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!
There were murmurs around him. Very little murmurs. Harry knew that only a few people were in the room. And he knew exactly where he was: the infimary. He opened his eyes slowly, only to see three hazy figures around him.
"Here you go, Harry," said a familiar voice. It was Ron. He held out Harry's glasses to him and Harry accepted gratefully.
"What happened?" He asked. As soon as his glasses game on, he saw the faces of the people he heard murmuring in little whispers around him. It was Dumbledore, Hermione, and Ron.
"A bludger hit you!" Hermione exclaimed with concern.
"What? Did a Hufflepuff beater do it? I think they won, so I don't... why would they do that?" Harry asked.
Ron replied, "It wasn't. The Hufflepuff Quidditch team were all huddling happily on the ground... and the bludger flew out of it's box and hit you!"
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "It was no mistake. It was planned."
"Professor! You didn't!" Hermione gasped.
"No, Ms. Granger. It wasn't me, it was someone else. But we don't know who." Dumbledore said, sitting on a chair next to Harry's bed. His hands were neatly set in his lap.
"Who would do such a thing?" Ron asked.
"You forgot, Mr. Weasley, that we are in a war. I assured you the school was safely guarded, but there are other means of getting into the school without the front entrance. Dark magic, if I may add." Dumbledore replied thoughfully.
Harry finally spoke up. "Professor... something told me that someone was in danger. That's why I stopped in the middle of the field. And I knew it wasn't exactly me who was in danger, but someone else."
Hermione fidgeted around with her fingers nervously. Ron looked at Harry quizzically, raising both eyebrows.
However, Dumbledore answered very calmly, "I don't know how you came to sense that kind of danger. But... something has happened. It was before and during the match - in fact I believe the Daily Prophet will be out with an urgent newspaper tonight."
"What happened?" Harry asked. He was bewildered. He sensed danger, and it turned out that something had happened.
Dumbledore sighed with great dismay. "As you know, being part of the Order is very dangerous. For the past few months they have been keeping eye out on the Death Eaters that broke out of prison, and Voldemort's whereabouts. But none have guessed where they have - until, that is, the Death Eaters themselves made an appearance."
"Where?" Hermione asked, breathing fast.
"Hagrid was down in Knockturn Alley buying whatever foul thing he was going to buy for, I daresay, another wild animal of his." Hagrid had been gone since they arrived back at school. They figured his trip was being delayed a bit. After all, he had been dealing with a giant. "He had just arrived back from his journey to the mountains. I believe he was a bit sad, and wanted to take more of a break. That is when he heard cries of help further down the alley. It turns out the Death Eaters who broke out were stunning lost and innocent bypassers. That's when he sent - well, members of the Order have a band that goes around your wrist and glows whenever a person feels danger. Naturally, Hagrid felt it so. Remus Lupin was the first to react, and immediately followed the little compass on the band."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
"They fought..." Dumbledore said. "But it was three - Malfoy, Bellatrix, and Rudolpho against two. Soon, though, Aurors started coming, and the three were scared and all apparated away... but not before -" He gulped silently -"...not before they took someone with them. They took Lupin."
Hermione gave a gasp, and spiteful tears began to form in her eyes. Ron's face was pale and silent. Dumbledore's usual twinkling eyes were not twinkling anymore, but a look of sadness was in them. Harry just stared, realizing now what he had heard.
"They put him under the Cruciatus Curse," Harry stated silently.
"Did they?" Dumbledore asked, looking up suddenly from his sullen slumber. "How you came to know that remains a mystery to me. I don't know how you could sense such a thing."
"I think... that maybe sometimes what Voldemort does, I see."
Silence rang around the room for a while.
"It's dangerous business," Dumbledore said after a prolonged silence. "....being in the Order. But Remus can defend himself. Hagrid's on his way back here. A few people were... greatly injured. But, we must focus on our studies. Members of the Order are already on the search for Lupin, and Kingsley is on it personally." Dumbledore lowered his voice. "Activities must keep going. The snake hasn't been around for a while, has it? No, we can continue with activities. We need these activities to unite. That is why Tonks had you partnered up, that's why I had the Unity feast... and later on at dinner, you'll find out what other surprise I have stored for you! So, just relax... there are many better things to come. Evil will find itself out of our hands and into where it belongs."
Suddenly, a scrawny figure with big, bulging eyes popped onto Harry's bed.
"Dobby was so scared!" It was the concerned and over-excited elf. "Dobby heard about Harry Potter's rogue bludger! Harry Potter, it wasn't Dobby this time, Dobby promises!"
Harry had to give a laugh to the old elf's concern.
"I'm fine, Dobby, thanks." He said.
Dinner came and due to the fact that Dumbledore had some announcements to make, Harry was let out resistantly by Madame Pomfrey from the infirmary. So, dinner went as usual. People were burying their faces in the Daily Prophet, which had come out that evening out of the emergency attack. Very few people were concerned about the people attacked in Knockturn Alley - a dangerous place.
"Me grandad's best friend's grandson works in a shop there... poor little fellow got stunned!" Seamus Finnigan said.
But other than that, people were okay. A few innocent bypassers were attacked. Most were in St. Mungos. But dinner went along as usual. The enchanted roof above was a gloomy, rainy one. Outside it was raining small droplets of cold, clear water. A light drizzle was finding it's way into the depths of the currently black grass.
Finally dinner had come to an end and Dumbledore made that interesting announcement he had been meaning to make.
"Well, I am sorry about the attacks. And people are searching for the former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin." Tonks looked down at her empty plate. "But, we must go on with our studies and activities. Evil will not go away if we just sit her and mope, so we should make the best out of it... in unity. Which brings me to this next announcement. Usually we do not celebrate Valentine's Day, except for that occassion a few years back with Gilderoy Lockhart." Some boys stiffled a laugh and others grunted. "But, the staff," some professors grunted, "And I have decided to throw a dance!" Some girls gave giggles. "There will be a white hut outside... and when you walk inside - well let's just wait till that time comes. However, there will be some conditions." Everybody's attention averted to him. "If you intend to bring a date, and should," he added, "then it must be someone from another house."
After that announcement, everyone murmured on their way to their common rooms. Some were a bit disappointed (like Harry, because now he couldn't ask Hermione), and some were disconcerned. Some smacked their lips together with an attitude and said they didn't plan on going anyway.
But Malfoy's eyes were on Hermione. What would it look like if he went to the dance with Hermione? Would people say interesting things? No one would ever have thought Malfoy had gone soft; they would all think he had just been playing a little game with Hermione - which, in fact, he was. Especially that Potter saint. He decided he was going to ask Hermione - convince her, maybe even force her, just to piss off Potter and that stupid Weasel.
The next day, Harry and Hermione had Apparation together.
"Today," the portrait of Armando Dippet said. Apparently, he had been assigned all year. "I will give you the Apparation test. If you pass, you don't have to show up to class anymore. If you don't pass, then I will hold you longer, until the next test."
So, individually, people were brought up to the room and tested by the old portrait. While waiting, Hermione and Harry were having a quiet conversation. They had decided to avoid their personal lives for the past few weeks, and always found themselves struggling to talk about something else.
"I hope he's okay," Hermione whispered.
Harry just shrugged. He didn't want to think about what was happening to Lupin. He couldn't lose Lupin too... he was all that was left that held mischevious memories of his father. He was the only good Marauder left.
"Hermione... about Christmas..." Harry started.
Hermione shut him up. "Listen, Harry... it's just not fair, to well... question me about that. I haven't forgotten and when I come up with an answer, I'll let you know..."
But Harry could already sense the answer: she didn't like him, or else he would have been with her by now. "If you don't like me, then just tell me so I can get over it sooner."
Hermione bit her lip, a gesture Harry always admired. But right now, his heart was feeling broken. It felt as if a dagger had just hit his chest. He didn't know crushes could hurt so much.
"I... am not ready for a commitment." Hermione quietly responded.
"Hermione Granger," called the portrait of Armando Dippet.
Thank goodness, Hermione though. It was true in a way that she was not ready for commitment. It was true in a way because she wasn't ready for commitment with a person she didn't like. Harry was and would always be just her best friend. Things were much better that way, rather than ruined by a failed relationship.
"Please begin by apparating two feet away from this portrait," he said.
Hermione did so, with no difficulty. The rest of the test was pretty simple. She had passed of course. After, she sat silently in a corner, avoiding eyes with Harry, who was currently sitting alone at a table, his green eyes gazing down at the floor.
A few more people came and went. Finally, Harry's name was called.
He walked up to the portrait as everyone else sat in silent whispers. He glanced over at Hermione first and met eyes with her for just a moment - but she cast her gaze away.
What if this ruins our friendship? thought Harry.
"Please begin by apparating a foot away from this portrait," the voice was so vague from Harry's mind. He did as told, but not by will. It was just half of his brain operating. The other half was empty of thoughts about Apparation. He was sad. Everything was just so bad for him. Why couldn't things go my way for once?
"Try that again," the distant voice said again. "You ended up a centimeter away..."
Lupin is being tortured... Sirius is gone... Hermione doesn't like me back - Hermione, the only person who could've brought me happiness in my love life... my parents are gone... Voldemort wants to kill me, and I'm weighed down with the responsibility of being the only one who can destroy him... why didn't the curse just backfire?... why couldn't he just die when I lived? All thoughts flooded his brain like a cloudy, rainy night.
"Harry Potter," the voice said more firmly this time. "Harry!"
Harry shook his head. Finally, he pushed aside his personal, angst-filled thoughts in the back of his mind and paid attention to the old headmaster's portrait.
The bell rang.
"Class dismissed, I'll test the rest of you next class," said the old portrait again. Then it lowered it's voice. "May I have a word with you, Mr. Potter?"
The class filed out. Hermione hesitantly looked back, contemplating if she should wait for Harry. In the end, when their glances met and Harry gave her a look that said 'just go', she walked away slowly into the Great Hall for dinner.
"Your not concentrated enough," he started. Harry heard this speech before to the Hufflepuff before him. "I've watched you, though, throughout last term. Your good. I just wanted to let you know that. Of course I notice, your in the current headmaster's office all the time," that was something new Harry heard. "But well... I'll let you pass because I know you have potential. I even heard you apparated into the Hog's Head from a big crowd - we hear a lot in the office. Anyway, you can go, young man. Consider your exam passed."
The next few days Harry was a quiet one. He still exchanged words with Hermione - but unfortunately for the time being, it seemed that their friendship had been ruined by the whole drama. Ron knew what was going on - he was told by discreetly Hermione. Harry didn't feel like discussing it. But Ron felt guilty beyond belief. He had confronted Hermione about what he saw out in the field. She squealed to him and said not to say anything because that would break Harry's heart even more. She also insisted that it was a mistake and she wouldn't be seen
It was the last week of January. Harry still kept his practices hard and rough - it was the only thing that kept him off of his current sullen self. In fact, he was sort of taking it out on the team members of how sad he was.
"That's it, next time that Quaffle doesn't go in, Colin, I'm setting a Bludger on you," he once said in an aggrivated tone.
The next game was Gryffindor versus Slytherin. They had to train hard for this, even though it would be in March. Harry already felt humiliated enough getting beat by Hufflepuff, but it was for a good reason. But the bludger - who had set the bludger on him? Surely there couldn't be any other hidden chambers in the castle!
Harry hadn't attended Occlumeny lessons with Snape anymore. If Snape wasn't going to tell him why his boggart took that certain form, then he wasn't going to show up anymore. He didn't have the heart to anyway. Snape didn't seem the least bothered by it. In secret, and from what Dumbledore had told him, he felt that Harry didn't need them anymore anyway. He just gave him greasy, ugly looks during class and continued to give him low scores on his assignments.
Another important thing was coming up: the Valentine's Day dance. Harry wasn't even sure if he was going anymore. He thought maybe he would ask Cho, but he didn't have the heart to even ask anyone at the moment. Most people had dates by the first day of February. That's all people were talking about for a while now.
"Have you found a date yet, Harry?" Ron asked eagerly. He had still been in the library, and his grades were no equivalent to Hermione's, which frightened her to the fullest. ("I might not be top student this year!")
"Er - to be honest, I don't know if I'm going." Harry answered honestly. "Who are you going with?"
"You'll see," Ron grinned.
They were on their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione had just caught up with them.
"Have you guys started on that Confusion Potion essay? I haven't found the book yet. Madame Pince said the only copy was checked out." Hermione said, contemplating who could take the book out before her. "Oh, why does Snape have to give as an assignment where there's only one book to research it on!?"
"Well... Hermione... after I'm done with my essay... you can look at it?" Ron said, gulping.
But luckily, Tonks called the class to be quiet and all Ron received from Hermione was an evil glare.
She explained more about the Rope-breaking technic they had learned a few days before.
"Hey, Malfoy and Granger," she said lightly, shaking her currently auburn hair to the side. "Have you been practicing this technic out of class?"
They hadn't spoken or met up since Malfoy took her on a flying ride. Hermione was caught up in her own confusion and Malfoy was caught up in his own business. They shook their heads hesitantly.
"Well, I expect you to practice tonight then," Tonks said disappointingly. Harry's heart dropped even more.
Hermione waited silently in the Room of Requirement after dinner. Soon, Malfoy would be here. Soon, her feelings for him would rise, but then there would be confusion because she had felt bad for hurting Harry. She was lost in her thoughts when Malfoy came walking in, usual smirk, chest held up high, blonde hair falling along his forehead in a sexy way.
"Okay, here's how it's gonna go," Malfoy began, without even letting Hermione put in her two cents. "I'm gonna put you in ropes - Conligo Resticula! - now there, good."
Hermione found herself tied up in thin and rough ropes and on the floor. This is what the plan was, of course, but she felt that Malfoy had something else up his sleeve. As her witty brain had thought, she was right. Malfoy came and sat extremely close to the currently helpless girl.
"I'll call the counter curse on one condition," Malfoy started, grinning from ear to ear.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She knew he was up to something stupid. But in a way, she didn't feel bad at all. She felt good being in the same room as Malfoy, alone, tied up or not.
"What are the terms?" she asked, wand in hand ready to counter herself. Just because she was enjoying it, doesn't mean she had to quit playing hard to get.
"Go to the dance with me," Malfoy said solemnly.
Hermione gasped. Harry would never want to see that. Never. Never ever. Ron would kill her. She had a feeling Ginny would as well. Maybe even Pansy.
"You can't. And you can't make me, I can counter this myself, you know." Apparently she had said the wrong words because he sneaked his hand next to hers and pulled the wand out from it.
"Not anymore," Malfoy said, still grinning.
"On one condition," Hermione said. She didn't know where these words were coming from, she hadn't even thought about them. They were just pouring out of her mouth like water being poured into a cup. "Kiss me."
Malfoy had to admit that he was surprised. He was the one who was suppose to be playing games with her, not the other way around! But, as if his thoughts didn't even matter, he placed his lips on hers.
"Abrumpere Resticula," Malfoy mumbled slowly after the short kiss. The ropes disappeared from Hermione's body, and the two looked at each other breathlessly.
"I guess that means we're going together..." said Hermione quietly, regretting what she had just done.
Malfoy found his jerky self back and replied, "You better believe it."
The next week passed by slowly. Ginny had been thinking about Harry. Harry looked sad all the time. It seemed as if he was trying to avoid Hermione. A few days before the dance, she decided to follow him into the bridge overlooking the courtyard to talk to him about what was wrong.
"Hey," she said, placing herself next to him. He replied with a nod and knowing smile.
"What brings you out here on this fine evening? Shouldn't you be doing homework? It's your only Quidditch day off, you know," he said.
"I just came out here to talk to you, that's all." Ginny said. "You've looked a bit sad lately."
"Really, is it that obvious?" Harry asked. "I thought I was being mean enough at practices."
"That's what makes it all the more obvious. We girls know how that works."
"Well, I guess it won't hurt to tell someone," he paused for a brief moment and took in a deep sigh. "Hermione doesn't like me back. Not like that, at least. And I'm afraid it's sort of ruined our friendship."
Ginny knew Harry would have found out sooner or later, but she felt bad that it would be a while before he recovered from it.
"Oh... well it's okay. Trust me, I know the feeling..."
"You do?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Let's not talk about it," Ginny quickly said. "Anyway, don't worry about it. If you're meant to be, she'll come around, if not, then you'll find that perfect girl for you."
Harry smiled. "You're a really sweet girl, Ginny. You say those things as if you'll never find the one that belongs to you, but believe me, you will."
"Let's hope so," Ginny sighed. "Anyway, are you going to the Valentine's Day Dance?"
"I haven't asked anyone," Harry replied truthfully. "Or have been asked. You?"
Ginny replied, "Nope, nobody's asked me. If I do go, I'm going single."
"Yeah, it's too bad we can't go together. Friends going together always works out. But we're in the same house..." Harry said, he didn't mean it in a flirtacious way, and Ginny didn't take it that way either.
"Well, Dumbledore said we should go... but we can both go single and hang out together there, can't we?"
"I guess so," Harry replied. "So don't say yes to any dates! Technically, you already have one!"
They both gave each other warm, understanding smiles. But deep inside, both still felt hurt.
The halls were dark. It was cold, but the Dark Lord was used to that. It felt moisty. Peter Pettigrew was also used to that. It was a dark green building, surrounded with nothing but depressing water, and statues of mermaids and faeries that were once beautiful. Nobody dared to go near it, for there was seaweed and dirt everywhere. It was a place of ruins. In other words, it was a perfect place for the enemies headquarters to be at.
"What news, Wormtail?" asked the cold voice of Voldemort.
"A dance, sir, in a few days."
"We should hope that our little book will work. Soon, that Potter should figure out what the key is."
"Yes, my lord." replied Wormtail.
"Where are the others?"
"Down in the dungeons torturing Lupin," a faint pang of sadness was in his voice, barely audible.
"You say that as if it was a bad thing," Voldemort said, irritated.
"No, my lord. In fact, I shall go down there and assist."
"No, no. Where is Nagini? She needs to take care of her little 'friend', does she not?"
Wormtail replied, "In her Snake house, my lord."
"You know, Wormtail, it's a pity that those fools are so idiotically clueless as to how close we really are to them," Voldemort grimaced. "Voldemort, go into the castle and make sure Potter sees the book. Make sure he figures out how to open it. Now that we have this," he patted the familiar piece of parchment next to him, "this piece of brilliant parchment that you and your little Marauder friends made, which you so bravely stole last night, there should be no trouble in entering. And your work has been good."
"Yes, thank you, my lord," said Wormtail, and he walked away into the darkness of another hall.
A/N: Can't answer reviews. I wrote have of this a month ago or something, and just finished the other half now. So bear with me if some details are wrong!!! Hope you like how the story's going. It might be a while before it's finished since I have started school. Oh and I had to bring it Voldemort some time!! ) Review!