Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I do not own the places. I don't own anything J.K Rowling thought up, all I own is the plot.
Chapter three: The Essay
"I can't believe this pathetic excuse for a potion you've concocted this time, Longbottom. This is almost the worst work I've seen of you yet."
Snape was towering over Neville's cauldron. Ron, who stood next to Neville, was fervently hoping Snape wouldn't suggest to try it out on him. Harry whispered something in Hermione's ear, but she shook her head.
"I can't, Harry. He's already seen it. Besides, Ron is his partner. So Ron should try and help him out."
Harry looked at the two boys behind him and shook his head.
"They're doomed." He remarked dryly.
All the other Gryffindors seemed so agree with him. They were all clenching the edges of their tables, anticipating Snape's next move. Detention? Docking points? Or just humiliation…
"Fifteen points, Longbottom. And try to pay more attention next time. Because next time we'll feed that brew of yours to one of your classmates. Just to see how it works."
A shudder went through the group. Luckily the bell rang.
"He can't actually do that, you know." Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, but you can't blame him for lack of effort. You can see he wants to do it, really." Ron said as they made their way to their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. They were almost halfway out the dungeons when Hermione stopped dead in her tracks.
"Oh no! I forgot my book! It's still in the classroom. I'll go get it. Please explain to the professor."
Before Harry and Ron could stop her, she had turned around and was already out of sight. She flew around the corner and raced into the classroom, retrieving her book from her table.
When she was outside the dungeons again, she walked up the stairs feeling relieved. But something caught her ear. Did she hear Malfoy and Neville? She walked around the corner and saw both boys standing across from each other. Malfoy saw her and smirked.
"Seems someone came to save your day. But you won't get off so easily next time, Longbottom." He sneered.
Hermione pulled her wand from her pocket and pointed it at him menacingly.
"Leave Neville alone, Malfoy."
Malfoy smirked and shrugged before turning around and walked away. But before he disappeared around the corner, he couldn't resist to make one last remark.
"By the way, nice potion, Longbottom. I see you match the mental capacity of your parents."
Neville let out a roar and Hermione quickly grabbed his arm. "Don't Neville. It will only get you into trouble. Malfoy is a bastard, I know. And he deserves to get a good kick in the arse for all the things he says. But if you don't let them get to you, then he has no power over you."
He shrugged off her arm but didn't attempt to run after Malfoy again.
"Come on." He said. "We're late for class."
She followed him silently. When they reached the classroom, she knocked on the door.
"Sorry we're late, Professor. I had to retrieve a book from the dungeons. And we had some trouble with Malfoy on the way back."
The professor waved his hand dismissively. "Please sit down, miss Granger, mister Longbottom. Today we are going to talk about curses. Most of them can be blocked or if not, then weakened. Now, who here has ever deflected a curse with a shielding charm."
A few people raised their hands. The professor looked around and nodded.
"Right. Well, that shielding charm does not work against the more serious curses. These can be weakened and sometimes deflected by the spell I am about to teach you. It's not easy and I expect to be covering this subject for at least a few more lessons. Now, wands out please. Turn to face your partner and point your wands at each other."
He waited until the class had settled down again. Hermione turned to Harry. Somehow they couldn't look at each other without smiling.
"Pay attention." She whispered with a smile.
"Quiet please." The professor said. "Now I want the people on the right side to attack their partner with the impediment jinx. The other will try and deflect it by this move."
Lavender raised her hand. "Professor? I thought this spell was used to deflect the more serious curses."
"It is, miss Brown. But I'm quite sure that you won't be able to deflect something serious just yet. For now, you'll probably only be able to weaken the jinx. That is the way to train."
He turned to the class again. "Now, please point your wands…Can everyone do this move? Good. Right side, go ahead."
Harry grinned apologetically. "Sorry I have to hurt you."
"Do you honestly think I can't deflect your jinx?" she said sweetly.
"Impedimentia!"
The green jet that shot from Harry's wand never reached Hermione. She swished her wand and a red beam of light blocked the attack, sending it towards the blackboard. The professor ducked just in time. When he came up again, he was smiling broadly.
"Well done, miss Granger! Twenty points to Gryffindor. I've never seen anyone master this spell this quickly."
Hermione blushed and put her wand down on her desk. She didn't know what to say.
"Now the rest of you, don't get stressed. What you just saw was very special. So if you don't succeed in it, don't worry. It's only normal. Okay, left side, wands out again. Go ahead."
-
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked towards the Great Hall. The boys sat down and waited for Hermione to sit down too. But she just grabbed a few sandwiches. Harry looked at her.
"Aren't you going to sit down?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I promised Neville I'd read his essay. I'll see you two in a bit."
She pecked Harry on his cheek and left the Great Hall, munching her sandwich. She looked for a quiet table in a corner of the library. She liked to sit here, it was quiet and gave her a good view off all the others in the library. She took out Neville's essay and began to read.
It was good. Very good. Apart from a few words and one sentence, she didn't have to change a thing. She started when she felt someone's hand on her shoulder.
"Hey Hermione. Is it alright? The essay?"
She nodded as he sat down. "Neville, this essay…it's really good. Really good."
He looked away. "Coincidence." He muttered.
"Nonsense, Neville!" she said angrily. "It is really, really good."
"…I got it from loads of books. I'm not smart. Normally my essays stink. And I stink at the practical stuff."
She looked at the table. It was true, she knew it. Neville always had bad luck with the practical side of classes.
"…But…you did loads of amazing things at the DA."
"We've talked about this before, Hermione. Can you trust me when I say I'm not good at practical stuff? Please?"
She nodded quietly. "Anyway, here's your essay. You can give it to professor Flitwick today."
Neville took the scrolls of parchment and carefully put them in his bag.
"By the way, Hermione. There was something I wanted to ask you."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Would you tutor me? In Charms?"
She looked at him. He really wanted her help.
"I- sure…alright…yeah. How about in the evening, in the library?"
Neville beamed. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am."
She smiled. "Listen, lunch is almost over. I'm going back to Harry and Ron. See you in Charms."
She picked up her bag and walked out the library, leaving Neville with his essay in his hands. She walked as quickly as she could.
Harry and Ron were sitting at the Gryffindor table with their backs to her. She tiptoed up behind them and pulled at their hair. Harry spun around and smiled when he saw her.
"Hey."
"I thought you were at the library with Neville." Ron said as he took another bite of his sandwich.
"I was. But his essay was really good, so I was done in no time at all. Besides, I wanted to spend more time with you guys."
Ron smiled cheekily.
"Don't you mean just him?" he said, pointing at Harry. "I'll leave you two to it then."
"Ron!" Hermione said indignantly.
But Ron was already half-way across the Hall. Hermione sighed.
"He'll never grow up, will he?"
Harry shook his head. "Come on. Let's go to class."
He took her hand and together they left the Hall. Suddenly they noticed that the people had started to whisper and look at them. Someone even whistled.
"Hey Potter!"
"Have you seen Granger and Potter?"
"Oh my god! Lavender! Did you see-"
"Parvati! Shh! That's so rude!"
Harry and Hermione slowly turned around. Almost everyone in the Hall was staring at them, trying to poke their neighbour into staring as well.
"…Harry…? Does this scare you too?" She muttered under her breath.
"Hey Potter! Give her a kiss!" Someone shouted.
Hermione vaguely recognised him as a Ravenclaw fifth-year.
Harry whispered something in her ear.
"…What?"
"I said, 'may I?'"
He was winking and had a little sparkle in his eyes. Exactly the same sparkle she had fallen in love with. She smiled. And he kissed her.
She giggled and laughed when Harry took her hand and they ran out the Hall, accompanied by loud whooping sounds.
"You are terrible, you know that?" she said as she playfully hit his arm.
He grinned. "I know. But they were asking for it. And I don't mean literally."
"Sure, whatever you say. Let's just go to Charms. The bell's about to ring."
She bent down and took up her book bag. When she stood up again, she found herself staring into the face of a goofy grinning Harry.
"What?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing….just this." He put his hand in her neck and pulled her in for another kiss.
"Break it up you two. Time for Charms."
"Weasley, I'm getting you for that one!" Harry shouted cheerfully.
He turned to Hermione. "Sorry love, won't be a minute." Then he winked and began to chase after Ron.
Hermione laughed and followed them. She was joined by Lavender when she was halfway. Lavender linked her arm in Hermione's.
"You have some explaining to do, young lady." She said in a mock-serious voice.
Hermione smiled. "There's no real explaining to do, Lavender. Harry's my boyfriend. That's it."
"But when! Where! How!"
Now Hermione laughed. "This holiday. I stayed at Ron's and so did Harry. That's when where and how."
Lavender pouted. "You didn't tell me how…but I'll be quiet for now."
They reached the Charms classroom soon after that and they waited for professor Flitwick to arrive. Ron placed his arm on Lavender's shoulder.
"Tried to wriggle it out of her? I tried that with Harry. No luck tough."
"But it happened at your house! You should know all about it."
"I know it happened there. But I wasn't there when it actually happened. So…did she say anything to you?"
She shook her head. "No. Now get off my shoulder, Weasley. Flitwick is coming."
Ron didn't budge but put on his puppy dog eyes. "What? Aren't we on first name basis anymore?"
She sighed. "Alright. Ron. There. Now piss off."
He grinned and went to stand next to Harry and Hermione again. Harry grinned too.
"Bad luck, Ron."
Ron smacked Harry's arm. "Shut up, Harry."
Hermione shook her head and went over to Lavender. "Boys, eh?"
"You have no idea."
Ah, another chapter done. I wasn't going to update till Wednesday, but then I got these lovely reviews and I'm in a good mood today. I went dancing with a friend yesterday and it was so much fun that it cheered me up for the entire next week.
Emma Barrows: Hey Emma! Good to hear from you again I'm glad you like it and I promise I'll update soon.
lucerito-del-alma: Hey girl! Hmm…I can't risk getting a howler. My parents might start to suspect I'm not normal if they overhear a red envelope shouting at me… I'm SO glad you like it. Because if you do, then I know the story's good. And Neville…well, I did tell you something about him, but if you can't remember then I'm not going to tell you. I don't want to spoil the surprise :P I'll update soon and I'll anxiously await your opinion :DOh! Before I forget! Remember the audition I had in Utrecht? I received a letter Wednesday morning that I'm through to the next round! I've never been this happy before in my entire life! (Yes, I'm gloating now, but I do feel that I have the right to :P)
Well, that was the third chapter then…on to the next I'd say. But you'll have to wait a few days. Perhaps even a whole week. It depends on how much homework and things I have to do. I've got a presentation tomorrow evening for my music class. We all had to write a music piece in between 3 and 5 minutes and for more than one instrument and I'm slowly getting more nervous. So wish me luck!
-Raven55