Chapter Eight:
Hagrid welcomed Harry and Hermione inside, trying to hold back Fang in the process. The dog eagerly greeted the two teens. Harry wiped away some dog saliva on his jeans and patted Fang on the head.
"Come in, come in. 'Ow are yeh two?"
"Great," Harry said. Hermione rolled her eyes.
Hagrid noticed this. "No use hidin' it. I've 'eard what people 'ave been sayin'. Just keep in mind what I've told yeh. Alrigh', 'Arry?"
"Yeah," Harry simply said.
Hagrid studied Harry for a moment. For a split second he saw Sirius standing in front of him. Hagrid blinked and shook his head at the absurd thought.
"What am I thinking? Let's not stand at the door. Sit down, make yerselves comfortable."
Harry plopped himself onto a squishy red chair, Hermione took the orange one next to him. They were both worn out and a brown tint of age could be seen in the fabric. Hagrid set a plate of rock cakes in front of them, and told them tea would be ready in a moment.
"So yeh've got the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow?"
Hermione and Harry nodded in unison. Harry bit into a rock cake, surprised to find his teeth still intact. He chewed the cake slowly, and realized it was like Hermione said- better tasting. Though he found his teeth were glued together after swallowing.
"Surprised Dumbledore 'asn't cancelled."
Harry took a sip of his freshly made tea, which Hagrid had just given the two, before settling down in a chair opposite them.
"What do you mean, Hagrid?"
"Death Eater attacks. Just 'appened a week ago up near Durmstrange. Luckily no one was injured. They were stopped before they could reach the school grounds."
"But why would they attack Durmstrange? Who and what there is Voldemort after?" Hermione asked.
"No one knows, 'Mione. Don' seem like Death Eaters ever need a reason. You two jus' better watch yerselves tomorrow. I mean it, it's not safe anymore."
"But if it were so dangerous Dumbledore wouldn't have let us go," Harry said.
"Dumbledore wasn' too keen on it," Hagrid sighed, "but he didn' wanna take away such a privilege. Everyone loves 'ogsmeade trips. Besides, there's got te be some sense of normality."
Harry nodded, "You've got a point Hagrid."
Hagrid nodded distractedly. He was busy staring at the clock on his wall. "Sorry I've got to cut it short today. I've got me an appointment with a friend."
"A friend?" Harry said curiously.
"All righ'," Hagrid sighed, " if yeh must know it's just Grawp."
Hermione choked on her tea, "You've still got him, Hagrid?"
Hagrid nodded, "So maybe I can catch up with yeh two an' Ron tomorrow?"
Harry said a firm goodbye and walked out the door. Hermione winced, "Not a good idea to mention, Hagrid."
"Blimey, don' tell me they still 'aven't worked it out?"
Hermione shook her head, said goodbye to Hagrid once more, and ran out to catch up to Harry.
Harry had lost his breath for a moment. "Cho, you look....nice."
Cho smiled, brushing away a strand of hair that had come lose from her bun. "Thank you. You do too."
Harry looked down at his white button-down shirt and black pants. He was afraid that he would over dress, but Cho picked her outfit out just as carefully as he had. She sported a light blue skirt and floral top that she kept pulling up. Harry found this amusing.
"Shall we go then?" Cho asked, making sure her blouse was laying against her chest right.
Harry nodded.
Immediately upon arrive at Hogesmeade the two decided to grab a quick bite to eat at a new shop that had opened up next to Dervish and Banges. Harry pulled out a chair for Cho at a table by the window, then sat down across from her. A tall witch handed them both a menu and announced she would come by shortly with their orders.
"Er...I don't reckon today's special sounds very appetizing." Harry read the description.
"Salted steak marinated in bat's saliva. Comes with a side order of hawk talons."
Cho giggled and scrunched up her face in disgust. They both settled on a bowl of pumpkin soup with crackers.
After they had eaten (and Harry had paid), they began to walk around Hogsmeade to look at shops.
"Oh, look Harry!" Cho exclaimed, running over to a nearby shop window.
"Er...who's that?" Harry stared at an animate picture of a man with long, unruly brown hair. The man was playing a guitar and head banging furiously while a few women in red dresses sang behind him.
"Oliver Wartsnoggle," she said breathlessly.
"Who?" Harry examined the picture more closely. The man was now waving to them, and blew a kiss to Cho. Harry's date blushed and waved back to the picture.
"Honestly, Harry. Haven't you ever heard of The Trolls?"
"Who are The Trolls?" Harry was feeling stupider by the moment.
"Only the best rock group. They're on this month's cover of Witch Weekly. Oliver was voted #1 bachelor under 25 in Britain, you know."
"Sounds....great." Harry said with a hint of sarcasm. Cho failed to notice. She ran inside the shop to look at a new display of Oliver Wartsnoggle posters and action figures. Harry sighed with exasperation and followed her inside.
The small shop was bustling with other Hogwarts students, which Harry noticed were all girls. Cho greedily pushed her way through the crowd to the front of the display. Harry pretended to be amused with a magazine entitled Magical Sponges of the Pacific. He was glad the others were too busy drooling over the display to notice him standing awkwardly in the corner, holding the magazine to his face.
After ten minutes of waiting, Harry attempted to force his way to where Cho was standing.
" Cho? Er, it's getting sort of late and I still wanted to look at-"
"Harry, I'm not ready to leave yet." Harry bit his lip and turned to leave. "Wait," Cho said. Harry smiled, thinking she was about to follow him out of the stuffy shop. "Harry, could you buy me this poster? He looks so charming, doesn't he?"
"I...sorry, Cho. I spent all of my money on lunch. Perhaps we can just-"
"Oh, fine! I'll buy it myself then. But I'm not done looking around, so you can leave if you want. I'll just spend the rest of the day with Marietta." Cho moved to her friend's side. Harry stiffened and nodded to the girl who betrayed the D.A in the previous year.
"Have it your way, Cho." Harry did an about-face and began to push his way towards the door.
"You walk out now, Harry, and we're through for good!" Cho yelled, pulling up her top in the process.
Without turning around, Harry gave a small wave of his hand to show that he heard. Cho gave a small huff of displeasure and watched him walk out of the small shop.
He had blown it. Hardly an hour into his date and he blew it.
No. He thought to himself. Cho had blown it.
Harry decided to walk into the Three Broomsticks to see if he could catch Hermione. He had not lied when he told Cho he had no more money. He brought only enough for a small meal and a butterbeer, along with some emergency cash as well. Cho herself said that today was strictly supposed to be a friendly date, hadn't she? Harry did not mind holding a door open for Cho, but paying for her meal was not something he thought he was expected to do. Maybe he lacked the knowledge needed to carry on a relationship, but it did not seem right to him to have to pay for a girl's lunch if it was not a real date.
He walked into the small pub and restaurant, and instantly the warmth hit him. He inhaled the faint scent of sweet butterbeer. His mouth watered, and he found his hands searching his pockets for any spare change he might have. No such luck.
"Harry!" Hermione waved him down.
He walked to the furthest table, where Hermione sat with Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Ron.
"Hey," he said, finding himself sitting next to Luna, and directly across from Ron. Ron scowled and did not look him in the eyes.
"Where is Cho?" Luna asked, taking a bite of her Cauldron Cake.
Harry shook his head.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. Didn't go well, did it?" Hermione said sympathetically.
"No," Harry said, "but I don't need anyone's pity. I don't think it was me this time."
"Harry, I don't think it was ever you. Cho is bad news," Neville said.
"Should have listened the rumors," Ron said to his glass of Coke.
Harry was about to comment, but decided against it. It was enough that Ron was still sitting here.
"Those rumors were all rubbish," Ginny spoke up.
"Have you heard the one where Harry and Cho were going to shag in the Shrieking Shack?"
"WHAT!?" Harry stood up with such force that he knocked over Ginny's butterbeer. The others sniggered as Harry scrambled to clean up the mess.
"Sorry Gin, I didn't-"
All laughter and talking in the Three Broomsticks had ceased. Screams and other noise of chaos were heard outside. All six students got up from their table and ran to the front of the pub, where other witches and wizards had gathered at the window.
"Death Eaters!" Someone shouted.
Harry looked at his friends. They all pulled out their wands and ran outside.
DA instinct, Harry thought.
Sure enough, a group of Death Eaters appeared and began shooting spells at innocent people who were trying to evacuate the area.
"Stupefy!" Harry shot one square in the chest.
"Luna, watch your back!" Hermione yelled. Luna spun around and stunned the Death Eater that came inches from attacking her.
Hogsmeade was now a complete disaster. Shop windows were broken, children cried for their parents, a few wizards even lay dead beside the injured. Harry thought things could not have been worse until he felt a familiar chill of death.
"Dementors!" Neville cried.
A swarm of what looked like ten Dementors glided over to where Harry and his friends were fighting.
"Expecto Patronum!" Hermione sent an otter and repelled a Dementor.
Neville, though shaking managed to ward of two on his own.
"Nice work, Neville!" Harry praised him. Neville managed a weak smile.
"Expecto Pat-" Ron stopped in mid-sentence. He squeezed his eyes shut and dropped to his knees.
"Expecto Patronum! Ron!" Harry caused a Dementor to vanish, and ran to his friend's aid. "Ron, can you hear me?"
Ron took small, short gasps of air. His eyes were still closed but he whispered, "Remus," and with that he lost his balance and consciousness.
Harry stared at his friend and whispered, "Remus?"
"Harry, look out!" Harry looked up to find a Dementor hoovering right above him.
It felt as if time slowed down right then and there. Silence overpowered the screaming around him. Then for a moment all he could hear was his heart pounding in his chest, and then the worst came.
"Take me instead!" His mother's voice rang out in his head. He could see her petite figure shielding a baby version of himself as a green flash of light blinded her.
"Harry!" Ginny shrieked. "Expecto Patronum! Stupefy! Expecto-" she gasped for a breath of air.
Harry stared, too horrified too speak, too weak to move. It was getting too cold to think, and his field of vision was fading. A few seconds later, and he was thrust into blackness.
A/N: So, what did you all think? I hope this chapter didn't seem too rushed. Let me know how Hagrid is coming along. Like I said before- I'm terrible at any accents, and I'm not sure if I'm doing the Scottish one right. I was also considering spelling words the British way, (rumours opposed to rumors) but decided against it. I'm an American, and I'd find a way to screw it up somehow.
I hope you Cho-haters are satisfied with how the date went. I can't stand Cho. Really. She's a.... bitch for lack of better word. I just didn't think things came to a complete stand still with her and Harry in book 5, so I wanted to continue it in this story. I really hope I'm done with her. Bleh! Can't stand Cho...