Hey sorry it took so long for this chapter! School started! And ff.n was down! But here it is, I was gonna make it even longer but I decided to keep you all from waiting any longer. Standard disclaimers apply, of course. Go ahead and read this now.
My Fire, My Love: Part Six
For Harry, the rest of the day passed very slowly. He was unusually quiet, and when his friends asked, he told them he wasn't feeling so well. In Transfiguration, Harry had a bit of trouble paying attention. During Herbology he accidentally bumped into Hannah Abbot and sent her flying to floor, venom from one of the plants clutched in her hands. Luckily, Neville caught the glass before it could shatter and splatter everyone with the poison. Everyone burst into applause at the normally clumsy boy's sudden coordination. Neville beamed. Harry mumbled an apology and retreated to his worktable. Ron approached him.
"Harry, honestly, what is the matter with you?" he asked exasperatedly.
"'s nothing." Harry said softly. "Guess I didn't get very much sleep last night." He lay his head on the table, trying not to fall asleep.
"What with Malfoy in the dorm, I'm not surprised. That slimy git has got a lot of nerve, sneaking into our room…"
"Will you chill out already!" Harry said angrily, his head snapping up. "What's the big deal? So he was there, so what? Why do you care so much, anyway?" his voice was rising in anguish. Ron looked taken aback.
"I…" he began, then backed away, surprised by Harry's reaction. Hermione set down her plant and, making sure that Professor Sprout was occupied, quickly walked over to the boys.
"What's going on?" she asked, although she was pretty sure she already knew. Harry shrugged. Ron got very red in the face.
"I don't know what's up with *him*." He said bitterly, waving his hand at Harry. "All I said was that Malfoy shouldn't be sneaking into our dorm, the prick…" Hermione's eyes widened as Harry's face contorted in anger. He swallowed and forced himself to calm down; after all, Draco had been absolutely wretched to Ron in the past, but... Harry just wasn't doing so well that day.
"Look." She said. "Let's give the whole subject a rest, shall we? Harry doesn't feel well, and I'm sure he didn't mean to yell at you, Ron." Harry nodded.
"Whatever you say, 'Mione." Ron said doubtfully as he walked away to get the next ingredient for the formula. She glanced at Harry; he gave her a shaky smile. This can't go on. Keeping this from us is killing him. And Ron's not making it any easier. She grimaced.
"Harry, listen. You know you can tell me anything that's bothering you, right?" He nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Thanks, 'Mione. I'll keep that in mind." She flashed him an encouraging smile, then continued making the plant formula. Harry moaned and buried his head in his arms, not knowing quite why he was having such a bad day. Oh well. At least he had tonight to look forward to. And I just bet we're gonna get caught.
"Harry!" a voice squeaked. "Please don't sleep during class!" a dismayed Professor Sprout said in his ear, jerking him awake.
"Mmmm… I'm so sorry, Professor." Harry mumbled. He could barely keep his eyes open. He yawned right in Professor Sprout's face. She blinked in shock.
"Harry, I'm afraid that's 5 points from Gryffindor." Harry sat up in shock, unable to believe his ears. He had just gotten points deducted – in Herbology?! This day was just getting better and better…
After Herbology, they went to lunch. Harry ate quickly and went to the Gryffindor Tower, where he collapsed into a chair in the common room. He promptly fell asleep and was awakened by a playful Seamus standing behind him, tickling his nose with a quill. Harry sneezed and sat up, looking around. He glanced up and spotted Seamus, poised for another assault. Harry reached up and grabbed the quill, causing Seamus to lose his balance and tumble into Harry's lap. He immediately patted the dark-haired boy on the head and snuggled against him, his head resting against Harry's chest.
"Why, Harry!" he exclaimed mischievously. "I didn't know you felt this way about me." Harry blushed and tried to shove the spirited boy off of him. He succeeded in dumping Seamus onto the floor, where he lay, laughing. Harry began to laugh a little, too. Seamus pulled himself off the ground and seated himself in a chair next to Harry.
"So what did McGonagall do to you and Dean?" Harry asked, genuinely curious.
"Oh, she gave us detention, we have to polish trophies with Justin Finch-Fletchley after Divination." Seamus remarked carelessly. "Dean and I are planning on having a little bit of fun with him." He smirked.
"Ah." said Harry. He looked around at the rest of the occupants of the room, most of them were far away and none were paying attention to them. He leaned in near Seamus, and beckoned him to come close. "Are you busy tonight?" he asked. The fair-haired boy shook his head.
"Dean is going out with the Weasley twins." He said, a sad smile playing on his lips. Harry looked at him thoughtfully, as Seamus' musing dwelled on his tall, dark-skinned friend. The melancholy on his face was erased as Seamus focused on Harry. "Why?" he wondered.
"Draco wants you and I to meet him in his dorm tonight. He said something about you "getting what you deserve"." Seamus grinned delightedly. "I have a feeling that I'll probably fall asleep before it's time to go, so if you could wake me up at 11:00, that would help." Seamus nodded, beaming.
"How do you know that I won't go see Malfoy by myself, huh?" he teased. "I don't think I'd want to share with *you*."
"Ha ha. Very funny." said Harry, only slightly amused. "The reason I know you won't do that is cuz only *I* know the password into the Slytherin common room, silly."
"Oh yeah." he said, not missing a beat. "I'll see you later, then." Seamus cast a nervous glance at the portrait hole, where Ron's red head was visible. He retreated, and Ron approached Harry cautiously. Harry gave him a small smile; Ron grinned back in relief and sank into Seamus' recently vacated seat.
"Sorry you're not feeling well." Ron began without preamble. Harry nodded mutely, then asked,
"All other situations aside, what happened with Hermione last night?" Ron blushed, but his smile widened even more.
"Oh, *that*." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Guess." Harry punched his arm impatiently.
"C'mon, just tell me already!" With a sigh of exasperation, his best friend relented.
"Okay, okay, well she had some homework to finish up, I actually did some studying for once, then we went to sleep."
"You're kidding." Harry snorted disbelievingly. "That's it?"
"Of course not!" he leaned in conspiratorially, remembering the night before as he recounted it to his friend...
*~~~Flashback~~~*
She guided him up the stairs and to the door of the 5th year girls' dormitory, their hands clasped, fingers entwined. She pushed the door open quietly and stuck her head in. She entered, pulling Ron behind her speedily. The curtains of the bed in the middle were shut; he could hear giggling voices from within. Oh. Lavender and Parvati. Right. Hermione flung back the curtains of the nearest bed and shoved Ron onto it. She shut the curtains hurriedly and turned around. The drapes around the neighboring bed were withdrawn slightly, and a curious face peered at Hermione.
"Hey, Hermione." greeted Lavender.
"Hi Lavender, Parvati." Hermione said pleasantly. A voice whispered something.
"D'ya want to study with us?" Lavender invited uncertainly. Hermione smiled, and it was a genuine smile, as opposed to the coldly polite ones she usually favored her dormmates with.
"No, but thanks for asking." she yawned widely. "I think I'm just going to go to bed." Lavender shrugged and let the curtain fall back into place. Hermione climbed onto her bed to find Ron sprawled across the comforter, his face buried in her pillows, wearing nothing but boxer shorts. Hermione gave a little squeak.
"Eager to get me in bed, 'Mione?" he asked, smirking. Her blush was so dark that he could make it out even in the dim lighting.
"I'm going to kill Harry. And keep your voice down!" she scolded. "Now turn around while I get changed." Ron snickered and she shoved him. He rolled onto his side, facing away from Hermione, a huge grin on his face. As she fumbled into a large t-shirt and soft yellow cotton shorts, she muttered miserably, "I am *so* going to kill Harry. Okay, you can turn around now." she informed Ron. The red head sat up and wrapped his arms around the clever girl and kissed her cheek sweetly. She tuned her face to his and caught his lips with her own. Tongues slipped out of hungry mouths. Ron was vaguely aware of Hermione repositioning herself into his lap, pushing him back against the headboard, then getting on her knees, one on either side of Ron's hips. His hands were roving everywhere, slipping under her loose t-shirt. Her hands tangled in his fiery hair as Ron moaned, slightly bewildered, into her welcoming mouth. This was so different from the booksmart, sensible, calm girl he thought he knew. But it seemed that there was a completely different side to Hermione, intensely passionate. This hot little Hermione let one hand trail down Ron's bare chest, to his stomach, and lower, *right* *there*. Ron gasped and jerked when she touched him.
"My God, 'Mione, what're you *doing*?!" he rasped. She laughed quietly with delight at his reaction and let her hand wander more, causing him to buck his hips up. He noted through a haze that she was deriving enormous satisfaction at making him writhe in pleasure, regarding his reactions almost clinically. Grinning evilly, she settled her body over his, right where she was supposed to be, only barricaded their clothing. She circled her hips around experimentally. He groaned in frustration, wanting to be *in* her. She slid a hand over his mouth.
"Shhh." she whispered, her eyes shining with intensity she normally only reserved for taking exams. "Just- just shush and enjoy it." Ron swallowed, already lost. Hermione threw her head back, trying not to let any sound escape her. Her eyes were tightly shut as she increased her pace. Ron closed his own eyes and concentrated in moving with her. With a small sigh, she fell against Ron's chest, twining her arms about his neck, as his release came as well.
"Oh my God..." he murmured, and deposited a kiss to her sweaty forehead. "D-did you have that planned out?" A small shake of glistening mahogany locks.
"No." she whispered, pressing closer to him. "It just felt right." Ron shifted them both until they were settled comfortably under the blankets, twisted together in perfection. They fell asleep that way, and Ron had never felt more content in his life...
*~~~End of Flashback~~~*
Harry's eyes were wide with shock as Ron leaned back in his chair smugly.
"Of course, you can't tell *anyone* about this. 'Mione would kill me." Harry's jaw worked soundlessly a few times before he replied,
"Who would I tell?" Ron shrugged. "I think your other story was more believable, anyway. It's like two different people, almost." Harry mused. "Sensible Hermione and Sexy Hermione. I wouldn't mind meeting Sexy Hermione." he added as an afterthought. Ron's face darkened.
"Don't even think about it." the redhead growled tersely
"Just joking!" Harry smiled, getting up. "C'mon, we'd better- whoa." Harry swayed forward, suddenly feeling tremendously dizzy. He pressed both hands to his head. Ron was by his side in a flash.
"Harry? What's wrong?"
"I think I should sit down." he mumbled as his knees gave out and he collapsed on the rug.
"Harry!" Ron gasped, concern heavy in his voice. The dark-haired teen scrunched his eyes in a desperate effort to overcome his dizziness, willing his head to stop spinning. Abruptly, he felt something else coming, and Harry's eyes flew open as he sprang to his feet, knocking over Ron, and ran to the bathroom as fast as he could. He skidded to a stop in front of a toilet and threw up violently, his whole body shaking with the force. He vomited again, and again. A presence behind him. Warm hands guiding him to the floor. His stomach shuddered one last time, but nothing was left.
Slowly, his shaking subsided as he leaned back into Ron's embrace, who reached over and flushed the toilet.
"Harry? Are you okay?" his voice was low and gentle.
"Yeah." he said, getting to his feet weakly and stumbling over to the sink. "I just need to brush my teeth, that's all." He twisted the cap off and applied the toothpaste to his brush. Ron's image appeared beside his in the mirror.
"What on earth could cause you to be so ill?" asked a perplexed Ron. Harry shrugged, though he wondered himself. He scrubbed at his teeth, wanting to get the awful taste out of his mouth. He was already feeling better; only, he wanted to scrape of his tongue. Ron watched silently as Harry furiously cleaned his mouth and then spit into the sink. His saliva was tinged orange; and suddenly *Ron* felt queasy. "I'll be downstairs if you need me." Harry nodded.
"Thanks." Ron smiled and disappeared out the door. Finally, Harry's tongue was properly numbed, so he joined his classmates as they trudged up to Divination.
Thankfully, though he felt the usual drowsiness associated with the smothering atmosphere in the tower room, he didn't feel *sick* for the rest of the class. After Divination, Harry and Ron went to the library to meet up with Hermione, where he hurriedly finished all of his homework before dinner, because afterward was Quidditch practice. Luck was on his side that day; (he only hoped it would be there that night, too) the only real homework he had was Transfiguration, which 'Mione generously helped him with. Harry couldn't help glancing at her in amazement, still shocked by Ron's disclosure of the night before. The brunette rolled her eyes, and finally threatened to stop helping him if he kept looking at her as if she had turned into a hippogriff.
With his homework out of the way, Harry had a few spare minutes to worry about what had made him so sick. However, it was soon time for dinner, so Harry abandoned his train of thought. The meal was delicious: four different kinds of quiche, chicken pot pie as the main course, and for dessert, apple pie with rich vanilla ice cream. Harry forced himself to eat sparingly, (not wanting to tempt his traitorous stomach) casting longing glances at the apple pie. He left before dinner was over, unable to bear the delicious smell of light, flaky crust and cinnamon.
He went to the Quidditch field, broom in hand. The Gryffindor team had been practicing for 45 minutes before Harry started to feel light-headed again. He barely landed safely, toppling over onto the grass. Katie Bell, the captain this year, flew down when he beckoned her.
"Kate, I'm not feeling too well, is it okay if I call it a day?"
"Of course, Harry. Just make sure you're well for the match against Hufflepuff." the seventh year advised sternly. He promised, then took a quick shower in the locker room before trudging across the grounds to Gryffindor Tower, fighting dizziness every step of the way. Ha almost forgot the password in his haze, and he simply didn't have the strength to climb the steep stairs to the dormitory. As he collapsed onto a couch, kicking his shoes off automatically, he noticed before he closed his eyes that Seamus looked very forlorn and unhappy. Harry filed it away in his brain and shut his eyes, almost immediately falling asleep, oblivious to everything around him.
~A twisted body lying in an ever-widening pool of crimson blood. Violent sobs. A figure bent with grief. Brown head lifted, eyes filled with pain and rage.
"We trusted him! We trusted you!" she shrieks, face covered by trembling hands. "And now Ron's dead!"
"NO!" His loud denial. Running, leaving Hermione, her sobs grow fainter and fainter until- silence. Silence. Faster, an overwhelming sense of urgency- Where was...?!
"Draco!" Pale, blond, proud, stepping from the shadows. A disdainful sneer. "Draco...? Please, Ron, he's-" Laughter laced with contempt reverberates in the thick air. Sudden, irrepressible fear. Another figure steps beside Draco, he takes her hand and raises it to his lips, adoration shining in his eyes. But not directed at Harry. For her. Her face suddenly visible...Pansy... smiling triumphantly... The shadows close around them and then the Death Eaters surround him- and he can't move he can't move! He can barely breathe as one by one his friends and loved ones are brought forward: Hermione, Fred and George, Seamus and Dean, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley and Remus Lupin, then Dumbledore and Sirius. And there's Peter Pettigrew, and Draco's father Lucius, and they murder every last person, screams echoing as they are killed Harry can't move, his scar is burning and the one thought that comes to his mind as Voldemort turns to him and rests a decrepit hand on his shoulder ("Well done.") is that the screams were lasting far too long, why?, since everyone was dead...~
Okay, the above scene *is* a dream sequence, okay? So don't freak out, though it's probably obvious. As you can see, I am developing a definite plot, yay!! I just had to write that scene between Ron and 'Mione, I'm sorry :). Some action with Harry and Draco in the next chapter for sure, *lots* of it cuz our fav Slytherin wasn't even in this chapter! So that's it, I think. Big thank you to all my reviewers, I've gotten 60, that's more than I've ever gotten before!!!! I'll have the thank yous in the next chapter. Please Review!
~RainShadow