disclaimer: i dont own anything of JkR's.
i know you all must hate me. i am so so so sorry. but for now, the system is letting me update and im beyond grateful so im taking this precious time to update. i am so sorry for all the inconvience, please bear with me. thanks for all your comments and for sticking by me. thanks so much, and i promise to have something to you soon.
What would i do without you all? i got so many reviews! I love it!!
thanks to all who reviewed my last chapter! my love to you all!!
if you reviewed both chapters, i only listed one list:
whimsical firefly: thanks so much! i know, poor Mione just makes it worse for her..sighs..ah well, thanks for the review..i love your story by the way, great job on that, keep up the great work!
jedipirateelfydude: i finally updated, hope you like!
leviyl: hope you like this chappie
rachael: hey, im grateful if i only get one review! thanks for reviewing, i really appreciate it!
ajaliebe: thanks so much!
twinkle25: did i have you going? im sorry-she wont admit her feelings yet...lol, thanks for the review!
grace: dont worry, i already have that chapter written..i hope its satisfactory..guess i'll have to wait and see! thanks for the review!
HHromancefreak: im really glad you liked it! keep reading!
kay#4orlandoandhplvr: if you hate cliffhangers, i know you're gonna hate me for the one coming up.....SORRY!! sorry you didnt like the chappie much, i wish i could say this one was any better but i suppose not.
grantsbeetle: i cant thank you enough for reviewing all the chapters. most people would just skip to the latest chapter, but you took the time to review them all. thank you so much! im glad you like the story, keep up the reviews! thanks so much for all your kind words and compliments! and dont worry, harry and hermione will get together soon...
BeingUglyIsTheOnlyThingICantDo: im thrilled you like the story. im surprised im still getting new people to read it, i didnt think they would. thanks so much for you compliments! ive never considered myself a 'great writer' but since you told me so, im doing a happy dance! im glad people like the way i write, i wasnt sure at first. but if you want a really good story, not HHr, though, try silverbelle's story Learning to Cope. its awesome! dont forget to review and keep the opinions coming!
trumpet-geek: thanks!
gldsunsprite21: i know, i was late on updating. i hope you'll like this chapter as much as the others!
beautyandbrainz101: another great review! thanks so much! glad you liked the chappies, hope this one is just as good.
acknowledge: i know, i have kinda abandoned Ron, sniffles, but he's coming up soon, dont worry! im glad you liked the scene by the lake, i thought it was perfect for the whole thing. thanks for the review!
artemisgirl: i know i shouldnt sound like a broken record and apologize all over, i just didnt want you all to kill me for not updating. thanks for that though, i was sure everyone would be mad and forget about the story.
gurlsboy: glad i was able to help with your girl troubles, if thats what it is. if you dont mind me asking, even though i know its not my bussiness but my nose sticks itself into other peoples bussiness, what happened?
thanks thanks thanks!
ok, and now, my next chapter...
chapter sixteen.....Misunderstandings
"Harry mate, Im going down to breakfast, I'll wait for you if you want, but you had better hurry because my stomach is starting to eat it's insides."
It sounded as if Ron was speaking from a distant corner of Harry's mind. He could barely hear him, but he didnt make an effort to pay attention. His head was pounding, which only made things harder to hear. Harry grogily opened his eyes. He was starring at the top of his old four-poster bed. From what he could tell, the dormitory was empty except for him and Ron.
Harry made to get out of bed but stopped when his head pounded even louder. Ron's face suddenly came into view. He was leaning over Harry, looking down at him.
"Whats up mate? You look sick.." he said with concern in his voice.
"I guess it's the dreams..."said Harry, now pressing his hands to his head in an attempt to make the pounding stop.
"Wh-w-what dreams? You stopped having those dreams after Voldemort kicked the bucket. You cant be having those dreams again-"
"Look Ron, I know what I saw. Im having the dreams again. Besides, it's not like when Voldemort was after the prophecy and he was dreaming about it. It was more like a nightmare of the night we went to the Ministry.." said Harry, still not looking at Ron. He wasn't sure if it was a nightmare or not, maybe he was having the dreams again. But if he was, it couldnt be signs from Voldemort, but someone else.
Harry looked up at Ron. He was sitting on the end of Harry's bed, his forehead creased as if he was in deep concentration. Harry knew he shouldnt have said anything. He hadnt meant to tell anyone about the dreams in the first place, and he knew Ron would make a big deal out of it. After a few minutes, Ron spoke.
"Well, mate, if it's like a nightmare, then it's nothing to worry about. Besides you said the prophecy was destroyed, so Voldmort wouldnt be after it anyways," said Ron, more confident of what he was saying now.
"Yeah, it's probably just some stupid nightmare, that's all. Come on, lets go to breakfast.." said Harry, trying to ignore the increasing pounding in his head.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
When Harry and Ron sat down at Gryffindor table, Harry noticed Hermione wasn't there. Trying to ignore the feeling of guilt that was now coming up on him, Harry piled his plate with food. Ron, who had obviously noticed Hermione's absence, pointed it out to Harry.
"Wonder where Hermione is..."he asked in a tentive voice.
Harry didnt answer. He was thinking back to last night.
Im sorry for all this Harry..I didnt mean to hurt you...I just dont know what to do...
What had she meant by that? What does she not know what to do?
"You know mate, if you just talked to her.."
"I've tried to Ron. She won't talk to me. She won't even look at me.." Harry's heart ached. He missed her. More than I've realized.
"Oh."
Harry was expecting Ron to ask him why he had slept in his dormitory but he didnt. Harry was about to explain but stopped when he saw someone approaching him.
Alexa had just come over from the Ravenclaw table and sat down next to Harry. She was awarded many curious stares and Ginny was looking at her with one eyebrow raised, her hands suspended in mid-air, where she had been busy putting butter on her toast. Harry, not wanting to look like he didnt want her there, busied himself with the pumpkin juice.
"Hello Harry! Ready for our flying lesson today?" she asked in a bright voice, which caused Ginny to roll her eyes and turn back to her toast.
"Yeah, how bout you?" said Harry. He could tell she wanted to make conversation and decided not to fight it.
"Oh I'm so excited! I can't wait! I mean, lessons from such a good quidditch player like you. You were the youngest player in a century, weren't you?"she asked.
Harry could tell she already knew this, but he figured she wanted to hear it personally.
"Yeah, but it's no big deal,"said Harry.
"Oh dont' be so modest! You have to be one of the best players Hogwarts has seen!" she said, playfully hitting Harry's arm.
Ginny looked as if she would gag if she sat there any longer. Giving Alexa one last look, she set off into the Entrance Hall.
"Actually, Ron's brother Charlie, could have gone pro,"said Harry, trying to get her attention off him. He wasn't to enthused to be talking to Alexa, even if she was very pretty. His mind was on someone else.
Ron, who was sitting on the other side of Harry, perked up at the mention of his name. Smiling at Alexa as he leaned around Harry, he took over the conversation. Harry was only too grateful.
"Thats right. Charlie could have gone off to training but he decided to go work with dragons instead. I get my talent from him. We use to play in my backyard all the time.."
As Ron continued to talk, Harry found himself wishing he didn't have to give Alexa lessons today.
But you promised.
I know...it's just, I wish it wasn't today.
"Is that true Harry?"asked Alexa.
"Is what true?"said Harry, clearly unaware of what she was talking about.
"You're going to be an Auror? I would have thought you would go with Ron when he went to play for the Chudley Cannons.."she said.
"Uh..well, see Alexa..I actually havent been made an official part of the team yet, but..."
Harry raised his eyebrows at Ron. Since when does he play for the Chudley Cannons? Ron shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
"I thought about it. But I decided being an Auror is more my thing. Besides, I thought Ron could handle the Cannons himself..."said Harry, smiling at Ron while Ron ,mouthed 'thank you!' and holding his hands together as if he was praying.
Alexa smiled at Harry. "That, is so smart. But you are good enough to go pro. Any team would die for you.."
Harry forced himself to smile.
"Well, I'd better go. I'll meet you in the quidditch pitch around two, okay Harry?" asked Alexa, getting up.
Harry nodded his head.
Bending down, Alexa kissed him on the cheek. "Bye Harry! See you at two!" she said, smiling at him as she walked off.
Ron stared after her. Then he turned to Harry. "Wow, mate. You could get her to jump off a buliding if you wanted to. She's wrapped around your finger.."Ron looked quite impressed. "How did you do it?"
"I dunno. I've never really talked to her that much, and all of a sudden she wants flying lessons.."
"Hey, I could always give her flying lessons.."
"Thanks mate, that really helps. Really."
Just then, Seamus and Dean, who had been sitting a few seats down from Harry and Ron, slid down to join them. Dean wistled as Alexa walked off.
"Harry, why didnt you tell us you and Alexa were a couple?"asked Seamus, who was also starring at Alexa.
"We're not. Just friends, nothing more," said Harry.
"What hit you over the head? Just friends? That kiss didnt look like a 'just friends' kiss to me.." said Dean.
"We're just friends," repeated Harry.
"I've tried to tell him, but he wont listen. He refuses to believe she likes him," said Ron.
"She doesnt, we're just friends, thats all!" said Harry.
"See?"
"You mean you dont want to be more than friends? You're insane! Who wouldnt want to go out with Alexa Boloy?" cried Seamus.
"Harry mate, you're crazy. If you can't see she thinks of you more than just a friend, there is something the matter with you," said Ron.
"What I dont get is why wouldnt Harry want to see her as more than a friend? She's practically thrown herself at him!" said Dean.
"She hasnt thrown hersel-" Harry began.
"Yeah right. Quidditch lessons? Give me a break Harry,"snorted Ron.
"Quidditch lessons? You're giving her quidditch lessons?" asked Seamus, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Well, she asked yesterday and I felt bad refusing so I-"
"Well who in their right mind would refuse? I mean, Alexa Bo-"
"Look, it's only quidditch lessons. Thats all. We're just friends. Thats all. Nothing more. If she thinks of me as more than a friend, well, thats great, but I only see her as a friend!" Harry managed to shout over the voices of the others.
Dean and Seamus looked at him in amazement. Harry got up and left the table. It wasn't until he started up the staircases that he noticed Ron was following him. He turned to wait for him.
"Listen Harry, I didnt know it bothered you that much. I know you see her as just a friend, but I know she sees you as more. But I'll leave you alone about it. No more teasing. I promise," said Ron when he reached Harry.
"It's alright mate. I know I shouldnt have gone off like that, it just got to me I guess.." said Harry.
They continued their walk up the stairs. "So what are you going to do until two o'clock?"asked Ron.
"I dunno. I was thinking of maybe finishing my homework in the library.." said Harry.
"On a Saturday? Nah..let's do something else. How bout taking our brooms out? Or we could visit Hagrid.." suggested Ron. "Yeah, alright. Let me get my broom.." said Harry, thinking a good fly would get his mind off things. He and Ron made their way up two more flights of stairs until they came to the corridor that led to Harry's dormitory. Leading the way, Harry stopped in front of the painting with the wizards.
"My good man! Bringing strangers to the Head's dormitory! Do you know what risks you are undertaking? He could be a spy!"
"Wilanot."
"And shouting the password about for anyone to hear! I have-"
"Shut it you before I give you a new paint job!" said Ron, who was higly insulted a being called a stranger.
"I refuse to accept orders from someone with such low-"
"You have real nerve-"
"WILANOT!!"
The wizard gave Ron one last look before opening the portrait hole and giving Harry and Ron access. Ron looked around the Head's common rooom.
"You get your own common room?" he asked, looking at Harry with jealously.
"Yeah, believe me, I wasnt expecting getting our own rooms.." said Harry, leading the way up the staircases to his room. Ron followed.
When they reached Harry's room, Harry went to get his Firebolt while Ron examined the bathroom. His voice echoed off the walls.
"I would become Head Boy just to use all the stuff that comes with it.." he said.
"Hey, you had the prefects bathroom.." said Harry, looking around his room for his broom.
"Well yeah, but I didnt get my own common room and private bedroom," said Ron. "Besides I dont think I could manage Head Boy. Too much work. And I wouldnt want to be a disgrace to Fred and George. They promised me I could work in their shop this summer to make a bit of extra money.." he came out the bathroom and sat on Harry's bed.
"Oh yeah, how is their shop going? Last time I heard they were adding another shop somewhere by Durmstrang and Beauxbatons.." Harry asked.
"Yeah. After their success in Diagon Alley they figured they could do better. Mum's going ballistic. She's worried about them traveling back and forth. And now they've got their own apartment. She's convinced something is bound to happen..She still can't believe how big they've gone with their bussiness...I'll never get her..." he put on a voice just like Mrs.Weasley's "They should be working somewhere decent! Not making more trouble and getting paid for it! Honestly! What ever happend to working for a living?"
Harry smiled as he thought of Mrs. Weasley saying that. Well, at least she's not mad at you...after all, she didnt bite your head off after she found out about your helping them.
But when Harry thought about it, how could you be mad at the twins? They were a complete success with their joke shop. In Harry's sixth year they had surprised Harry and Ron by opening a new shop in Hogsmeade, which didnt approve of many teachers. For days after a Hogsmeade visit, students would be at the height of troublemaking with help from Fred and George's new shop. Finally, after many days of confusion, McGonagall announced that if any more evidence of the twins joke shop was used in school there would be no more Hogsmeade visits. But that didnt stop McGonagoll congradulating Fred and George on their new success with the shop. Harry actually saw her talking to Fred about the new animals he and George had used in their latest invention which allowed the user to have the head of an animal for an hour, depending on what animal you wanted to be. Come to find out McGonagall was facinated and purchased a few items 'to help with the general income.'
Well, that was one thing about the twins, you had to love them. They could sell anything and make you laugh no matter what. Harry smiled thinking back to last summer. Before the holidays had ended, the twins had visited the Burrow to see Ron and Ginny before they left for Hogwarts. When they saw Harry, they apologized for anything unusual they might find in their old room.
"Yeah, Harry. If you hear anything humming in the middle of the night, I'd get out of there. Quick. We never did find that self-activating Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes smoke bomb..."
"Just joking mum!"
"But there is something in the bottom right hand corner of the closet that I wouldnt bother with. Nothing to worry about. If you touch it, the spots will come off in about a week..no worries..."
"And we did lose some doxies in there about a month or two ago.."
"And that funny thing with six legs that Mundungus gave us...never found that.."
"Other than that, enjoy your stay in our room Harry!"
"Yes, take care of it...we have precious memories in that room.."
"We made our first WWW's products in there..."
"And left our mark there too..."
Needless to say Harry was cautious of anything he picked up in there after Fred and George's visit.
"Yeah, that would be cool working for the twins.." said Harry.
"I thought so too..They said you're welcome to come too..Im only going to make what little money I can..I thought maybe I could save up for a place of my own after we graduate-"
"What? Not going to buy a new broom for when you play for the Chudley Cannons?"asked Harry, a sly smile on his face. Ron blushed a deep maroon color.
"I couldn't help it mate..she was so..she made me say it! I couldnt help it! It was like she was overpowering me..making me say it.."
"It's alright mate. But I never knew you wanted to play quidditch profesionally," said Harry, standing up, Firebolt in hand. "Well, I've always thought it would be cool..but I dont think I have a chance..Im not good enough..besides, an Auror is cool too," said Ron.
They climbed down the stairs and walked out into the corridor, heading to Gryffindor tower to get Ron's broom. "So what about you? Are you moving out of the Dursley's?" asked Ron.
"As soon as the Hogwarts Express drops me off," said Harry.
"Are you going to move into Grimmauld Place or get a place of your own?" Ron asked before stepping through the portrait hole.
"I havent thought of that.."
After Sirius had died, he had left Grimmauld Place to Harry. Lupin had offered to move in with him, but Harry had refused. The memories were too painful. But the house was still occupied. It remained Headquarters under Harry's wish, and members were always in and out. Harry had offered it to Lupin, but he had refused saying he had a small place of his own.
Harry had instead spent the rest of the summer and the summer after sixth year with the Weasleys. But now that he didnt have to return to the Dursleys anymore for his protection, Harry thought of moving into Sirius' house. At least until he had a place of his own..Now he could invite Ron and Lupin to live with him. That way it wouldnt be so lonely.
"Ready?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, lets go.."
They walked down to the quidditch pitch with the sun high over their heads. They took off and Harry felt immediate relief. All the worries that had been crowding his mind all week now fell to the ground as he soared higher and higher.
"Race you!"
Harry turned to find Ron allowing himself a head start. Grinning, Harry set off after him. He beat him easily.
"Hah!" cried Harry as he soared over Ron.
"Aww stuff it..I want a rematch.."
Harry and Ron spent the morning not a worry in the world as they flew around the pitch. Occasionally Harry would throw quaffles to Ron for him to block. When they had grown hungry, they headed back to the castle for lunch. Harry noticed Hermione's absence from the table once more. He was now starting to worry..where was she? But he didnt have much time to worry over her. Alexa had come to join him for lunch.
"Harry, since you already have your broom, maybe we could go out on the pitch an hour early? You could come with me to get my broom after lunch and then we could go practice. What do you think?" she asked.
"Whatever you want."
"Good!"
Harry was relieved she didnt kiss him. Dean and Seamus were only a few seats down, and their eyes werent focused on their food.
After they had finished eating, Ron walked with Harry and Alexa out the Great Hall. Once they had reached the staircases, Ron bid them goodbye and headed to Gryffindor tower to put his broom up. Before he left, Harry grabbed him and pulled him to the side, with an apology to Alexa.
"What, need a breath mint? Or how bout some kissing tips?" asked Ron, smiling.
"Very funny. I need you to check on Hermione. Im worried about her..and seeing as she wont talk to me, well, I figured she wouldnt run away from you..so will you?" Harry asked. Ron looked at him funny before reassuring him.
"Yeah, I'll check on her..."
"Harry? Are you coming?" Harry looked at Alexa, who was making her way over to the suit of armor Harry and Ron were conceled behind. Harry rushed out his thanks.
"Thanks mate..I really appreciate this.."
Harry left Ron standing behind the suit of armor to join Alexa.
"What took you so long?"she asked as they set off down a corridor Harry knew led to the Ravenclaw common room.
"Oh, uh, just talking to Ron.."
"About what?"
"Uh..Quidditch.."
Harry knew from experience that you did not, under any circumstances, mention any other girl while with another girl. Even if it wasnt a date. Which it wasnt.
"Okay, here we are. Be right back Harry!"
Alexa climbed through a conceled door after giving it the password. A few minutes later she came back, her Firebolt in hand. Smiling, she led the way down to the grounds. Harry followed her. Even though his mind was on someone else at the moment, he forced himself to act like he was enjoying himself. Well, better make the most out of this 'date', as Ron likes to call it.
The sun was still shining as brightly as before as Alexa and Harry crossed the grass. Once they had come to the middle of the field, Alexa turned to Harry.
"Okay, Harry, here we go.."
sorry if thats a bit of a cliffhanger..my apologies...but anyways, dont forget to review! keep up the great comments guys!! once again, im soo sorry for all this, but i promise more soon.
Ashton