A/N: I know no one's reviewing but I know I'm on some 'alert lists' soooo here's this chapter, things are certainly changing here, getting into the other character's thoughts! Please enjoy!
Chapter 3: Winter has come
The rest of the week crept by like winter of a mid-latitude country. Harry hadn't done any of his homework the night of his detention. He got late grades or no grades on all of them. The rest of the week he was basically friendless, alone in the dormitory, alone in the Great Hall, and alone studying. Ron and Hermione had separated themselves from Harry and Harry hadn't Luna or anyone else in many of his classes. However Clara had always been there to talk and walk with him. The snail finally finished the race and Saturday had come; today he had Quidditch practice, but today was the day they were going to share the field with Slytherin. These practices never went well, and usually ended with either team leaving or someone getting seriously hurt. But today Harry noticed someone on the Slytherin team he never had seen before; Clara was on the team. She was a keeper. Interestingly enough Harry came to the conclusion that Clara had never hurt herself playing Quidditch before if Madam Pomfrey didn't know her.
So came in practice when Clara was practicing by herself and moving around the goals and then came the Griffindor offense.
"Aye, you there, can we shoot on you?" One asked, Harry couldn't make out whom.
"Sure," Clara smiled.
Thus they began shooting. Clara's broom seemed nearly as fast as Harry's. Her timing and speed was impeccable, and very few got it. However Clara began to get tired and said, "Are you guys good? I'm gonna take a rest? Alright?" she wiped her brow and began to descend, but then came her captain's voice.
"Clara don't you dare leave your keep! Stay until they've given up!" He yelled from the ground.
"Sorry Danny but I need a rest!" Clara yelled down.
"Stay there I'm warning you I'll send a blugger on you!" He, Danny, threatened.
"You know there isn't a bluggar I can't dodge from where you are." Clara said and descended to the ground to face her captain, "Now, I've practiced for well over an hour I need a rest." Clara moved past her captain.
"That is one to many times you've disobeyed me! Now get back up there!" The intimidating man yelled. His rage few out of his hand and he set a bluggar straight to Clara. Harry heard himself yelling to watch out, but she had already dodged it and it was on it's way back, "Prepleximobile!" yelled Clara and the bluggar stopped and fell to the ground as she continued to bench to get a drink.
Ron looked to Harry, "Did you say something there, mate?"
"I did? No I don't think so." Harry said.
"Aye," Ron brushed it off, "Well I'm gonna go up, you wanna shoot on me?"
"Naw," Harry sighed, "I've got maneuvering work to do."
With that Ron was up in the air and getting shot at with full force from other Griffindors. Harry set himself a maneuvering drill and ran through it a couple times.
"Aye!" Harry's captain called up, "What are you doing there?"
"Oh, just a maneuvering drill! You want me to pack up?" Harry asked.
"Sure, come on down, I've got a few things to say and we're off!" Captain yelled up to Harry.
Harry came down and after they had a pep talk he went to find Clara. She was walking back to the school as well as the others.
"Hey." Harry said finding Clara set apart from the rest of her team.
"Hi," she said, "What's today?"
"December 19th." Harry said almost without thought.
"No, I mean what day, not date." Clara redefined her sentence.
"Oh, Saturday." Harry said
"Really?" Clara asked in disbelief, "Wait, that means Monday officially starts Christmas break..."
"That's right." Harry came to, he had completely forgotten, everyone was probably taking the train on Monday...
"Are you leaving?" Clara asked sheepishly.
"Naw, not that I know of." Harry said thinking Ron might invite him to come with him to the Burrow. "How about you?"
"Yah, back to Thisle" (pronounced Thyle) Clara sighed putting her hands in her pockets.
"Where's that?" Harry asked.
"Oh, no one's ever heard of it. It's outside London, I have a bunch muggle friends there, they think I'm going to an academy or something, I forgot." Clara sighed but she smiled, "They aren't stupid or anything, I don't think they'd even care if they knew."
"Any of them your beau?" Harry asked more sheepish that Clara asked before.
"No," Clara didn't really pick up on it, "Just friends."
Harry kept on walking a bit.
For lunch Harry today decided to find Hermione and Ron, he had to find out weather they where leaving. He was tired of being left in the dark. First he looked in the common room. Nope. Then the library. Nope. The study halls. Nope. But as he was passing back to give up he saw the Room of Requirement door was there. Well, he needed to find Hermione and Ron, so he opened it. There they where, but they weren't doing anything.
"I found you." Harry smiled to see he friends again.
"We were wondering when you'd show up." Hermione smiled.
"What do you guys do in here anyway?" Harry said stepping around the books and pillows that filled the room.
Harry heard Ron say something under his breath. Hermione just gave him a moment of an annoying stare and then said:
"Nothing really, homework, talk, stuff." Hermione smiled, "We where gonna start taking bets to see when you'd show up."
"Yah well I haven't see you guys in while, or much of you should I say." Harry sat next to them, "Hey, are you guys staying for the break?"
"Oh that's right!" Ron shot up remembering something. "Mum said to invite you two to the Burrow for Christmas, if you can come."
"I can." Harry said without a thought.
"So can I," Hermione said, "I'll just write my parents."
"Well do you guys want to some to lunch?" Harry asked.
"It's almost over," Ron said looking at one of the many clocks in the room.
"Well I haven't eaten, so I'm going." Harry said getting up.
"I'm coming with you." Hermione said almost at once.
"Fine fine." Ron got up too, and they went to lunch.
Sunday went by slowly, everyone basically spent the whole day slowly packing. Then Monday.
A huge rush of people began to make their way out of the school to wait for the train. They train ride was odd. He didn't see much of anyone but Ginny, Ron and Hermione on the train. He felt normal again, seeing them and talking. It actually seemed as if they weren't going out at all. He knew Clara was here somewhere, but he couldn't think of a reason to go find her, and he hoped she hadn't either or else he would have seen her. They got off the train and where greeted by the Weasley's including Fred and George who where running there own trick shop now.
In the car.
"Wow that's great you've finally done what you wanted!" Hermione said, who was next to Ron and Harry. While Harry was next to Ginny and Hermione (Yah you figure it out)
"Yah well we're in Hogsmead so we get all the kids from Hogwarts, surprised we haven't seen you guys," Fred said, who was scrunched up in the front of their new sation wagon with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and George.
"Well, sales are up, but rent sucks, how've the pranks been around school? Good I hope." George said.
"Well Harry had to clean the bathroom." Hermione said.
"What bathroom?" Fred asked.
"The Dungy Lavatory." Harry barley said.
"Aw man that's nothing, just a few swipes of the wand and you're-" Fred began.
"No wand, it was a dentition." Hermione said easily showing she was mad at Fred and Geroge.
"Aw sorry mate, no one should have to do that, but not to worry nothing in our shop I permanent, you can get it off...eventually." Fred said.
They arrived at the Burrow.
"Now everyone get your coats on, it's gonna be a chilly Christmas year." Mrs. Weasley said. They walked in and the place was in the same disarray and it had been every other time Harry was there, but this time there were Christmas decorations all about and a tree in the would be living room if not for all the junk. "Well, let me show you two to your room." She showed Hermione and Harry to a to guess room, small but at least here where two beds. "You'll be sharing, you shower times are between 7:00 and 7:30, you're after Mr. Weasley and I."
They nodded and placed their stuff on separate beds.
"She's never had us in a shower time before." Harry remarked.
"I know, Ron said it was because last time she had people over, you remember, the hot water ran out." Hermione commented, Harry figured Ron had told her everything about the Weasley's since they've been going out. They made their way downstairs where food was already set. Harry and Hermione took their appropriate seats, Hermione next to Ron and Harry next to her.
"Thought we'd have a little welcome supper ready when you came. "Mrs. Weasley smiled. "After that do what you please but stay inside, it's far too cold this year to be out in the snow."
They ate, it seemed even more than Hogwarts had offered them during their Christmas Banquet, but Harry wouldn't be there this year. During dinner Mr. Weasley made a disheartening comment.
"Harry my boy I heard the only places you're really safe is your Aunt and Uncles and Hogwarts, does that put you in any danger here?"
Harry hadn't thought much of Voldemort all year; he hadn't even had any thing happen. But he still had dreams nothing like last year though....
"I don't really think so, nothing has happened this year."
"And let us pray nothing will again, Harry's been through enough." Mrs. Weasley rang in.
After dinner Harry, Ron and Hermione went up into the guestroom.
"Harry," Hermione said, "I hadn't thought of that, what if something is going to happen?"
"I don't think so, Voldemort hasn't done anything and besides Dumbledore would have said something." Harry shrugged it off.
"But what if nothing's happened at school because they gave up attacking you there, they might be waiting for you to leave the school." Hermione persisted.
"Well what am I supposed to do now, 'Mione!?" Harry yelled a bit he wanted nothing more than it all to be over.
"I don't know, but what if." Hermione said again.
"I'll just have to hope no one will get hurt then. Will you please relax and enjoy the holiday?" Harry said getting up to leave Ron and Hermione. Ron was giving him a look saying to leave since they walked in.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked desperately.
"To give myself over to Voldemort...." He looked sarcastically to Hermione, "downstairs I wanted to talk to Fred and George."
"No!" Hermione yelled now desperately.
"No?" Harry asked looking at Ron.
"I'll go with you...or you could stay here, we haven't seen much of you." Hermione suggested.
Harry sighed and on the bed again across from Ron and Hermione. Hermione talked to rest of the night about small things, things that didn't matter. Harry didn't really know what was up, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get out of there. Finally 10:00 rolled around and Mrs. Weasley called up.
"You all better be in bed!"
Ron sighed disappointedly and kissed Hermione goodnight. After he left Harry just went straight to bed, he hoped Hermione had nothing to talk about. When she had settled and the lights where off she said, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Harry replied from across the room.
The next day Hermione and Harry woke early to take their showers. After the got out they found out that Ron wouldn't wake until 9:00 when his shower was. Hermione and Harry sat in the living room while Mrs. Weasley busied herself across the house in the kitchen and Mr. Weasley was already off to work at the ministry.
"So." Harry nodded.
"Yah." Hermione nodded back. "So.... what are you going to do today?"
"I don't know, tomorrow's Christmas so I thought today I should get my homework over with." Harry sighed.
"Good," Hermione agreed.
"Yah it should take me all day though." Harry sighed, "I've got a lot."
"Good, we all can work on it together." Hermione said, she yawned and leaned back to the back of the couch where Harry already was. She was rather close, but she didn't move... Breakfast was served and they worked on their homework for the rest of the day. Harry felt like he didn't remember anything he worked on, he was sure Ron was to busy trying to get Hermione's attention to remember and thing and Hermione was bust trying to get Ron to concentrate to remember anything. Dinner came around and all anyone cared about was that tomorrow was Christmas. And lesser in their minds was the fact that each of them were going to receive another sweater.
Harry and Hermione where told to go to bed, the Weasley's wanted some 'family' time. Hermione and Harry just felt odd and went up to their room. Hermione sat down next to Harry quite distressed.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked leaning over to find Hermione's face.
"Nothing, nothing," Hermione said raising her head and sniffing once, "It's not concerned with you."
"Well I want to know what's wrong with you and that concerns me, I'm your friend." Harry said sympathetically, it wasn't like Hermione to fall apart in anyway.
"I just.... I'm just..."
"Just what?" Harry asked sincerely.
"Just sick of Ron! He's too-... He's just too much. It's like there's nothing really there. Nothing he really wants. He doesn't listen, and he won't stop." Hermione said in anger.
"Tell him." Harry said simply surprised at his best friend's disregard to Hermione's feelings.
"I did, I've threatened to break up with him. But once he starts, I can't stop, and it drives me crazy. I know I don't like him anymore.... I like...." Hermione trailed.
"Well then just break up with him tomorrow." Harry said plainly find he had began to rub Hermione's back.
"On Christmas?" Hermione asked, "I can't do that, I don't want to spoil it for him."
"Then spoil it for yourself?" Harry asked, "Break up with him Christmas night then, not day."
"Yah..." Hermione agreed,
"But don't break him, just say that's it no more, it's not like you intend not to be friends anymore right?" Harry said still rubbing Hermione's back.
"I still want to be friends but I really don't want him," Hermione said.
"Who do you want?" Harry added to absentmindedly finish the conversation.
Hermione looked up to Harry who was still looking straight ahead.
"Harry." Hermione said.
"Yah?"
"No, I choose Harry."
"What?" Harry said looking down to Hermione. Her lips where already there, their first kiss. But Harry didn't know, he hadn't computed his actions. But Hermione had pushed him down on the bed. No he thought I don't want this.... I want.... At that moment Ron came in the room. Harry and Hermione sat up. Clara.
"I can explain." Hermione said getting up to Ron.
"I'd hope so!" Ron yelled closing the door behind him.
"Wait!" Harry stopped them; Ron had grabbed Hermione's arms. "It's not what you think. I don't want her."
"What?" Hermione turned.
Harry didn't say anything.
"Then what is it?" Ron said accusingly.
"I'm sorry Ron, Hermione doesn't want you anymore, she doesn't hate you." Harry said as nicely as possible.
"Then who does she want?! You?!" Ron yelled into Harry's face, he hadn't let go of Hermione.
"Ron..." Hermione said pulling Ron's face to hers. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kiss him, I only meant to tell him. I told you before, remember? You act as if you don't like me as a person, as Hermione. You almost admitted to it. Remember? I told you I would break up with you if you continued. I don't hate you, I want you to be my friend, to talk to."
"Then what about Harry here? You left that out." Ron said letting go of Hermione to let her sit next to Harry.
"I think it's pretty obvious." she smiled.
"What? No I don't want to go out with you." Harry said bluntly.
"What?" Hermione asked in confusion, "But you-we kissed"
"I wasn't thinking, I hadn't even realized what you meant until you had pushed me down, I was going to push you off the next moment...but Ron walked in." Harry said as simply as before.
"Then..." Hermione nodded, "It's fine, friends are much better."
"Yes."
"Friends are." Ron sat down next to Hermione and all the tension they all had felt before was gone, it was simpler now.
"Hey Harry." Ron leaned forward; "If you won't go out with Hermione does that mean there's someone you have your eye on?"
"Oh-uh," Harry stumbled for words, there was no way he had someone in mind...or his conscious thought, "No-"
"Get to bed you three!" Mrs. Weasley yelled up. "Or Santa wont come for any of you!!"
Ron left, he almost leaned to kiss Hermione but he didn't. Hermione however didn't get up. And after Ron left Hermione's eyes grew in happiness.
"What?" Harry asked.
"That was brilliant, saying friends is better. Come on, the way you kissed me, let's just keep it a secret." Hermione smiled pecking at Harry's lips. He quickly pushed her away.
"No," He said getting up and grabbing his pj's, "I was serious."
"Oh..." Hermione said in rejection. Then looking up to Harry in the yellow light while it filled the room and her full eyes. But then she said, ".... Will you kiss me once, like you mean it? ...Just once."
Harry sighed for a moment and went out of sight to change and came back.
"Once." Harry said it couldn't hurt, it'll make her happy and it'll mean nothing, he didn't like her. "Hermione, understand this means nothing. Nothing, you're one of my best friends."
"I know." Hermione still looked deep into his eyes.
Harry leaned over Hermione who was still sitting on the bed and kissed her. He tried to tell him self he meant it, but he couldn't convince himself, but a name came into his head Clara and it was that much easier. Then it was over and Harry returned to his bed and shut off his light without even looking at Hermione.
The next morning everyone woke early, but it seemed Mrs. and Mr. Weasley had already showered. The presents where great. Sweaters for all. Luckily the Weasley's didn't know Hermione and Ron where going out so there where no embarrassing gifts. Harry had gotten a new quill set from Hermione, a bunch of chocolate frogs from Ron, and some smoke bombs from the twins.Harry continued to open gifts until he found one without a 'from:.' He opened it. There was a little box inside it...he opened it...A red gas flew out of it. Everyone had frozen. A figure.... a man was shaping from the gas...Harry recoiled....his scar...
"Hello Harry Potter." the dark drawled voice smiled.
"Who are you?" Harry mustered finding his wand in his robe but he didn't pull it out.
"I am a servant of Voldemort, he says you know him?" the voice smiled again, "but it seems he doesn't like you much, so I'm so sorry, I'm only a messenger, it is time for you to die. But-" A red coil of blood's darkness condensed into an aura of observance and wretchedness. the red figure, now solid, looked around, "I think for your safety they should leave."
"Go." Harry said looking at his friends, then looking back to his foe, "NO! Wait...let us go outside!"
"No, here!" The voice boomed, "Leave!"
They all shriveled into another on looking room; no one had seen a creature like this before. Hermione was speechless she hadn't a single idea, or at least of what Harry saw in her concerned eyes.
The create smiled, "Wentriquious!" A red flame shot form the creature's hand.
"Defectious" Harry used a simple defection spell; he recognized the spell the creature used.
The Creature smiled, "Yes you are not fit to die by ways of duel." The creature rose and his body expanded so his back arched against the ceiling, "I will...no I won't say, it's time for you to die Mr. Potter!!!"
He erupted into flame, engulfing Harry, the flames burned his feet and he quickly tore off the edge of his pants, he let out a cry but could do nothing, he dropped his wand and saw it burn.
"Aquadiular!" Hermione yelled clearing the flame around him. The creature recoiled but did not pay any attention to Hermione. The Creature emitted a red gas throughout the room. Harry could no longer stand and his wand was burnt.
"Well, well, well, seems your precious wand is gone, wizards are truly hopeless beings, now the fun really begins." The creature looked to his friends, "Look at all the people I can torture you with." The created turned into the gas form he was once at, "Let's see who you are on the inside." He dove down at Harry and penetrated his chest, the pain felt as though one point, piercing knife had torn open his heart. A voice came into his ears.
"Hello, I am Voldemort's slave and a part of him in myself. I am tearing your heart as you can feel."
"Get out!" Harry yelled. Falling on the floor.
"Oh there's no way to get me out, you have no wand..." He felt the snake move inside him and down his leg. He looked at his bare leg and it was pierced by the creature's horn, another knife in Harry, the wound now began to bleed.
"Oh would you lookie here," the voice said and he felt in the back of his heart, "A girl, oh but I must say her name...."
The creature pierced him, or the part he held of her, "Now Harry you understand what it's like," It was the voice of Voldemort, "to have someone steal something of yours, part of your life. You took from me! Now, your hopeless and you-will-die!!!"
The piercing came to his heart and he looked down to see blood. "No!!!!" Harry around.... They were greens and blues.... He was in a calm world, just floating... there, and aura...He felt himself grab it.... His aura, deep inside himself.... Then it exploded.... The lights of green and blue, Harry's aura, all around and.... turning Harry found the red poison in this world...Away, the red, it was gone.... He had pushed it away...
Harry woke from his dream, gasping for breath, he was bleeding.... There, in front of him red stain, it said, "Harry Potter...how did you do it? No one can kill me with out a wand, and yours is gone, Voldemort swears, he will kill you twice now!!!"... ..."Defeataro!" he heard.
Some one came up to Harry, "What was going on?" it was Hermione, "We saw you on the floor, you weren't saying anything" So that voice was in my head, "Then you began to bleed. What was that?"
Someone...Mrs. Weasley pulled Hermione off Harry, "I've got something for these gashes..." Harry fainted.
A/N: Tehe I feel so evil leaving it at a cliff hanger! . I hope you liked it please review if you did or didn't. I know I said I'd be updating on Friday's but there's was a football game (I'm a band geek) and it rained like mad so I was up late cleaning my trombone and drying my uniform. So there's no football next Friday so I'll see you all then!