A/N: Okay, thanks to the people who reviewed!
Chapter 16:
Harry read over the article with amazement. Of course it was by Rita Skeeter- but the majority of the Order hadn't even been told about Lenore and Harry's relation; how on earth had Rita found out? And suddenly, a thought occurred to him: Voldemort knew that he and Lenore were related, thus he and Harry were related- what that would change, Harry had no idea, but he didn't like it at all. He looked back down at the article, which told all about Lenore, the killings at her school, moving to England, and being related to Harry. When he finished reading it, he looked up. Lenore, Hermione, and Ron all looked fearful.
"We need to go ask Dumbledore what to do," said Ron immediately.
"No!" hissed Hermione. "Sit down and start laughing. We can't draw attention to the fact that we're worried about this!"
"Why not?" demanded Lenore angrily.
But they never found out why, however, because suddenly, Hermione, who'd opened another letter, froze in place. "What's wrong, 'Mione?" asked Ron. Hermione sat there, mouth open and eyes wide. Suddenly the group was bombarded by students.
"Are you two really cousins?" asked Parvati. "Yeah- did you know the whole year?"
"Why didn't anyone ever tell us?" asked another student. Harry brushed them off, looking anxiously towards Hermione, who still hadn't moved. The bell rang loudly, signaling for everyone to go on to their classes. The students went slowly, and kept looking inquiringly backwards at Harry and Lenore.
"What do we do?" whispered Lenore. She, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stayed in place as everyone exited the Great Hall. Draco cautiously made his way over, as did Asher. Lenore opened a letter quickly and read it, blushing, before anyone could notice. But Harry noticed. He decided to ask her about it later- Hermione still hadn't moved, and Dumbledore and McGonagall were making their way over.
"Professor-" came five voices at once when Dumbledore was in hearing distance.
"Stay calm, please," said Dumbledore knowingly. "Harry; Lenore- you will have to tell people the truth. Everyone will at least suspect it, and if we continue denying this, it can and will be uncovered, making us out as liars, which we do not want at this time."
"What's wrong, Miss Granger?" asked McGonagall sternly, standing next to Dumbledore. "Miss Granger?" she then asked in a kinder voice. Hermione looked up, her honey-colored eyes unbelieving and scared, like a deer in the headlights. She was trembling.
"What is it, sweetie?" whispered Asher. Hermione looked at him coldly- as if she didn't know him.
"Hermione?" asked Ron carefully.
"They're dead," said Hermione, still becoming paler. Then several tears began leaking down her cheeks. "My parents have been killed by Malfoy," she choked out. Harry noticed Draco tense up beside him. "Lucius Malfoy. Last night." Harry stiffened; eh had no clue what to say. He and Ron exchanged helpless looks. Asher tried to hug Hermione, who sat there, staring out the window, expressionless besides the tears trickling down her face. Harry looked up to Dumbledore, who was exchanging pitying looks with McGonagall.
"Hermione," said McGonagall, the first to speak. "A-are you okay? W-why don't you take the day off classes today?" Hermione began to sob loudly. She then stood up and rushed towards the Gryffindor tower.
"Hermione, wait!" yelled Ron, standing up. Hermione didn't even look up.
"I'd better go check on her," began Asher worriedly.
"NO," yelled Ron loudly, "You don't! You don't even know her- you don't know anything about her! You won't comfort her- you'll make her uncomfortable! Hermione deserves so much better than you!"
"So she deserves someone who accuses her of cheating every five minutes?" yelled Asher, standing up, as Ron's ears reddened.
"NO!" yelled Ron, standing up even taller. "That was the bloody worst thing I've ever done in my life! You don't know anything about her! You don't know her favorite color, her favorite subject, her worst fear, what her Patronus is, what she wants out of life, her deepest secret, what animal she turned into in second year, how many hours she's ever spent in the library, her favorite chair in the common room, the scariest night of her life, the happiest moment in her life, the only thing she remembers that was more comfortable than me-"
"Me!" said Asher loudly.
"NO!" yelled Ron. "The purple sleeping bag we all slept in in third year when Sirius Black broke in!" He then looked heatedly at everyone in the room. "I BLOODY- LOVE HER!"
"Then go tell, her that, Ron," said Harry quietly.
"I will!" yelled Ron. "Tell my Professors I won't be in classes for awhile!" he yelled, stomping off towards the Gryffindor Tower.
"That's my girlfriend he's talking about!" complained Asher, starting towards the staircase.
"No, you don't, Asher," said Lenore. "Go to class." He looked at her, annoyed. "GO TO CLASS!" He then grumbled and hurried towards his first class of the day, Herbology.
"You don't think Mr. Weasley would…" began McGonagall tentatively. "Miss Granger is very vulnerable right now, and-"
"He wouldn't do anything like that," said Harry quietly, trying to get it through his mind what had just happened. Hermione's parents were killed by Lucius Malfoy. They were dead- and not coming back. His stomach churned horribly.
"Very well," said McGonagall, compliantly. "Poor Miss Granger… Potter, you may be excused from classes as well; I understand what Miss Granger is going through, and I know that-"
"All right, Professor," said Harry quietly. She then nodded and started towards her classroom. "Miss Felkes; Miss Weasley; Mr. Malfoy- go to your classes, please." They nodded and headed towards the Greenhouses, so it was just Harry and Dumbledore standing there.
"Professor," said Harry helplessly. Dumbledore smiled gravely.
"I know how you're feeling, Harry. Just help your friend get through this. Be there for her, just like she and Ron were there for you when Sirius died. Why did he have to mention Sirius?
"Professor, I haven't really… well, talked to them yet, about… that."
"Talking helps heal the wound, Harry."
"I know," said Harry, "But I did talk about it with Remus, and-"
"It's your life, Harry. But remember that Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley are your friends, and always will be." Harry nodded.
"Thanks, Professor."
"You're quite welcome, Mr. Potter. Oh- and were my sleeping bags really that comfortable?" he asked, eyes twinkling behind half-moon glasses. Harry looked up at the old man in wonder.
"Why- yes, I suppose they were." He began walking away when suddenly an idea occurred to him. "Wait- Professor Dumbledore-" Dumbledore turned around expectantly. "I've just thought of something. Headboy and Headgirl are supposed to think of things for fun and entertainment for the students, right?" Dumbledore nodded. "Well," said Harry, "What about- a sort of school-wide sleepover or something? In the Great Hall? To…. Er… promote… House unity- or something."
"Well," said Dumbledore. "I think that would be a very good idea. We can do it instead of a ball this year, on Halloween night. Sound good?"
"Yes," said Harry happily. "And maybe we can have some sort of entertainment?" he asked, an idea growing in his mind.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Oh, I don't know… maybe Hermione and I can take suggestion in games, and the Houses can compete against each other!"
"And that would promote House Unity?" asked Dumbledore, eyebrows raised slightly. "I think that would be a very good idea, Harry- but maybe teams of eight, with two people from each house?"
"All right," agreed Harry enthusiastically. He then turned and started towards Gryffindor Tower, to see if he could help Hermione in any way. His heart went out to his friend- how could something like this happen? When he reached Gryffindor Tower, Ron and Hermione were sitting next to each other on the couch, whispering quietly. Harry was about to go over until he heard Hermione tell Ron that she loved him, and was so happy he truly cared about her. Then she began talking to him about her parents, and what could've possibly happened. Harry tip-toed from, the room, deciding to go on to the Greenhouse. He would talk to Hermione later. She and Ron needed this time together- Harry knew that his friends were really in love, and had long ago made a decision to respect that and help it in any way, rather than feel like a third-wheel or left out.
When he reached the Greenhouse, he entered slowly. Neville gave Harry a smile. The class looked relatively quiet and good, which Harry was thankful for. But it was the NEWTs class, and there were just three Slytherins in it: Malfoy, Nott, and a Slytherin girl named Tory Wilkins. "Hi, Nev- er, Professor Longbottom," said Harry, walking in. Neville gave him and apologetic grin. "I was excused by McGonagall…" Neville nodded.
"All right, Harry." Harry then sat down next to Susan Bones, who smiled at him as he sat. In front of him sat Lenore and Asher. Lenore turned around and whispered, "How's Hermione?"
Not too great, said Harry in his mind.
Oh, good idea, laughed Lenore. "Today we're talking about the five most deadly plants, Harry," said Neville. Harry nodded, opened his textbook, and listened attentively to Neville so as not to hurt his feelings. But the lesson became rather boring rather quickly. Harry sat there in torpor, thinking of Hermione, Lenore, and of Halloween, thoughts racing.
A/N: Okay, I know it was shortL sorry! But those were the only things that needed to happen this chapter. Next chapter will be before August 8th, and in it will come the first major thing in the plot! So review a LOT, and the next chapter comes sooner…. So, review, please, please, please! Oh, and the reason the school was in upstate NY, Lindsay- was b/c I used to live there! Anyway, :-D until next time!
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