Title: Love Is Blind
Author: silverXserpent
Rating: R
Disclaimer: All characters and setting belong to JK. Rowling. No money is being made from this story in any way.
Chapter Three Everyone Wants Satisfaction
When Harry came back from the loo, he found out with little difficulty, that Ron and Hermione were bickering again. Their voices were so loud that Harry could hear them from outside the compartment. He even considered stalling his return because he thought that it'd be a bit awkward if he walked in now, but all along the corridor, random heads were sticking out here and there. Some with bewildered expressions, and some with irritated frowns.
They all looked at Harry when he approached the door at which the problem was fuming beyond, and shrugging, slid the glass open and literally felt a blast from the increase in volume of the two's voices.
"What do you mean, you were only trying to be nice?" Hermione's voice accused piercingly. Crookshanks was cowering and hissing under her seat, his hair sticking out like a porcupine.
Ron threw his hands up in the air. "I was! Why do you have to make such a bloody big deal about everything? I was only trying to talk to you for god's sake!" His freckles were practically jumping off his face in anger.
Hermione snorted. "Talk to me? Talking can be done at a distance you know!"
"Hey! Well you grabbed my arse! What about that huh? That was sure distance!" Ron spluttered.
"I said, that was an accident! If you hadn't yanked on my hair like some insane Grindylow, then I wouldn't have had to lose my balance!" countered Hermione.
"I wasn't the one that made you fall over! We all fell over at the same time!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"I suppose I came at a bad time?" Harry bellowed over the earsplitting commotion.
Both Ron and Hermione's head's snapped around towards Harry, but their expressions didn't calm in the least bit.
"Harry!" Hermione said, standing up quickly. "You saw everything right? You know that I didn't mean to- to- well, that's not the point! Ron's accusing me of being the one who-"
"Don't listen to a word she says!" Ron interrupted furiously. "I was honestly just trying to-"
"No, you weren't!"
"How the bloody hell would you know?"
"Because I do!"
"Are they at it again?" A voice came from behind Harry.
Harry turned his head and saw another mop of flaming red hair out of the corner of his eye; identical to Ron's but three times as long.
"Hey Ginny." Harry greeted with a sigh. "Yes, they're 'at it' again."
Ginny stepped up next to him and plopped herself into the seat closest.
"Sorry I couldn't send you guys any owls while I was gone. I meant to, but I got so caught up in things that I completely forgot." she smiled apologetically.
Harry smiled back, raising his eyebrows at her. "That's okay. I mean, Ron went ballistic about it but..." Ginny let out a giggle. "So, how's Neville been?"
Ginny's cheeks turned a healthy shade of pink and she grinned.
"Oh as good as can be expected I suppose. His house is amazing! And his grandmother is such a sweet witch- she baked us five whole trays of cookies and let us pick flowers from her garden."
Harry suppressed a curious frown as he tried to imagine Neville picking bouquets at a large mansion; it actually seemed quite fitting as Neville loved anything that grew out of the ground and had roots.
"So you had fun then?"
"Oh loads of fun. But don't tell Ron about anything I said. He thinks that I was at Lavender's house the whole week."
"Ah." Harry nodded, smiling again. "That was a smart move."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Seriously. He gets completely upset if I mention any guy's name."
"Harry! Don't just stand there!" Hermione's voice suddenly cried out. "Say something will you?"
"Huh?" Harry asked, glancing over at Hermione.
Ginny shook her head and crossed her arms.
"I've got a better idea." she said matter-of-factly. "Why don't you two just kiss and make up?"
Hermione's mouth dropped open, then proceeded to form a thin grimacing line. Ron blanched and his eyes grew very round.
"Very funny Ginny." Hermione snapped and after a moment, sighed. "I suppose this is kind of idiotic... to be arguing about something like this."
Ginny nodded enthusiastically and Harry held back a smile.
Ron, being the stubborn one, 'hrmph'ed and sat back into his seat looking disgruntled.
"We should be getting to Hogsmeade in a bit." Ginny announced cheerfully, pointing at Harry's wristwatch. "About twenty more minutes."
Harry's mind did a double back and he checked his watch.
"How's that possible?" he asked confusedly, furrowing his brows.
"What do you mean?" questioned Hermione, now kneeling on the floor to retrieve a particularly cranky Crookshanks from the narrow space to put him back into the pet basket.
Harry paused, thinking it over in his head. Did he somehow miss it? Maybe when he was asleep? Or... He decided to ask.
"When I was... you know, sleeping. Did...Malfoy come to our compartment?"
Ron finally looked up with a slightly surprised expression dawning on his heated face.
"No, Malfoy didn't come. That's odd."
"What's odd?" Ginny spoke up.
Ron shrugged slightly and glanced at Ginny. Harry noted that his friend didn't seem as bothered by Malfoy's lack of appearance as he was.
"It's just that he usually stops by to give us the old one-two and then leaves. It seemed to be his annual back-to-school ritual or something. Nothing that significant."
"What kept him this year do you think?" Harry asked blandly, hoping he sounded unconcerned. "I mean, like you said, he does it every year..."
"Who knows? And who cares? It's about time he learned to keep his screwed up face out of our way."
"Ron-" Hermione said suddenly from her seat. " Malfoy may be a spoiled brat but YOU should at least learn to grow up for goodness sake!"
"Me? Grow up?" Ron exploded incredulously. "What about ferret boy? He's not going to ever grow up from insulting every inch of our skin for the rest of our lives! Just because you got Head Girl-"
"I received the honor of being Head Student for a reason, Ronald Weasley." Hermione cut in coldly. "And so did Malfoy."
Ginny cleared her throat loudly but Ron and Hermione weren't paying attention.
"You think we should break it up before it turns ugly?" she whispered, seemingly amused.
"Let's leave them this time." Harry said, his mind completely somewhere else.
"Good idea." Ginny nodded. "Well Harry, it was really nice talking to you but I think I should go back to my compartment since we're going to be there soon. Neville might be worried. So, I'll see you at the feast."
"Yeah, at the feast."
A small click and the door was slid shut as Ginny left the compartment.
Harry couldn't understand why the fact that Malfoy was avoiding them, made him so curious. The usual Malfoy was so predictable and had such a 2D personality that something like this, in a sense, threw him off.
Maybe there's some deep reason... Maybe it's different then before... Maybe... Then, it all clicked in his mind as if a lightbulb had been switched on. Of course. How the hell did I not consider that?
He's angry that I defeated Voldemort. That's like the most obvious thing in the world. He's angry that I destroyed what would have been his future. He was going to become a Death Eater just like his good for nothing father. Of course Malfoy would be furious.
With his vexing load of questions finally answered, he felt his conscience lighten; enough to almost entirely stop thinking about anything related to Malfoy for the meantime. Outside the window, the night had fallen and everything was pitch black. All he could see were the hazily glowing lights of Hogsmeade through the heavy rain, getting closer. He could hear thumping coming from the corridor outside, of students who were already making their way to the train door before it got too crowded. Harry didn't mind being one of the last to unload. That would just mean that he got less people gawking at him on the ride to Hogwarts.
The train came to a slowing stop moments after and it was then that Ron and Hermione's argument came to halt as well. Their voices were still ringing in Harry's ears and he couldn't help but feel slightly agitated from the nonstop wrangling of the two.
Hermione shot out of her seat before anyone else, grabbed Crookshank's basket, and stormed out of the compartment without a backward glance or a word. Ron was left fuming and Harry could almost see steam sprouting from his ears.
"That is just- she's so... BRGHH! I'll never understand girls!"
"She'll get over it soon enough Ron." Harry assured somewhat awkwardly. He was never one to give advice about the opposite sex. "She's just... er... preoccupied."
"About what?"
"Uh- I dunno, studying?"
"Figures."
"You know, with N.E.W.T.s coming up this year and all."
Ron paused and a thoughtful look crossed his face.
"You worried about N.E.W.T.s any?"
"Maybe a little. You?" Harry asked.
"Not too much. I don't reckon I'll stay up all night in the library studying or anything like that. I think that's just overdoing it." Ron replied, picking up Pigwidgeon's cage. "I mean, half the stuff Mione's doing is probably useless and a waste of her time. I mean, who bloody needs to read every reference book Hogwarts has?"
"But maybe we should take her advice seriously." Harry suggested. "At least, I should. The Auror tests are one of the hardest and it'll be a miracle if I even pass them."
"I still don't think we should get too worked up about it." Ron argued. "It'll just make us more nervous."
Indeed, Harry had to admit he was already feeling very nervous about the end of year tests that were months and months ahead. What if he didn't get enough N.E.W.T.s to pass? What would happen then? What would he do as an alternative job? Become a caretaker at Hogwarts like Filch? Do something totally boring and pointless? Or would he have to repeat a year at Hogwarts?
The few minutes that he'd been able to forget about Malfoy were then ruined as Malfoy's leering face appeared in his mind, taunting him about not being smart enough to graduate as he himself went on to become the next Minister of Magic.
Malfoy? Minister? No way in hell. Harry thought with a shake of his head. What IS he going to do after Hogwarts anyway?
Maybe Lucius Malfoy will try to take over the role as the Dark Lord and Draco Malfoy will assist him by his side in the uprising. If that happens, the world'll have to find a new Boy-Who-Lived because I've had enough...
Through his runaway thoughts, he hadn't realized that he and Ron were already stepping off the train and into the pouring rain. Lighting streaked across the sky and thundering booms echoed after them, eliciting screams from the girls huddled together under a colossal umbrella, waiting for an empty carriage to roll up to them.
"This is great. Just great." Ron mumbled through mouthfuls of water.
Hedwig and Pigwidgeon were screeching and flapping their wings within the bars and from somewhere around their feet, they heard a croaking sound and Ron bent down to pick up a familiar brown toad who was obviously enjoying the shower.
"Neville's blasted toad. Never lasts a day without losing it at least once."
Harry kept his mouth shut, half because he didn't want to accidentally let slip about Ginny, and half because the amount of water sloshing down his face would should surely have choked him and clogged up his nostrils.
Five minutes later, a Thestral drawn carriage came bobbing up to them on it's return back from Hogwarts and they hurriedly threw themselves, drenched clothing and all, into it.
The leather seats squelched underneath them as they slid over and their trainers left puddles of water everywhere.
"Wish I knew that drying spell that Hermione always does." said Harry through chattering teeth. "And that warming spell."
Ron pursed his lips and ineffectively attempted to wring out his now stretched out hand woven maroon Weasley sweater.
"We'll live." was all he said.
The carriage bumped on up the sloping gravel path to the gates of Hogwarts and upon passing the entrance, Harry doubted his own eyes at what he saw.
"Ron- tell me that that's not what I think it is." he breathed in horror.
"Blimey!" Ron gaped, his eyes following the stone statue standing erect just beyond the tall iron gates. "Blimey, Harry...."
Both were left utterly speechless. For the stone statue that was passing their window was an identical sculpture of Harry, full size and complete with scar and round rimmed glasses.
"Who the heck would want to put that- that thing up?" Harry stammered, feeling heat in his cheeks. "This is a nightmare... Now the whole school is going to be talking about it. The broom was one thing but this is just..."
"I don't know why you're complaining Harry, mate." Ron said, a hint of jealousy in his voice as he gazed reproachfully at the statue that was growing smaller and smaller behind them. He flopped back into his seat and snorted sarcastically. "I mean, who wouldn't want a statue of themselves made out of the best marble?"
"Can't wait to hear what Malfoy has to say about it." Harry let slip before he could stop himself.
"Eh, just ignore the arse." Ron said disgustedly. "He's not worth our time."
The carriage jerked to a stop at that moment and the door magically flew open, making the howling wind and insane rain splatter against their faces in a whoosh.
"Bloody hell!" Ron cursed, clambering off the ride first. Luckily, there were only a few feet before them until the roof of the school met them on the rising steps to the large double doors of Hogwarts. Leaving Hedwig and Pigwidgeon to be brought in along with their trunks, Harry and Ron sprinted quickly up the remainder of the steps and through the doors. A few students were still milling around the entrance hall, heading towards the Great Hall in small groups.
Their shoes squeaked much too loudly as they walked across the marble floor and into the magnificent Great Hall. By the look of it, most of the students had been fortunate enough to avoid getting soaked by the rain since they had jumped into a carriage without having to wait five minutes for one to arrive. Although it was to be expected, Harry still felt very self conscious and slightly annoyed as the majority of heads turned when he entered. He imagined that many were whispering to each other about the statue of him that they saw at the gate.
He quickly pulled Ron toward the Gryffindor table and they seated themselves at the far end, away from all the prying eyes. Hermione was there too. Even though she still looked upset, she'd obviously saved them seats next to her and Harry felt very grateful. Her gaze only met Harry's when they approached; she completely ignored Ron.
"Goodness Harry! You're drenched!" she exclaimed as he plopped down in between her and Ron's seats.
"I noticed." Harry said wearily. "Could you-"
"Of course." she hastily pulled out her wand and muttered something under her breath and instantly, Harry felt his clothing begin to unstick from his skin and his bones warming up pleasantly. He ran a hand through his hair and found it totally dry. "There." she said.
Harry grinned and gave her a smile.
"God, I feel a whole lot better now."
"Thanks Mione-" a feeble voice said from next to him. Harry turned his head to look at Ron and noticed that he was now dry too.
Hermione continued to not physically acknowledge his existence and eagerly directed her attention to Dumbledore when the old man stood up at the head of the Hall and coughed twice.
"If I could all have your undivided attention please-"
The loud babble quieted down and all eyes were now upon the Headmaster.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am more than ecstatic to be able to see so many new faces amongst us. As we all know, the past few months have been the absolute happiest times of the wizarding world and I presume that everyone has been celebrating tirelessly. I myself have deprived myself of much sleep to spend joyous hours bouncing about from party to party throughout the summer."
Most of the students laughed heartily at this and nodded in understanding.
"It was every teacher's largest dream to be able to teach at this school without the knowledge that each minute must be spent in precaution and fear of danger. It has been a very, very long time since we have felt so freed of worry and dread. But now. Now this world is finally rid of the Dark that used to be and we must be eternally grateful.
Let us give a gigantuous round of applause to Hogwart's most honored student- none other than Mr. Harry Potter!"
The whole Hall erupted into a deafening raucous as everyone cheered and whistled in Harry's direction.
Harry felt his face ripen to the color of a tomato and, forcing a lopsided half smile, slid his body as far as he could under the table.
Hermione and Ron seemed to have forgotten their feud and were beaming proudly; Hermione had tears shining in her eyes and she hugged Harry tightly and pecked him on the cheek. Ron and almost every other seventh year guy in Gryffindor was reaching over the table to thump him on the back and Harry felt like he would definitely have a bruise there the next morning.
Finally, after what seemed like eternity. Dumbledore cleared his throat again and everyone fell silent.
"Mr. Potter shall be receiving an official 'Special Services Awards' from Hogwarts and it will be put up in the trophy room for any of you that would like to stop by and sign a little message on the parchment I have made ready, which will be pinned up beneath the trophy.
"As of this year, I have considerably lessened the amount of school rules-"
A huge roar of pleased students was born again at this.
"- but just for your safety from unknown beasts and dangerous plants, I must stick to the rule about the Forbidden Forest. No student is to enter within unless accompanied by one of our staff. I believe Mr. Filch has a list of other tidbits of don'ts and more don'ts hanging from his door- you will need to unravel it a few times since the length has now grown to thirty feet of parchment.
Now enough for talk- let the sorting begin!"
The side door burst open and in came Minerva McGonagoll with her usually crisp look and tilted black hat, and following behind her fast stride were at least 70 students.
"I knew there were going to be a whole bloody load of first years!" Ron groaned at the endless line entering through the door.
Dean chuckled and nodded at toward the other side of the room
"Just hope they don't all end up in Slytherin. Now that would be hell."
Harry jerked his head instinctively in that general direction too.
Malfoy was sitting in the middle of the long line of Slytherins with a rather grim look on his face. The familiar smirk was currently absent and his eyes were blank and staring at his hands entwined atop the table. He must have felt someone's eyes on him for he looked up slowly.
Harry was surprised when their eyes met. Surprised because Malfoy had caught Harry looking at him without warning. He hastily shot a meaningful glare at Malfoy and hoped that he looked intimidating instead of startled. But Malfoy never returned a look of contempt, instead, he just turned and fixed his eyes on the student now sitting atop the tall stool with the ragged sorting hat draped over his head.
Harry felt like screaming and throwing a fit for a split second. Why was Malfoy acting all cool and emotionless toward Harry? That wasn't normal! Malfoy was supposed to be a cruel, sneering, spoiled, stuck up bastard. Harry never imagined that the day would come when he would actually want Malfoy's useless and hurtful words spit at him. He was ready for that now... but no.
"Graper, Ella!"
"Gryffindor!" was sorted when he swiveled back in his seat. Clapping and cheering with the other Gryffindors a bit viciously, he inwardly clenched his fists with a new defiance.
Fine. If Malfoy was going to act like a moron, let him. Like I care. I'll completely ignore him too. I won't even look at him. Not that I want to anyways.
TBC....
End of Chapter Three.
Please review! I will love you beyond anything! How did you like it? Tell me! winks
silverXserpent
