I don't own any characters and as far as I'm concerned I won't own any characters. So, with that said, let the story continue!
Warning: This chapter is fairly long (compared to the others, but the ones to come it isnt...)... I think... and may contain sexual material.
"I can assure you that the attack made on Seamus Finnigan will not happen again to anybody within Hogwarts grounds," the headmaster declared at breakfast that same morning. "Mr. Finnigan has been sent to the hospital wing and should be good in no time."
Harry, though feeling ashamed, was hoping the boy would be ready for the next Quidditch practice. He had no one to replace him with.
"Now, everybody, the grounds have been searched and there is no snake in sight. I've looked at various maps and nobody unwanted is in the school," Dumbledore went on. "Just relax and go with your days."
So that's exactly what the students did. Harry, however, needed to speak to Dumbledore. It might be his fault if he didn't tell Dumbledore soon about what he had seen and heard on school grounds. Many things could have happened - and so early in the year! Harry decided that before dinner he would have a talk with the old headmaster.
He and Hermione were in Apparation when they had a conversation that made Harry a bit nervous.
"Gotten any better?" Harry asked Hermione about himself.
"You should stop taking these classes after Christmas, that's for sure. Me, however, have a lot of practicing to do. I don't know what's been happening to me, but I haven't been the best witch this year," Hermione said sighing. She didn't know that feelings for another person distracted a person from their work, which was a total muggle fact that applied to all humans, even wizards.
Harry told her what she wanted to hear, popping a few feet away from her and walking closer again, "You're the best witch I know! Don't say stuff like that."
"You're very sweet, Harry. I guess that's why you'll always be my best friend." Hermione smiled.
Only a best friend? thought Harry. "Yeah... so how's S.P.E.W coming along?"
"I haven't had a chance to do a lot of organizing, you know, all the work this year and all..." Hermione said. "You know, how's Dobby been? I haven't seen him for a while, and Winky too."
"Er -" Harry thought that, even if he felt guilty, now would be the time to tell Hermione that it was Dobby who had taken all the clothing she knitted. "Well, Hermione, um... you know all those clothes you made for the elfs last year... well Dobby took them." He saw the look of disappointment on Hermione's face. "But maybe you could help Winky, she's still a bit depressed."
"Oh, I might as well give up on S.P.E.W," Hermione said before popping to another corner.
"Don't give up on it. It's something you really believe in, so you should continue." Harry was being overly friendly with her, but she didn't notice. "Anyway, how about we visit those elfs before dinner today? You probably have Prefect duty and library with Malfoy, right?"
"How nice of you to memorize my schedule," Hermione said sarcastically, giving a small laugh. "That would be nice. Oh, and I'm not seeing Malfoy in the library tonight." Harry had to grin secretly to himself at that statement.
Before dinner and before Harry was suppose to meet Hermione to go see the elfs in the kitchen, Harry decided to go to Dumbledore's office. There was a problem though... he didn't know this year's password.
"Em... apple tart? Parley? Pop tart?..." it went on for quite some time, when finally he was interrupted by the voice of Dumbledore himself.
"Green smoke colored dung bomb," he said, eyes twinkling. "Come up, I trust there is something you want to speak with me about."
Harry nodded as the two made their way up the stairs behind the Gargoyle. When they got to Dumbledore's office, bright with evening sunlight, they both took a seat.
"About those attacks, Professor," Harry started. "Well, em, I don't want you to think I'm crazy or anything. But... a week ago when I was walking with Ginny, I heard a snake... it was very distant though. And then at the Quidditch game Saturday, I thought I saw a black figure with a snake. It was also distant..."
Dumbledore nodded, but in secret was unsure what to think. "We've done a search, as I said this morning. I think this has to do a bit with your outburst... with Voldemort. As you know, Seamus is a half-blood, therefore it would fit. But the school doesn't know that you had an outburst, so their only worried about the Dark Mark being on these peoples arms."
"Oh... will those marks ever go away?"
"Yes, actually, they don't stay permanent. As far as I can see, once your bitten it puts you unconcious from the bite, but no venom is in the bites. It's just an ordinary bite, bound to go away after a few weeks. I believe Mrs. Granger's has gone away a little."
Harry nodded, thinking if he should tell Dumbledore of his dream about Sirius.
"There are reasons to believe the target wasn't Seamus," Dumbledore stated out of no where. "You do share the same room, don't you?" Again, Harry nodded. "Well, I know of an animal charm and when it bites a certain person - the one it's cursed to bite - it's bite is able to possess them. It's called the Animal Possession Curse."
"You mean," Harry gulped. "The target could have been me?"
"Perhaps," Dumbledore said, nodding knowingly. "The person using the curse must insert some of his enemy's blood into it, therefore making the bite possess his enemy. Seeing as Voldemort has your blood, it could be so."
Harry pondered for a bit, not locking gazes with the Professor, for any moment Voldemort might pop up. "Professor, I had a dream about Sirius... and he told me about this book so I wouldn't go getting into trouble going back to the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Mysteries... he said he only had one dream, something about possessed and other things... it was weird."
Dumbledore nodded, as if he knew something Harry did not. "What was the book called?"
"Wait, you don't believe that I'm crazy for having a dream about Sirius... who in fact is dead?" Harry held back tears at admitting that again.
"Of course not. I was visited by my very close dead cousin once."
Harry felt relieved. "The book was called 'Beyond the Veil' by - well I don't know who."
"By Aberforth Dumbledore." The headmaster finished. "I have the book."
"Your brother?" Harry asked, mouth agape.
"Indeed. He used to work in the Ministry of Magic for the Department of Mysteries twenty years ago. When he quit, he decided to write a very, very secretive book about the Veil. There was only two copies. One he gave to me and the other he has with him in his home in New Zealand, where he's raising his goats. At least that's what he last told me." Dumbledore looked closely at the boy, knowing that Voldemort wouldn't dare touch his mind anytime soon. "Would you like to see it?" Giving the boy something perfectly safe and unharmful would make him happy, right?
"May I borrow it for a while?" Harry asked, feeling like he had just been relieved of a great spell.
"I must ask you to keep this a bit of a secret," Dumbledore replied. "But of course, you may."
Dumbledore reached under his desk for a very dusty, average sized book. It was black, and had a very worn out cover. The inside pages were hand written. He handed Harry the book and Harry gave him a thanks and left the room happily. He went to his room in the Gryffindor tower and placed the book neatly in his trunk. He would read it later after he had finished his visit to the elfs with Hermione. That was more important at the moment - alone time with Hermione.
They met up by their Portrait hole. Other people were outside, enjoying their break, or some were in class finishing up their day's work. Ron claimed he needed to be in the library again, according to Hermione. Ron had refused to talk about how he had felt about his best friends. He sure hadn't had a problem admitting it to the 'cocky' Percy.
Harry and Hermione reached the portrait with the fruits and tickled the pear. They were let in and they saw a few house elfs working on preparing the day's dinner. There they saw Dobby struggling against Winky in the corner near a fire place.
"Fine!" Winky squeeled. "Winky isn't caring anymore for working for her dear, dear Mr. Crouch! Crouchie Jr is dead as well, isn't he, cousin Dobby?" She shot a spell at Dobby, who dodged it and the spell hit a table instead.
"Winky must stops this!" Dobby insisted. "No going crazy, not a good example to other elfs."
Winky spotted Hermione and Harry, who were looking at her suspiciously. They were obviously intimidated by the elf's behavior - Mr. Crouch did die two years before. "Ah! You - Harry Potter and his little girlfriend! She tries to convince Winky to stops working, well she has!!" She shot a spell at Hermione, who shouted "Protego!" to sheild herself from it.
Winky continued on with her madness. "Dobby is idiot! Working for money! Well, Winky has master no more!" Winky started weeping in the corner. Dobby went over to try and console her, but she pushed him away. "You is evil!" She shouted another curse at Dobby, who this time didn't miss it and flew into another elf who was trying to prepare pumpkin pie.
Dobby got up and looked at Harry. "Is not good idea for Harry Potter and Ms. Hermione to be in here right now. Winky going crazy! Dobby takes care of this! Just leave now!"
Harry and Hermione (who was a bit upset at seeing Dobby wearing all her elf clothes) walked out of the door hesitantly.
As the two made their way having casual conversation (and many side glances at Hermione from Harry) they encountered Neville walking with Luna. Ever since the incident at the Department of Mysteries, the two had become close friends.
"How does this sound?" Luna asked Neville, clearing her voice. "He smells like great big ballons, and reminds me of apple pies. He may act like a big buffon, but he's the one who has my eye..."
Neville shrugged and replied, "It's very... poetic."
Luna's eyes lit up. "Really? You think so?"
Neville just nodded nervously before walking quickly into the Great Hall.
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The week went by fast and finally the Halloween feast came. Nobody knew how Dumbledore would make the seating arrangements so when dinner came that night everyone just stood outside the Great Hall nervously. By this time Seamus was better and able to attend Quidditch practice and classes.
Dumbledore finally came, smiling happily and said, "Oh, children, step into the Great Hall and you will see what happens!"
A second year Hufflepuff stepped in first and to everyone's surprised he bounced up and landed in Gryffindor's table. He looked around, seeing if he had gotten hurt but he hadn't at all. Students started to step in, some at once and others waited. Finally most people were seated. Harry ended up next to a first year Ravenclaw and a third year Slytherin at the Hufflepuff table. The Slytherin gave him bad looks by the Ravenclaw looked up at him admiringly. He sat across Pansy Parkinson, who also gave him dirty looks, but went on talking to the third year Slytherin sitting next to Harry. Hermione ended up sadly sitting next to Malfoy at the Ravenclaw table and Ron was across Luna Lovegood at the Gryffindor table who gave him dreamy looks. Ron fidgeted around uncomfortably at her gestures.
Before the dinner started, Dumbledore explained what he had done.
"You see, I put a simple little bouncing charm on the first few steps into the Great Hall. Of course, it's gone now, but it was completely safe. Even if Professor McGonagall didn't agree with me," He looked at the deputy headmistress, eyes twinkling. "Now enjoy the specially made food for tonight!"
The table started to fill with sweets with halloween decorations. There was carrot cake, pumpkin pie, halloween toffee sweets (sent by the Weasley' brothers) and other wizard food. The first years were delighted of the colors each of the foods had. It was after all, a special occassion with special food. The dinner finally started and the Great Hall wasn't as loud as it usually was at holiday occassions.
"You have been ignoring me delibrately?" Malfoy whispered to Hermione, who spilled a little bit of her pumpkin juice at his words. She felt a rush of warmth go through her and her cheeks turned hot.
"No, I've just been busy," Hermione replied trying to drain the blood from her face.
He moved his mouth closer to her ear, placing a hand on her thigh. He whispered softly, "How about we have some lessons tonight?"
Hermione started breathing harder, not knowing what was coming over her. Malfoy's hand slowly went up her thigh and she quickly moved her legs to stop him from going any further.
"If we must practice the Reducing charm, then yes I'll meet you in the Room of Requirement."
Malfoy just smirked and moved back before people started looking at him suspiciously.
Back at the Hufflepuff table Harry noticed Pansy looking across at the next table, eyeing Malfoy, grinning. Pansy could see the love blooming out from her lover's eyes, and knew she would be able to manipulate him. Oh, things were definitely going her way.
Harry just shrugged and went on eating.
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Harry got back to his room that night alone. Ron went to the library and Hermione had to meet Malfoy. Harry just finished his work (he was doing that lot this year because his friends were so busy - even making up gibberish for Divination on his own - Ron had been actually doing the work now!) and then went up to get ready for bed. He looked in his trunk for socks when he found the mirror that Sirius had given him the year before. He decided he would give it one more try.
"Sirius Black!" Harry yelled quietly into the mirror. Nothing came for a while, but then a figure started to appear.
"Harry?" It was the sleepy voice and face of Remus Lupin.
"Oh..." Harry said disappointedly. "Why do you have Sirius' mirror?"
"He left it and I heard someone calling into it." Remus answered. "Anyway, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine," Harry lied. He was feeling weird about a lot of things. "How are you? And how's Buckbeak... and did Kreacher finally get his head cut off?"
"Buckbeak's fine, just still a bit sad after not seeing Sirius for so long..." Remus' voice sounded sad. "Kreacher... he went to stay with the Malfoy's. But, it turns out he was freed by Narcissa, ever since Lucius was sent to prison. I heard he's miserable."
"Serves him right," Harry mumbled. "Well that's great, Professor."
"You shouldn't call me that anymore, Harry. It's alright to call me Lupin, or Remus, if you want." he replied. "But I'll be going to bed now, you do the same. Oh, and give Tonks my hello. It's kind of lonely around headquarters without her." He gave a wink, but of course didn't mean anything by it.
Suddenly a thought creeped into Harry's mind. "Wait! Lupin!" Remus face reappeared and he gave Harry a questioning look. "Is it possible for Sirius to come back as a painting? Like those portraits?"
"Oh," Remus started. "Portraits... their well, not exactly easy to talk to. Their just imprints of a person's soul. So, it would just give little quotes here and there, like Mrs. Black. And I believe they have to be drawn before the person dies, but I can't be quite sure."
"But what about Professor Dippet? His portrait teaches Apparation?..." Harry asked.
"Well," Remus began. "He must have put a lot of magic on his portrait for it to do that. But yes, some can talk."
With that the two said their goodbyes and Harry decided he would read 'Beyond the Veil' the next day.
During this time, Hermione was in the Room of Requirement waiting for Malfoy to arrive. She had been looking at all her old S.P.E.W materials, thinking if she should give up on her plead for the elfs.
"What's that?" Malfoy came and sat next to her, making sure to close to door behind him.
Hermione quickly put her things away, feeling embarrased. But Malfoy grabbed her arm and started his game. "You don't have to be afraid you know."
"I should tell you the same," Hermione replied, referring to the mark on his arm.
"I'll tell you if you tell me."
Hermione looked at him and decided S.P.E.W wasn't such a big deal after all. "It's my plead to pay elfs for work."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her. "You do realize that they don't want to be free, right?"
Hermione just sighed. "Yes, which is why I'm giving up on it. But enough about me, what's your story?"
Malfoy just shrugged. "Let's just put it this way - I hope my father never breaks out of prison."
"That's it? I know there's more."
Malfoy didn't want to tell her anymore, so he silenced her by pulling her into a kiss. She, again, was taken back by it, but after a while went along with it. He went soft on her at first, but then the kiss became more passionate and she was surprised to open her mouth for his tongue to enter. Her mind was screaming at her to stop, but her body wanted this. Malfoy was enjoying this, but feeling bad at the same time. However, the body can do many things just by their desires. They went on until Malfoy was practically lying on top of her. Things would've gone farther if she hadn't pushed him off.
She breathed hard as she sat up. Her senses all came back to her and she said, "I can't do this. We can't have lessons if they'll only turn out like this." Then, out of a certain fury, she slapped him across the face.
Malfoy rubbed his face, staring at her in awe. He liked his girls feisty, but what in the bloody hell was that all about? Well, since the little mudblood made him mad, he would just have to work harder to make her fall in love with him - in the end it would be her hurting, not him right? Still, though, he felt a bit bad about what he was doing to her, even if it wasn't like a Malfoy to feel bad.
Hermione just grabbed her belongings and walked out of the room feeling dirtied by her body's desires.
A/N: I'm not good at sexual scenes. Yuck, I don't generally like that, because what would JK think, seeing her characters doing that! Haha... but yes, then again they are all 16 years old now, and all teenagers go through this type of thing, even wizards and witches. I hope this chapter was enjoyable! :) Much much more will happen. It's long because I don't want to spend so much time on just two months of the school year! Hehe... things are happening people. Story's starting to spice up. KEEP READING... CH. 15 happens to be one of my favorites! :) But if you don't review I won't put it up!!!