Jay Morris
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; just the gremlins in my head.
"Chapter 16: Girls"
Ever since Harry had told Lavender that he didn't like her, his life seemed to become much more stressful. He had to always walk with Ron and Hermione to class, because some of Lavender's friends had threatened to hex him into oblivion. He had also received an owl from Lavender's mom, threatening him that if he called her precious daughter names again, that she'd curse him so many times even Dumbledore wouldn't know who he was anymore. And to add even more on top of that, Harry was in trouble with Ron's mom for not telling her about Ron and Tanya.
"Mr. Potter?" Professor Snape asked. His voice echoed with malice. He had been waiting for weeks for Potter to mess up in his class.
"Yes sir?" Harry asked. He mentally kicked himself for letting his mind wander.
"I believe that you have been dozing in my class again. You only have ten more minutes to finish your solution until we test them. I don't think dozing will get that done. Five points from Gryffindor."
Some of the other Gryffindors murmured under their breath, but after a quick glare from Hermione they all quieted down. Ron was done with his before Hermione, as she had cut her hand, and was doing to best not to let anyone see it. Draco sneakily added the next two ingredients to Harry's potion, and then continued stirring his very casually. Harry gave him a quick appreciative glance, but then glanced back down as Snape was watching them again.
By the end of the period Harry had a migrane, and just wanted to go to sleep. Hermione wanted to go to the Hospital Wing, and Ron convinced Draco and Hermione to go, and that Ron would look after Harry. Almost to the common room, Ron broke the silence that they walked in.
"What did mum say?" Ron asked. He knew that Harry had gotten a letter from her, he just didn't know what it had said. He hadn't gotten a Howler.
"She's still mad at me. I think that for the first year that I've attended Hogwarts, I won't get a present from her."
"No. Even though she may be mad at you, she will still send you stuff. Just like she always sent Fred and George stuff, even though they were always in trouble with the teachers; Snape especially."
Ron looked up, grabbed Harry, spun him into a side hall, just as numerous bursts of red energy flew by them. "It looks like Lavender is really pulling out some stops to try to trip you up."
"Nah, really. Ya think!"
"On three, Stupefy!"
Harry and Ron whipped out of the alcove, and froze when they realized what stood in front of them. Ten of Lavender's friends had their wands up, and Lavender was standing in front of them. "Hello Harry," she said.
"Hello Lavender. What do you want?"
"I thought I made my intentions very clear. I guess I didn't. I am going to give you one last chance to dump Ginny, and go out with me. If, for some really stupid reason, you decide to try to burn me again, then my friends will burn you and your friend to rubble. Thirty seconds."
"I have a question," Harry said. For this to work, he needed Lavender to be caught off guard.
"Allright. Ask your question?"
"Why do you want to go out with me so much? I can understand Ginny's reasons, but I just don't get yours. Enlighten me."
"I want you Harry. What about that is not crystal clear?"
"Hypothetically, why should it matter who I go out with? It doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to marry them and staying with them until I'm so old even Cornelius Fudge looks young."
A couple of Lavender's friends snickered under their breath, but after a quick glare from Lavender they stopped. Ron had a smile on his face, as he faced some Gryffindors who he thought would never even threaten him.
"Funny. But, I'm not impressed. Apparently humor isn't one of your strong suits, but we can work on that. I'm waiting for an answer Harry. Yes or no?"
"Answer to what?" Harry asked. He knew he could get her on this, and stall for more time. Devine had said he was on his way, and he was cranky anyway.
"My question."
"What question?"
"Will you go out with me?"
"Who?"
"You."
"What about me?"
"Answer my question!"
"What question?" Harry asked. Ron had picked up on this and was breathing heavier than before. He knew this was about to get ugly.
"Oh never mind! Now!"
Several wands fired magic bolts, each whizzing right by Harry and Ron. But before either could retaliate, Devine's voice was heard yelling, "Alto pathis!" A wave of energy surged around Harry and Ron, and every one of the girls grabbed their head as thought it might explode. And soon the hall was filled with screams of agony, as Devine stood with Harry and Ron in the hallway. He waved his wand in the air, conjured a mist from it, which surrounded them; and their screams stopped, as did all of their other movements.
"What did you do?" Ron asked. His eyes were wide, and his ears will still ringing with the girls' screams.
"I made them be as though they were listening to the most annoying sound they know of, amplified by about 50. And then I put them into a gentle sleep, just because I don't want to hurt them too much. Why were they attacking you anyway?" Devine was looking as though he had just been woken up, and then put into a race for his life. His robes, usually very well addressed, were wrinkled, and his hair was a mess.
"Lavender has an obsession of me, and will stop at nothing it seems to get me to go out with her." Harry was tired, and his migrane hadn't gotten any better. His scar had also begun hurting too, but he hadn't noticed it until Devine had showed up.
"Well, I don't know how to fix that. I can erase all of the other girls' memories of this, but Lavender will remember everything as soon as she sees you again."
"That I can live with. But, as soon as this girl gets laid, she might actually see there are other people out there." Ron coughed and looked down, and then Harry realized what he had just said. "I'm sorry Professor. I wasn't thinking about what I was saying."
"I believe you were my boy. I'm not offended by your statement at all. Now, if you two would please accompany each other to the hospital wing, and prepare Madam Pomfrey for some 'Bleeping Seauties.' I also believe that the elusive members of our school are ready to join the student body once again, and I believe you know one of them Ron, and not just socially."
"Hey!"
"It's the truth."
"That still doesn't make it nice." Ron was only teasing him right back. He knew that Devine wouln't tease him if he couldn't handle it.
"Well, get going. Don't worry about this lot, I'll get them there."
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At the hospital wing . . . Harry was calm; Devine had talked him through how to avoid future problems. Ron and Tanya had a private "conversation", and Draco and Hermione were just mad they weren't there. "Those bitches wouldn't have done that if I were there." Draco had been a little more than shocked that Hermione could actually cuss, but Harry soon put his fears to rest about her cussing all the time. "She only cusses when she's really upset about something. And she handles stress very well." "If you say so Harry."
Harry looked at Lavender. She was completely passed out. He almost pittied her. She was so obsessed with him, and she had no real reason to be. Harry was just an ordinary kid, thrown into extraordinary circumstances. Madam Pomfrey soon shooed everyone out so she could monitor her patients' progress.
No sooner had everyone left, and Madam Pomfrey gone to use the "w.c.", than Lavender opened her eyes. And just as she did, an owl arrived with a letter for her. Hearing Madam Pomfrey's footsteps again, she hid the letter under her pillow, and pretended to be asleep again.
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Harry walked back to the common room with Hermione, and Ron with Tanya's hand grasped firmly in his. "I hate my life," Harry suddenly blurted.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"I hate my life. I can't just be an ordinary kid for one day in my freaking life. Now, there are things about my life that are just heavenly, but the rest of my life sucks."
"What do you expect us to do about it Harry? Or, what do you plan to do about it?"
"I've thought about suicide several times," Harry said. His tone was so unsarcastic that Hermione actually grabbed him, and made him face her.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. Even you must have thought about it."
"No I haven't Harry. I've never thought about throwing away my greatest gift. I've always had that little bit of hope that tomorrow will be better. And you know what?"
"What?"
"It usually does get better. Remember first year. I had no friends, and was always being made fun of. But on Halloween, that dreadful night, my life had changed. I finally got friends, and that was when I started remembering to keep hope in my heart."
Harry stood and stared at Hermione. She had just said what he needed to hear, but he didn't expect her to. "Thanks Hermione. I needed that."
"Anytime Harry."
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Lavender was reading her letter, later that same day. The script was glowing in a red light, and the seal she had broken to open it was in green wax. The letter itself said nothing more than "I await your signal. Remember our bargain." The letter itself was signed by "You-Know-Who".
Lavender sighed. How could she forget their bargain? It was the only reason she had to go on living. Madam Pomfrey brought her a dinner tray.
"Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Lavender had always been one of her favorite students.
"Can I owl someone a message?"
"Of course dear. You can even use my owl if you like."
"Thank you so much."
Madame Pomfrey brought her a piece of parchment, a feather, and her owl, Hoots. Lavender waited until she was gone, and then started writting the following message: "Moons will rise, and set, but only one will pass. Trees sway in the wind. Dead men utter no curses. You-Know-Who". Hoots took the letter, after Lavender sealed it with pink wax, and was soon out Madam Pomfrey's open window in her office. Lavender then settled herself down to her dinner of salisbury steak, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh spinach salad, and brownie.
N/A: I know I haven't added chapters as fast as I need to, but I don't have as much time as I used to. You just won't know, I think for another chapter or two, what the final gathering will be. Why does almost no one review my story?