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!
In a way, it was a relief to be travelling back to Hogwarts for the four of them. Ginny didn't find the heart to talk to Hermione about what happened on Christmas Eve. Hermione didn't have the heart to talk to Harry about it. Harry was just as confused and didn't know what to do. Ron sat along, being the center of conversation since everyone felt so weird around each other. He was completely unaware about Ginny's liking for Harry so he kept trying to throw hints to Hermione about Harry.
"Would you like to come with me to buy some sweets from the trolley, Ginny?" Ron would ask innocently, giving Ginny a 'you-better-come-or-else-eye'.
Ginny caught his drift, but didn't comply with it. "Ron, I don't have any galleons." She replied dully.
"I'll buy you something." Ron said eagerly and a bit impatiently.
Ginny just shook her head and leaned her head on the misty window.
Ron was about to urge her again, but Hermione cut in this time. "Your sister is tired, Ron. If you really want something, I'll go with you. Or we can wait."
Ron gave a disappointed face to Harry, but Hermione just pushed him out of the compartment before he could protest. Somehow, she was getting him back for pushing her into the den on Christmas Eve.
This left Ginny and Harry alone in the compartment. Harry noticed that Ginny seemed a bit sad lately and decided to question her about it.
"You alright, Ginny?" Harry asked.
Ginny just answered without looking at him. "I'm fine." She closed her eyes slowly, making sure with her foot that the black box containing the diary of Voldemort was cast away from her.
Harry thought she was falling asleep, but a question was bugging him and he needed to ask it. "Um, Gin?" He could confide in her, right?
Ginny slowly opened her eyes and nodded, indicating that she was ready for the question.
"Just between you and me... has Hermione said anything lately... since Christmas Eve, maybe?" Harry asked curiously.
Ginny secretly heaved a deep sigh to herself. However, she could use him for information on what happened. And anyway, Harry was and only would be her friend so she needed to be the friend back and give him all she could. That was all she figured she'd get from him.
"Not really, but she has been looking a little vexed," Ginny replied, now looking at Harry with maturity. "Why? What happened?" She forced out a sly smile.
"Oh, well, erm, uh..." Harry said. He was finding it hard to confide all this to another girl. "Well, there was mistletoe, and well... you know."
"Ohhh..." Ginny said, forcing out a laugh.
After a short while, Harry said, "I really like her. I don't know if that's good or bad or just... I don't know. You know, Ron hasn't been much of a help... I was wondering if you could, well, give me some advice? About girls, coming from a girl..."
Ginny set aside all her feelings just to play this cute and trustworthy friend to Harry. "Well, has she shown any signs of liking you back?" Ginny knew the answer, but the answer would hurt Harry. She didn't want to see him hurt. Actually, Ginny didn't even know who Hermione fancied, and who did get her that wonderful, expensive pendant?
"Well, I told her how I felt, in a way, I guess. I wasn't too detailed about it, but I think she got the idea. It's been really awkward from then on. I mean we still talk, it's just... she hasn't given me an answer of how she feels, you know?"
Ginny thought of the most logical explanation she could give. "Girls can be just as confusing as you boys are to us." She smiled at Harry's quizzical look. "But, don't worry. You'll find out soon." She winked just as Ron and Hermione came popping back in.
The first thing Harry did after he settled inside the castle for the new term was bring the box and diary to Dumbledore.
"Green smoke colored dung bomb," Harry mumbled to the gargoyle. It opened and he walked inside. As soon as he reached the top of the golden steps, he saw Dumbledore calmly sitting at his desk, having a conversation with Snape. Harry hid himself, fearing he would get in trouble. Dumbledore should really watch out who he gives his passwords to, he thought.
"It's been burning for a while, sir, and I know that when it burns like this he is near." Snape informed the headmaster, raising the clothing on his covered arms to reveal the Dark Mark engraved onto his skin.
Dumbledore nodded knowingly. "I don't think, Severus, that he is near by. Near, as in the school. I do not doubt he is in London. It's very likely."
"There is no hidden paths or such you haven't checked?" Snape asked anxiously.
"Not that I know of. Do you know of any, Severus?" Dumbledore replied.
Snape shook his head. "He had once mentioned that he would soon take over a castle a while ago, but where the castle was or is remains a mystery to me."
"Ah, I see," Dumbledore replied again. "Well, I'll have a search done again, but I really do not think he is near grounds."
Snape was about to walk away, as Harry hid behind a bookshelf. But, Snape turned back and said, "Another thing, Albus."
Dumbledore nodded his head.
"I saw the boggart recently. It made the mark burn even more." Snape admitted.
Harry had never seen Snape so... sentimental. This wasn't that sentimental but it was as sentimental as Snape had ever got.
"That is natural. And, you did do the right thing that time, Severus. Don't doubt ever what you did."
"Yes, Albus, you are right." And he walked out of the office, passing by the hidden Harry and down the gargoyle steps. Does he ever wash his hair? Harry thought.
And suddenly, ruining the thoughts running through Harry's mind, Dumbledore said, "What is it, Harry?"
Harry was taken back, but just walked out of his hiding spot. "Er - sorry for eavesdropping, sir, but I had something to show, and I didn't wanna interrupt, but I couldn't leave either, see..."
Dumbledore just smiled. "I really must make sure that my passwords are given to the right people, don't I?"
Harry brought the box up to Dumbledore's desk and took a seat across from him. Harry had no doubt he had been in this office more than any student in the school.
"This, well, inside is that diary from Voldemort... he sent it back to Ginny for Christmas. And Hermione said there's a note inside, but she didn't wanna read or touch the book because she thought it might've been cursed or something."
"Wise girl," Dumbledore said. He looked at the box and opened it carefully. He muttered something under his breath, without using a wand. He took out the torn-up book and muttered another charm to it. Then he opened it up and read the note to himself.
"It was just a letter to Ginny... a rather disturbing one, yet a bit informative to me. Would you like to read it? It won't do any harm, as I have gotten rid of all curses on it, if there were any." Dumbledore passed the small piece of parchment to Harry. He was surprised to see that the writing on the parchment was spidery and elegant.
"Ginny, dear Ginny... just remember the roosters weren't the only things you killed!"
"Should we ask her what happened?" Harry asked, putting the letter down in disgust.
"No, perhaps not. Whatever she knows, she would have told us by now. So, Voldemort is obviously stupid for thinking that we could fall for such a thing. He is a fool, really." Dumbledore said. Harry had never heard the headmaster sound so disgusted. However, behind those twinkling eyes and face of disgust was a secret about Voldemort that Dumbledore only knew. Something that prevented him from harming Voldemort that night at the Department of Mysteries.
As soon as the first week of the new term passed by, Harry remembered Quidditch season. The next game would be at the end of January and it would be Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor. If Gryffindor won, they would be advanced in the league. If Hufflepuff won, it wouldn't matter. They were already beat twice by Ravenclaw and Slytherin, but them winning would put Gryffindor behind.
So, Harry decided that every Saturday he would wake all his team mates up at dawn and practice for three hours. It was a strategy he remembered from Oliver Wood. He realized he was becoming just as obsessed as his old captain about Quidditch too!
That very Saturday came and Harry woke up all his team mates one by one - except Ginny of course. He told her the night before. Although he himself was tired, he knew what was best for his team. At 4:30 am (ordinarly he wouldn't dream of waking up that early on a Saturday morning!), he woke up, took a shower in the bathroom, and got dressed. Then he woke up most of the guys in his room - the Sixth year room.
"Hoy! Wake up, let's go, on the field!" He shouted to his fellow team mates. They all groaned sleepily as he began to pull the covers off of all of them. Neville heard the racket Harry was making and pulled the covers and his pillow over his head so he could get his rest.
Harry then went to the third and fifth year room to wake up the Creeveys.
"All of you, be on that field in 15 minutes!" he yelled. "Your lucky we're not doing this on weekdays too!" They all mumbled hateful words under their breath.
Harry made his way across the first floor. He stopped short when he saw a small puddle of water next to the girls' bathroom in which the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets was. He also heard a loud, ghostly and most annoying cry. He walked inside, wondering who was making all the noise.
"Ahh... they ruined my house!" a ghost with a dull face and big, pearly spectacles was crying in the corner of the bathroom.
"Hello, Myrtle," Harry said, bored.
Her face brightened, well - she looked happier - at the sight of Harry. "Oh, hello, Harry. Have you come to celebrate the ruining of my house?"
"You have a house?" Harry asked curiously.
"Of course I have a house!" Myrtle said angrily. "I found it a while ago!" And she plunged herself down a toilet, splashing water all over the floor.
"Bloody Myrtle..." Harry mumbled, walking out of the bathroom and into the field.
The next three hours was spent working outside in the cloudy weather. Most of the team was sleepy and even the Creevey brothers weren't that excited about being on the same team as Harry anymore. And Ron almost fell off his broom from the tiredness that had overcome him! Harry - who seemed the only one to be awake - was starting to make threatening remarks to them.
"Get yourselves together or I will set a Bludger on all of you!" The team moaned and started to wake up grumpily. "I doubt you wanna do this on weekdays, too. Now work hard or we will be doing this every seven days of the week!"
-------------------
"Oh, Draco!" Pansy Parkinson exclaimed, hastily walking down the corridor to meet with Draco Malfoy.
It was after breakfast and Malfoy was just walking out to the pitch to meet his Quidditch team. Malfoy rolled his eyes irritably and turned around. "What is it?"
"The thing we talked about before Christmas... are you sure about it? Have you really gone that soft?" Pansy asked.
"It's not soft, Pansy, it's because it was completely stupid!" Malfoy said. It was the truth. He didn't feel that he should go on with the bet anymore. It wasn't really worth his time. He had enough drama in his life with his father sending him Christmas 'letters'. So much for a gift, father, he thought.
"So... that's settled then?" Pansy said.
"Yes. Honestly, why should I waste my time on a bet with a muggle-born like her?" Malfoy answered and asked. He realized that betting wasn't right. If he really did like the girl, he would do it without betting. If he didn't, why should he waste his time? No, Hermione was just that girl who he didn't really care for anymore. She was just there. Still, he had to admit she was very sweet. In the back of his mind somewhere he knew that he had feelings for her. The best thing to do was just leave her alone about it.
"That's more like it," Pansy smirked. Pansy wasn't that smart, but she could see through Malfoy. Maybe he was thinking that he didn't need to waste his time. But, she wanted to make his life complicated and hell. It was in her - a Slytherin - nature. So, if Malfoy showed anymore signs of being in love with Hermione, she would see to it that both hearts would be broken.
Pansy departed with Malfoy. Malfoy was walking to the field to meet his teammates. He arrived there, only to find that Harry was already beating his poor team to death. The rest of his team gave questioning and dirty looks to the fellow Gryffindors.
Harry spotted Malfoy and flew down, yelling to the Gryffindors to stay put and don't move.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry said, sweating and giving Malfoy a sneer.
Malfoy usually would pick a fight and say foul names, but he wasn't in the mood. Due to his father's requests for him to be 'spying', he wasn't really in the mood for much anymore. He was so sick of the fact that his father had ordered him to do everything he did in life. His changes didn't make him a good person - just wiser, in a way.
"I've booked the pitch for us today, Potter," Malfoy stopped short to think. "And anyway, your teams dying out there. Give them a break, for Merlin's sake." Indeed they were needing a break. It was almost as if they were perspiring in their sleeps on a broom. The only other one who had seemed to have been awake was Ginny. But there was a look of sadness in her face.
Harry was a bit taken back by the comment, but he argued nonetheless. "I think I know what's right for my team."
Malfoy just rolled his eyes. "Look, whatever, Potter. But I did book the field for us today."
So, with a dangerous glare at Malfoy, Harry turned and said, "Alright, we're done for the day! Remember, don't forget any of the bloody plays we practiced, or else - every morning!"
Later on at dinner, something surprising happened. Malfoy was pulled aside by Dumbledore. Dumbledore tapped him on the shoulder and led him outside the Great Hall.
"I hope he gets expelled," Ron muttered under his breath to Harry, despite the fact it was Malfoy's doing that had their practice from hell shortened that day.
Outside, Malfoy was looking at Dumbledore with great interest. This man never pulled him aside to talk alone. The bloody git loved Potter so much. What would he be doing talking to his arch-nemesis?
"I thought you should know, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore started, hands behind his back. "That your mother is.... well, missing."
Malfoy was surprised. His mother - missing? It didn't sound plausible. It was most likely that father took her away or some such. His mother wasn't the greatest person in the world either, though. She was just like his father. Cold and heartless. The way he was brought up to be. The way that he shouldn't be but was because that's how they brought him up.
"When was she taken?" Malfoy asked calmly.
"Her being missing was found out this morning," replied Dumbledore. "That's all I can tell you, Mr. Malfoy. You may go back to dinner now."
Malfoy walked into the Great Hall, contemplating what his father might have done to her. Surely it was her father that took her away. Maybe they falsed a kidnap to make it look like Lucius had gone on the good side again. Then again, why would they do that? None of the death eaters had made a public appearance yet anyway. Still, one must wonder. He would try sending an owl to his mother sometime in the coming week.
It was the early Saturday morning of the following week when Malfoy finally found time to send an owl to his mother. It was also the Saturday of the first Quidditch game since vacation - Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. Malfoy was betting on Gryffindor - but even if Hufflepuff won they were out of the league.
Anyway, it was early morning and Malfoy was walking up the steps into the owlery. He entered and bumped into someone who was about to walk out.
"Watch where you're going!" He said in a 'Malfoy' manner.
But the figure looked up and it was none other than Hermione Granger. "Oh, Malfoy..."
"Long time, no talk," he smirked. "Did you like my Christmas gift?"
Hermione then realized she had not opened all her Christmas gifts out of the drama that was going on at the time. But then, she did open one... and it was from an anonymous.
"You sent it?" she asked slowly.
"If you're talking about a silver bracelet that had 'Malfoy is a Sex God', then yes, that was me," Malfoy replied truthfully. A lot of his nasty manner was coming back. It was a type of effect his father's request had on him.
"Oh..." Hermione said slowly. She didn't want to ask about who sent her the pendant because it could've been from the enemy or someone else dangerous. But if Malfoy didn't send it, who did?
Malfoy had a lot of desire for Hermione. Whether it was because she was the only kind and endearing girl he had ever known, or because of how beautiful she was on the outside - he didn't know. He just knew that he wanted to show her something nice... it was another rare outburst of his.
He suddenly grabbed her arm and said, "Come with me!"
Before Hermione knew it, she was racing down the stairs, arm in arm with Malfoy. For some odd reason, she didn't want to protest. After all, it was early morning, just after dawn, so nothing could hurt. No one would see whatever it is they were doing.
Malfoy called his broom to him and they found themselves on the Quidditch field. Lucky for them, teams weren't out here yet for the game.
"Now, get on the broom," Malfoy said.
"Fly with you?" Hermione asked perplexed. "Are you sure? Is it safe for two people to be on a broom at once?"
But Malfoy didn't answer any of her questions. He just held her tiny waist and carried her on top of his broom.
"You have to hurry before the teams come out," Malfoy said, now seating himself in front of her. "Hold on to me."
And he kicked up and they were circling the field. The sun had just barely risen. There were clouds of pinks and purples everywhere. The horizon was a hazy orange and red. The golden seats of the stadium gleamed.
"I've never flown before at dawn... it's so beautiful!" Hermione said into Malfoy's ear.
"Yeah, it's beautiful when you're not practicing Quidditch!" Malfoy gave a laugh. He was enjoying the fact that Hermione was enjoying the morning breeze of flying.
Meanwhile, the Gryffindor had just finished a dull breakfast. Some were still tired from the three hour practice Harry held the night before. But most were awake because it was a game. They were making their way to the locker rooms. Everyone dragged themselves lazily inside and began getting dressed.
"I'm gonna go check out the weather," Ron told Harry. Harry barely nodded, a look of determination on his face.
Ron made his way out the door to the field. That's when he saw it. Two figures in the middle of the field on a broom. A Nimbus 2001. Old, but better than a Cleansweep, thought Ron bitterly. They were halted and from what it looked like they were staring at the horizon. Ron was thinking that was a romantic thing and it would be a good thing to do with... Merlin's beard! It was Hermione and Malfoy.
Hermione held on tighter to Malfoy even though they weren't flying anymore, just staring at the horizon, with it's beautiful and gleaming colors. She rested her head on his back.
"Thank you," she whispered. Why she was acting this way, she didn't know. All she knew is that she wanted to stay like this forever, but she knew that it was wrong.
Malfoy had the sudden urge to kiss her, but didn't. Instead, he went with his instincts and flew back to ground and let her off. Hermione turned her back on him, but a second later she felt her arm being grabbed. Before she knew it, Malfoy had given her a very passionate kiss. She soon gave in and pulled him closer to her, placing her arms around his neck.
Malfoy finally got to his senses. People would be out there any minute. He couldn't be seen snogging with a mudblood! He pulled away and stared into her eyes. This is just a game, he thought. I wanna keep playing. I want her. Then he walked away, leaving her confused. Soon after, she left too and climbed up the stairs to the Gryffindor stands.
Ron could not believe what he had seen. He was extremely happy it was him who had gone outside and not Harry. Harry would not be able to go on with the game after seeing that. Ron regretted that he had seen that though. Because now he would have to confront Hermione. And if Hermione didn't want him to say anything to Harry, he would feel guilty. Knowledge itself can be painful.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed. Apparently Ron was so drowned in his thoughts that he didn't notice his feet had taken him back inside the locker rooms. "Well?"
"The weather's okay... sunshine." Ron replied, shaking himself out of his thoughts. It was game time now.
"And Madame Hooch blows the whistle... and their off!" Again Neville Longbottom's voice filled the stadium and excitement rang all around the stands.
Harry sat on his Firebolt in mid-air, looking around for any sign of the snitch and avoiding all bludgers. He kept an eye on the Hufflepuff seeker, who seemed to be looking at him as well. If Harry was defeated during this game, then he would feel humiliated. Slytherin had beat this team, and in honesty he was a great Seeker.
"Hufflepuff blocks Creevey's - the younger one - goal! Weasley blocks the young blonde MaCrae - with hesitance! What is this Weasley? Be aggresive! Aw, so what if she's a girl?" Neville exclaimed, exasparated.
Harry looked up at the score board. They were in the lead so far with 30 - 20. Not bad. All he had to do was catch the snitch and they would win the game. The Hufflepuff seeker was a small and scrawny second year. It would be easy...
Harry finally spotted the snitch below the Hufflepuff seeker's broom. He quickly went for it, soaring down, letting the warm wind brush on his face. The Hufflepuff seeker finally noticed what was going on and followed Harry, only to turn around himself and then lead in catching the snitch. Harry had a much better broom. He was sure he would be able to catch it. Six years of experience was a lot compared to two. But then, a voice in his head suddenly gave a warning.
Something is wrong, it said. And it wasn't Voldemort playing tricks on him, he was quite sure of that. He just somehow felt that danger was coming towards someone. He stopped in the middle of the field, not realizing that there was still a snitch to catch.
"Crucio!" a cruel voice yelled in his head. Then he heard a grown man screaming in a high pitch voice. Harry was so alarmed, he didn't even hear the roars of anger from the Gryffindor stands, and Neville Longbottom's booming voice. He just let the sun shine on him in the middle of the green field, in a state of shock.
"Harry? What are you doing?" shouted Neville. He was louder than he already was. "And Hufflepuff catches the snitch! Hufflepuff wins 170 - 30. Oh, for Merlin's sake, Harry, what were you thinking?" Neville clearly was unaware that he was still on the Sonorus charm and he recieved some nasty glares from fellow Hufflepuffs. Professor McGonagall hit him lightly on the head.
"Manners, Neville!" said Professor McGonagall, but her voice gave away the fact that she was disappointed.
And just as Harry finally heard Neville's voice saying 'For Merlin's sake, Harry...', he felt a gush of wind on his back. And...
BANG!
Harry was knocked out by a bludger.
A/N: Sorry for the lack of update!! Okay, here's chapter 19, finally! Sorry for the delay, and sorry if it's a bit boring! :/ well.. I hope you like the little cliffie! I don't know when the next update will be, since I do start school in two days... I will try as soon as I can though! And if you're wondering, Malfoy is still a jackass... but well he's a confused jackass! Ohhh this is becoming more of a mystery, yeah? Please keep reviewing!! :)
FlyingPurpleCat: Here you go! I'm glad you like it! Keep reviewing cause I've got more surprises for you!
angel718: I'm glad you liked the living arrangements!
seirra: Hope you like this chapter!
malpal: What do you mean? It's a bit undecided... really. LOL. But I hope you keep reading.
BlackHeartBroken: What do you mean it's like sex? LOL. Yeah, anime is pretty but I don't watch much of it... I just love the drawings and stuff. I agree about Lord of the Rings and Johnny Depp! Hehe. Ohhh I was planning to write a LOTR fic after, but I'm undecided! We'll see... keep reading please! :)