mouthing the words 'Fix it.' Fred pretended to be thinking on it before saying slowly, "After the meeting, I suppose I could. Don't know why you'd want your mouth back, though. It seems to cause you a lot of trouble."
With the noise and distractions of the meeting, the whole scene went on unnoticed by all else. Smith received many curious looks, having kept his lips tightly shut the whole meeting. Harry was sure he'd have left if he didn't have to wait for Fred to perform the counter curse.
"I'm not sure if I want to. I definitely find his silence a great improvement," Fred had said at the end of the meeting. He sighed and pointed his wand lazily at Smith, "Negate."
Smith grabbed his things from the ground moodily and stormed out of the room, wordlessly, with his friends following. The other members also began to leave, a few lingering to have a word with Harry.
"I'll see you around, Harry," Remus said. He grinned and added in an undertone, "Thanks for sticking up for me, too."
Harry looked at him questioningly. He was sure no one heard the quiet dispute between him and Smith.
"Wolf-like hearing," Remus shrugged, "Night, Harry."
"Night Professor," Harry said as Remus left. Only he, Ron, Hermione, and Whitley were left.
"Who's is this?" Whitley asked, holding up a tattered old cloak.
"Remus's," Harry said, "I'll run it to him."
"No need. Ron can take it to him in the morning. He has a class with him first thing tomorrow," Hermione said.
"Yeah, you know, while you've got Snape in Potions," Ron added, grinning. He never missed an opportunity to tantalize Harry about having to take potions while he didn't.
"The point is you can take it to him," Hermione rolled her eyes, "Now come on. We have to get back to the common room."
At that, she gave Harry a look. They had had many arguments over his walking Whitley to her common room after meetings. Although Snape had warned Harry about going down into the dungeons alone, Harry continued to walk Whitley back after every meeting, taking the invisibility cloak and Marauder's Map with him. He never told her about her brother and his friends cornering him that night.
"I'll see you guys in the common room," Harry said to them, ignoring Hermione's reproving gaze.
"See you," they said as they left, leaving Harry and Whitley alone.
Harry wasn't sure how it happened, but one moment they were standing together tensely and the next, they were kissing. Harry's hands were lost in her brown curls. He was taken aback when she pulled away from him abruptly. It wasn't until he saw a figure in the doorway that he realized why.
"Remus!" he said, surprised and a bit annoyed at first nonetheless, "What are you doing here?"
"I forgot my cloak," he said, "I think we should talk."
"I'll just go now," Whitley said quietly, hurrying out the door.
"I'll go, too," Harry said. He tried to follow, but Remus threw an arm out to stop him.
"Sit," Remus said. Harry sighed and dropped into one of the chairs.
"I guess we -er- need to talk," Remus said, shifting uncomfortably.
"It's not like we were going to do anything," Harry said. Well, here's another one for the list of most embarrassing moments, he thought.
"I always thought Sirius would be the one to talk to you about this. I'm not exactly good at it," Remus said. Harry's eyes widened in mortification. He did not like where this was going at all. If there was anything to make his situation worse, this was it. He dropped his head into his hands.
"Don't do this," Harry groaned through his fingers.
"I just want you to think of the consequences of any rash decisions. You're sixteen. It's your choice. Remember that that one night can have life long consequences. So use your head before you do anything," he said. Harry sank deeper and deeper into the chair as Remus continued, wishing he could disappear.
"If I promise to, will you please let me leave?" he asked.
"Harry, I'm serious," Remus said.
"I know, and so am I. I promise. I won't let anything happen," Harry said, getting to his feet. He hoped the awkward moment between them would come to an end soon.
"Alright, to your dormitory then," Remus said, "Hang on. My cloak?"
"Ron has it. He was going to give it to you in the morning," Harry said, slipping out of the door, "Night Professor."
"Night Harry," Remus said. He seemed as glad as Harry to have the awkward moment end. Harry walked in the opposite direction of Remus, towards Gryffindor common room, embarrassment fading and his former annoyance returning. When he reached his dormitory, he only wanted to go to sleep and forget that evening ever happened.