Chapter 11 – Harry
Harry awoke the next morning feeling rather apprehensive; he was not sure why, as he knew Dumbledore would choose the best man for the job (the job being his Defence Against the Dark Arts private tutor). He had his suspicions about whom Dumbledore might have chosen, but then, with him, you never knew.
The lessons passed by rather quickly that day, and, before he knew it, Harry found himself walking down the Defence Against the Dark Arts corridor, and towards the classroom at the very end. As soon as he entered the classroom, he saw the back of a wizard, and cleared his throat. The stranger turned around and smiled, and Harry let out a relieved breath;
"Professor Lupin!" Harry had not seen Remus since last year, and so was bloody glad to see a familiar face.
"Ahhh yes, Harry, I hoped you'd be glad to see me again." Lupin smiled a tired smile, and continued to sort through his old brief case. Harry was happy, but also rather puzzled;
"Professor, what about The Order?" Lupin turned around to face him and explained;
"Don't worry about it, Harry. I have to be in Hogsmeade for the next few months, so decided to offer to help you out. I know it'll be hard, what with your work load, and everything going on, but I'm afraid it is crucial that you receive extra tutoring in your Defence Against the Dark Arts." Harry nodded. He had learnt to accept that he would need training a long time ago; there was something in him which burned when he thought about Voldemort, and he knew he just had to learn how to channel that into magic.
The lesson went well; Harry didn't learn any new spells, but instead he talked to Lupin about what he would be taught in these private lessons. They talked about different charms, and spells, and Harry's strengths and weaknesses. Harry felt so at home talking to Lupin; since Sirius had died, Lupin was the closest thing Harry had to a father figure.
At 9 o'clock, Lupin ended the lesson, and Harry began to make his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He was walking up the main stairs, when he noticed a student ahead of him. She turned around and smiled, it was a beautiful smile, and Harry felt his stomach turn over;
"Cho," Harry uttered her name, dismayed at their convenient meeting.
"Evening, Harry" Cho smiled, and twirled her hair. "Haven't had one of these liaisons in a while." Harry climbed the stairs slowly to join her on the landing, and she turned around to face him.
"Room of Requirement?" Cho asked Harry. He nodded; when he was around her it was hard to speak properly. This had always been something which had worried him slightly; he was so enchanted by Cho that he couldn't actually talk to her properly, and that was what he needed: someone to whom he could talk.
They reached the Room of Requirement in what seemed like no time, and entered it to find a small room with cushions and a comfy carpet. Harry knew what Cho was expecting, and was more than happy to help. He rested his hand on her face, leaned down, and kissed her slowly. This carried on for a good few minutes before Cho started and said;
"Oh yeah – go talk to your friend Hermione later; I saw her today and she didn't look too pleased." Cho started to laugh, and tried to carry on kissing Harry. Harry stopped her, and replied with;
"What? Why was she upset?" He was concerned. Cho stifled a laugh and snorted,
"Oh right, yeah, it was probably something to do with your friend Ron. I overheard someone saying he'd asked out that Padma Patil girl properly, and so thought your friend Hermione should know." Cho smiled a wicked smile, and started to giggle. Harry looked at her for a second and then frowned,
"Why did you tell her?" His mood had changed all of a sudden.
"Ohhh, Harry, she was going to find out sometime, and I thought I'd interrupt her pointless reading, or whatever it was she was doing." Cho tried to kiss Harry once more, but he resisted her once more.
"I've got to go. See you later." Harry was so confused. Why the fuck had Ron asked out a girl he didn't even really like. Harry felt sorry for Hermione; he knew she could just about deal with Ron using Padma to fulfil his boyish needs, but would hate the thought of him actually liking her. With this thought, Harry rushed out of the room, leaving Cho standing on her own, looking entirely bemused.
Harry got back to the common room to find it empty except for two people in the corner. He was surprised there weren't more people present, but then realised that it was actually rather late, and everyone had probably gone to bed. He recognized the two Gryffindor girls at once;
"Hermione, Ginny," The two girls were sitting by the fire; Hermione was on a chair, her eyes red and her face streaky from tears. Ginny was crouching on the floor in front of her friend, holding her hands, and gently stroking them with her thumbs.
Both the girls looked up when Harry arrived. He moved over to them, and Hermione managed an "Oh, Harry." She got up and fell into his arms. He hugged her tightly; he was going to kill Ron when he saw him.
"I heard what happened, Hermione." Harry wiped her tears with his sleeve, and pressed his forehead against hers. "He doesn't really like her, I know he doesn't, and if he knew how you felt he never would have done it." Hermione's face creased up;
"He does like her, though. And that awful Cho Chang coming up and telling me, of all the people from whom I could have heard it, it had to be fucking her! Now everyone knows, and they're going to be the happy couple, and he'll just forget all about me." Harry winced at the way Hermione had described Cho, but he was beginning to have serious doubts about the Ravenclaw himself; what kind of a friend was she if she purposefully hurt Hermione, one of his best friends in the whole world?
It was just then that Harry realised Ginny was still there, and he turned around to see her sitting in an armchair fiddling with her nails. Hermione sobbed out that she was going to bed, gave Harry one last hug, and did the same to Ginny. She then disappeared off up the girls' staircase.
"Bloody Hell. Us two always seem to end up together, eh?" Harry smiled at Ginny. She looked up,
"Oh, yeah. I'm going to have words with Ron in the morning, I mean, what the hell does he think he's playing at? I was so sure he liked Hermione." Ginny looked pissed off with herself for making such a crucial misjudgement. Harry looked at her,
"Ginny, he doesn't like, he loves her. They've been in love since about second year, and I'm not about to let the whole thing get fucked up because Ron can't keep his hands to himself. He's just doing it because he doesn't think Hermione could ever love him the way he does her."
Ginny looked rather more hopeful. Both she and Harry knew that Hermione was, and would always be the only girl for Ron. It was just getting them both to realise that which would be the problem.
"How did you find out about it then, Harry?" Ginny realised that Harry hadn't been in the common room all evening, and so couldn't have heard it from Ron or Hermione.
"Oh, Cho told me." Harry looked uncomfortable.
"Cho? And what were you doing with her so late at night?" Ginny teased Harry. She always did this. It hid her true emotions; she made out like she thought the whole affair was funny, when really it was tearing her apart inside.
"Oh, erm nothing." Harry started fidgeting with his trouser leg. "I just saw her at the top of the stairs, and we got talking."
"She's not nice, you know." Ginny looked up. "She doesn't like Hermione just because she cares more about her school work than her hair. Cho knows there's always been something between Ron and Hermione, the whole bloody school knows, yet she still told her."
"Yeah, I know it wasn't such a good idea to tell her, but I'm sure there's a decent explanation." Harry reasoned with Ginny, but she looked like she wasn't having it, and the silence was becoming awkward.
Harry stood up, "I'm off to bed, Gin, it's been a long night. I'll see you in the morning. Ginny smiled and said goodnight. Harry noticed that she looked sad when she smiled; her smile didn't reach her eyes, and that was what alarmed him.
When Harry reached his dormitory, he looked over at a sleeping Ron; his curtains open, Harry could see his best friend's sleeping face.
"You don't know the fucking trouble you've caused, mate." Harry muttered to a very asleep Ron. Things weren't going to be easy from now on, what with Lupin and his classes, Cho's strange behaviour towards Hermione, and, of course, Hermione and Ron. Harry smiled to himself, such was his life.
Hey – Haaa, I got the next chapter up so soon, are you impressed?
Thanks so much for the lovely, lovely comments;
D.Domin and Hermione and Ron Forever; thank you both so much for commenting, and I am so sorry about the lack of Harry/Ginny. I promise promise promise there will be some soon... I'll make it sooner than I planned to, because I know it can be fucking annoying when reading a fic. I've almost got rid of Cho, see? And once she's out of the way it'll be easy.
Mithrandir, I'm still waiting on your review.
I was thinking, and I am always really interested to see what the writers of fics look like, so review if you would like me to post a link for a picture of me with the next chapter, because I wish more people did it. Obviously, if you don't want one, I won't post one, and I'm nothing special or anything. Far from it, in fact.
I'm going away for two weeks tomorrow, to stay with my wonderful friend up in Scotland; I'll do my best to update when I'm back, but don't expect anything before then. Thanks for being so patient with me.
Wow. That was long. Cheers.
Nine Alternatives.
Harry awoke the next morning feeling rather apprehensive; he was not sure why, as he knew Dumbledore would choose the best man for the job (the job being his Defence Against the Dark Arts private tutor). He had his suspicions about whom Dumbledore might have chosen, but then, with him, you never knew.
The lessons passed by rather quickly that day, and, before he knew it, Harry found himself walking down the Defence Against the Dark Arts corridor, and towards the classroom at the very end. As soon as he entered the classroom, he saw the back of a wizard, and cleared his throat. The stranger turned around and smiled, and Harry let out a relieved breath;
"Professor Lupin!" Harry had not seen Remus since last year, and so was bloody glad to see a familiar face.
"Ahhh yes, Harry, I hoped you'd be glad to see me again." Lupin smiled a tired smile, and continued to sort through his old brief case. Harry was happy, but also rather puzzled;
"Professor, what about The Order?" Lupin turned around to face him and explained;
"Don't worry about it, Harry. I have to be in Hogsmeade for the next few months, so decided to offer to help you out. I know it'll be hard, what with your work load, and everything going on, but I'm afraid it is crucial that you receive extra tutoring in your Defence Against the Dark Arts." Harry nodded. He had learnt to accept that he would need training a long time ago; there was something in him which burned when he thought about Voldemort, and he knew he just had to learn how to channel that into magic.
The lesson went well; Harry didn't learn any new spells, but instead he talked to Lupin about what he would be taught in these private lessons. They talked about different charms, and spells, and Harry's strengths and weaknesses. Harry felt so at home talking to Lupin; since Sirius had died, Lupin was the closest thing Harry had to a father figure.
At 9 o'clock, Lupin ended the lesson, and Harry began to make his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He was walking up the main stairs, when he noticed a student ahead of him. She turned around and smiled, it was a beautiful smile, and Harry felt his stomach turn over;
"Cho," Harry uttered her name, dismayed at their convenient meeting.
"Evening, Harry" Cho smiled, and twirled her hair. "Haven't had one of these liaisons in a while." Harry climbed the stairs slowly to join her on the landing, and she turned around to face him.
"Room of Requirement?" Cho asked Harry. He nodded; when he was around her it was hard to speak properly. This had always been something which had worried him slightly; he was so enchanted by Cho that he couldn't actually talk to her properly, and that was what he needed: someone to whom he could talk.
They reached the Room of Requirement in what seemed like no time, and entered it to find a small room with cushions and a comfy carpet. Harry knew what Cho was expecting, and was more than happy to help. He rested his hand on her face, leaned down, and kissed her slowly. This carried on for a good few minutes before Cho started and said;
"Oh yeah – go talk to your friend Hermione later; I saw her today and she didn't look too pleased." Cho started to laugh, and tried to carry on kissing Harry. Harry stopped her, and replied with;
"What? Why was she upset?" He was concerned. Cho stifled a laugh and snorted,
"Oh right, yeah, it was probably something to do with your friend Ron. I overheard someone saying he'd asked out that Padma Patil girl properly, and so thought your friend Hermione should know." Cho smiled a wicked smile, and started to giggle. Harry looked at her for a second and then frowned,
"Why did you tell her?" His mood had changed all of a sudden.
"Ohhh, Harry, she was going to find out sometime, and I thought I'd interrupt her pointless reading, or whatever it was she was doing." Cho tried to kiss Harry once more, but he resisted her once more.
"I've got to go. See you later." Harry was so confused. Why the fuck had Ron asked out a girl he didn't even really like. Harry felt sorry for Hermione; he knew she could just about deal with Ron using Padma to fulfil his boyish needs, but would hate the thought of him actually liking her. With this thought, Harry rushed out of the room, leaving Cho standing on her own, looking entirely bemused.
Harry got back to the common room to find it empty except for two people in the corner. He was surprised there weren't more people present, but then realised that it was actually rather late, and everyone had probably gone to bed. He recognized the two Gryffindor girls at once;
"Hermione, Ginny," The two girls were sitting by the fire; Hermione was on a chair, her eyes red and her face streaky from tears. Ginny was crouching on the floor in front of her friend, holding her hands, and gently stroking them with her thumbs.
Both the girls looked up when Harry arrived. He moved over to them, and Hermione managed an "Oh, Harry." She got up and fell into his arms. He hugged her tightly; he was going to kill Ron when he saw him.
"I heard what happened, Hermione." Harry wiped her tears with his sleeve, and pressed his forehead against hers. "He doesn't really like her, I know he doesn't, and if he knew how you felt he never would have done it." Hermione's face creased up;
"He does like her, though. And that awful Cho Chang coming up and telling me, of all the people from whom I could have heard it, it had to be fucking her! Now everyone knows, and they're going to be the happy couple, and he'll just forget all about me." Harry winced at the way Hermione had described Cho, but he was beginning to have serious doubts about the Ravenclaw himself; what kind of a friend was she if she purposefully hurt Hermione, one of his best friends in the whole world?
It was just then that Harry realised Ginny was still there, and he turned around to see her sitting in an armchair fiddling with her nails. Hermione sobbed out that she was going to bed, gave Harry one last hug, and did the same to Ginny. She then disappeared off up the girls' staircase.
"Bloody Hell. Us two always seem to end up together, eh?" Harry smiled at Ginny. She looked up,
"Oh, yeah. I'm going to have words with Ron in the morning, I mean, what the hell does he think he's playing at? I was so sure he liked Hermione." Ginny looked pissed off with herself for making such a crucial misjudgement. Harry looked at her,
"Ginny, he doesn't like, he loves her. They've been in love since about second year, and I'm not about to let the whole thing get fucked up because Ron can't keep his hands to himself. He's just doing it because he doesn't think Hermione could ever love him the way he does her."
Ginny looked rather more hopeful. Both she and Harry knew that Hermione was, and would always be the only girl for Ron. It was just getting them both to realise that which would be the problem.
"How did you find out about it then, Harry?" Ginny realised that Harry hadn't been in the common room all evening, and so couldn't have heard it from Ron or Hermione.
"Oh, Cho told me." Harry looked uncomfortable.
"Cho? And what were you doing with her so late at night?" Ginny teased Harry. She always did this. It hid her true emotions; she made out like she thought the whole affair was funny, when really it was tearing her apart inside.
"Oh, erm nothing." Harry started fidgeting with his trouser leg. "I just saw her at the top of the stairs, and we got talking."
"She's not nice, you know." Ginny looked up. "She doesn't like Hermione just because she cares more about her school work than her hair. Cho knows there's always been something between Ron and Hermione, the whole bloody school knows, yet she still told her."
"Yeah, I know it wasn't such a good idea to tell her, but I'm sure there's a decent explanation." Harry reasoned with Ginny, but she looked like she wasn't having it, and the silence was becoming awkward.
Harry stood up, "I'm off to bed, Gin, it's been a long night. I'll see you in the morning. Ginny smiled and said goodnight. Harry noticed that she looked sad when she smiled; her smile didn't reach her eyes, and that was what alarmed him.
When Harry reached his dormitory, he looked over at a sleeping Ron; his curtains open, Harry could see his best friend's sleeping face.
"You don't know the fucking trouble you've caused, mate." Harry muttered to a very asleep Ron. Things weren't going to be easy from now on, what with Lupin and his classes, Cho's strange behaviour towards Hermione, and, of course, Hermione and Ron. Harry smiled to himself, such was his life.
Hey – Haaa, I got the next chapter up so soon, are you impressed?
Thanks so much for the lovely, lovely comments;
D.Domin and Hermione and Ron Forever; thank you both so much for commenting, and I am so sorry about the lack of Harry/Ginny. I promise promise promise there will be some soon... I'll make it sooner than I planned to, because I know it can be fucking annoying when reading a fic. I've almost got rid of Cho, see? And once she's out of the way it'll be easy.
Mithrandir, I'm still waiting on your review.
I was thinking, and I am always really interested to see what the writers of fics look like, so review if you would like me to post a link for a picture of me with the next chapter, because I wish more people did it. Obviously, if you don't want one, I won't post one, and I'm nothing special or anything. Far from it, in fact.
I'm going away for two weeks tomorrow, to stay with my wonderful friend up in Scotland; I'll do my best to update when I'm back, but don't expect anything before then. Thanks for being so patient with me.
Wow. That was long. Cheers.
Nine Alternatives.