Discoveries
Rhia sat down next to Emma and hugged her tightly. Emma looked at Rhia curiously, if not slightly scared.
"Ok, what's wrong?" Emma asked.
"Nothing. Mum sent off the contract to Yassif, as of next week, I'll be a proper singer!" Rhia said happily. Emma let out a squeal of happiness and hugged Rhia with such force they both fell off the sofa in the common room. Rhia pushed Emma off her.
"That's amazing." Emma said. "Now we can get Thriller out of the room of Requirement and into the world!" She said spreading out her arms. Rhia looked at Emma uncertainly.
"Um, it's only really for me." Rhia said. Emma laughed.
"Yeah, I know that." Emma said, "I was joking." Rhia looked at Emma and hit her gently.
"Anyway, during the Summer holiday, I'm going to record a few songs, a few photo shoots." Rhia said. "It's all in my contract. I only work during the holidays until I leave Hogwarts" Emma smiled. She put her arm around her best friend.
"I'm so proud of you." Emma said. Someone cleared their throat from above and behind Emma and Rhia. They both peered up to see Harry looking down at them.
"Harry." Rhia gasped. She got to her feet quickly and brushed her hair back behind her ears.
"I heard about your deal." Harry said.
"Oh, really? How?" Rhia asked, looking at Harry's nose, as opposed to his eyes or lips.
"I was practicing some stuff with your mum and she told me." Harry said. "I just wanted to say congratulations." He said. Rhia smiled weakly and nodded.
"Thanks." Rhia said. Harry came around the sofa and looks as though he was about to give Rhia a kiss. Rhia held her breath anxiously, hoping that he would when he seemed to think better of it and just walked past Rhia and Emma. Rhia let out a disappointed breath and looked after Harry. She sank into the sofa and pulled her knees to her chest.
"He doesn't love me anymore, it's obvious." Rhia muttered. Emma sat next to Rhia and hugged her.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Emma asked.
"I heard that Hermione already tried that." Rhia said.
"She did? Who'd you hear it from?" Emma asked. Rhia looked to where her twin sisters were sneaking up behind Katie Bell. Kaylee had a pair of scissors in her hands while Jessie was carefully lifting a lock of hair. Emma whistled loudly to get Bo's attention and nodded towards Katie. Rhia and Emma watched, with some amusement, as Kaylee and Jessie turned on Bo with the scissors.
"But apparently, he thinks I'm with Jordan now." Rhia said.
"You two were getting rather close, Drac-" Emma stopped and she covered her mouth with her hand. Rhia frowned and turned to Emma.
"What?" She asked seriously. "You and Malfoy, still!" Rhia asked.
"No, really, I met up with him to break it off, I really did." Emma said. Rhia looked at her sceptically. "Then…it went slightly wrong." She muttered lamely. Rhia looked at her rather annoyed. "I'm sorry, you can hurt him if you want, I really don't mind, just don't tell Harry."
"Is that really very likely?" Rhia asked.
"Oh yeah." Emma muttered. "But you never know." Rhia rolled her eyes and pulled Emma to her feet and up to the dormitory.
Harry sat on his bed with the book he'd stolen from the library. The hangings were drawn around him so no one could see. Where was that information about the veil? He wasn't even sure why he'd done it. He hadn't meant to. He had intended to bring some help back from the dead but all Remus had done was just stand there and watch. Remus wouldn't usually do that and now he was loose on the world. Harry hated to think of Remus in that way but what he'd brought back wasn't human. Harry didn't think that the adults saw that. They all seemed happier then ever, more optimistic that they were going to win the war while Harry had begun to feel his stomach twist in knots. He'd seen Bo giving him strange looks that Harry didn't understand. He should talk to him sometime soon about it.
Harry flipped through a few pages before he pushed the book away and tugged at his hair. His scar had begun to prickle again. His dreams were slowly going from wanting Rhia back to Rhia dying, Ron and Hermione dying, his sister dying. He hated it. April had also started teaching him things that were way beyond NEWT level standard. She seemed to find it vaguely amusing seeing Harry conjure a feeble barrier that was able to block almost any curse except the unforgivable curses. If it was strong enough it could block out all but Avada Kedavra but according to April, that was near impossible. Very few people in History had ever succeeded in it. Very few people actually knew the spell, apparently Dumbledore had taught it to April and James soon after they became full aurors. The hangings opened and Ron stood in the gap.
"Are you coming to dinner?" he asked. His red hair was obvious in the gloom of the room. Harry frowned and looked at the book.
"Um, yeah. Sure." He said. He closed the book and hid it under his pillow. Ron scowled slightly but said nothing as Harry put on some shoes and followed him to the common room where Hermione was tugging at a lock of her hair. She looked rather perplexed and frustrated.
"Um, Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron asked as he pulled her to her feet.
"I swear my hair has got a slightly pink tinge to it." Hermione said. Ron looked at it and shook his head. "I don't think it has." He said. Harry looked closely
as well. To him it looked normal, brown and frizzy but as the sun came through the windows he did notice a slight colour change.
"Yeah, it does." Harry said. Hermione let got of her hair and went to Harry's side, to Ron's annoyance.
"Shall we go to Dinner?" she asked. They went down to the great hall and ate rather quickly. They didn't really talk about anything, well Harry didn't. Ron and Hermione were bickering, again, over Hermione's hair. It seemed that they couldn't agree on anything since they started going out with each other. Harry looked up as he saw his sister walking into the great hall on her own. He saw her gaze go to the Slytherin table and where Malfoy sat with Crabbe and Goyle. His two cronies were guffawing over something he'd said. Harry looked back at Emma, who looked as if she was sighing and watched as she joined Ginny, a few seats down. Harry scowled and got up.
"I'll be back in a minute, I just need to talk to Emma." Harry said.
"I've finished anyway." Hermione said. "I'm going to go." Ron looked at Hermione annoyed.
"Fine." He said, "But I'm still hungry."
"You don't have to come with us." Hermione said. Ron grumbled as he got up with Harry and Hermione. They walked down between the tables until Harry came to
Emma.
"Hi girls." He said to Emma and Ginny. Both redheads looked up at him. Ginny gave Harry a warm smile in reply while Emma scowled at him.
"Hi," Ginny said,
"What do you want?" Emma replied.
"Can I speak to you quickly." Harry said, it was more of an order then a question.
"Sorry." Emma said to Ginny.
"That's ok." Ginny said. "I have homework to finish. I'll see you later." She said. They all got up. Ginny left them at the main staircase while Harry took Emma's arm and led her outside. The sky was still rather light for that time in the evening, at mid
–spring, it was a welcome change. Ron and Hermione left them to walk around the lake, sensing that Harry wanted to talk to Emma alone. Once they were out of hearing range from the castle Emma stopped
"What do you want now? If it's to find out about Rhia go and ask her yourself." Emma said.
"It's not about Rhia, it's about you." Harry said. Emma looked at Harry curiously. She'd gotten rather fed up of only talking about Rhia with Harry.
"What about me?"
"Do you fancy Malfoy?" He asked. Emma was taken aback. Her mouth dropped open.
"What? How-how-" She hesitated slightly. Harry watched her expression carefully as it changed from surprise, fear then to anger. "How dare you think such a thing!" She said. She raised her hand as if ready to slap her brother but he caught it as it came towards him.
"Good, because if you did I'd have to do something very serious about it. I don't want you looking at him ever again, ok." Harry said. His urge to protect his sister was stronger then usual. "Not only do I approve of him, but he'll only hurt you. That's what he does, he'll use you to get at me." Emma was turning slightly red in the face. She pulled her hand away so roughly that her elbow clicked painfully.
"I'm not interested in him." She said tensely. "And if I was I know the dangers, do you think I'd put myself in that kind of danger?"
"I don't know what you'd do anymore Emma." Harry said. Emma's lips went rather thin and just for a tiny instant Harry thought she resembled his mum's biological 'sister'. Emma turned and made her way back to the castle. Harry scowled and sighed. His mind went from Emma to Remus. What was he going to do about Remus? He couldn't go to his parents for help. He'd noticed how much happier his mum and April were, now that he'd come back. Harry didn't notice where he was going until he found himself sitting in front of Dumbledore in his office. He blinked in surprise. How did he get here? He looked at Dumbledore. He gave Harry a smile.
"Back from the beyond, are we?" Dumbledore asked. Harry frowned.
"Um, yeah. Why am I here?" He asked.
"You were in the middle of telling me your confusion about Remus Lupin. I thought you weren't completely in the room until just now." Dumbledore said with a
smile. Harry scowled. "So, Voldemort led you to the only book in existence that tells you how to use the veil in the department of mysteries. You know it is a terribly dangerous thing. The book is tricky and is here for safe keeping. It was wrong of you to steal it." He said seriously. Harry looked at Dumbledore.
"I know but I couldn't help it. Why can't I find the information on the veil?" Harry asked.
"The information only shows itself to those who are not looking for it. That is why the book is tricky. I will have Remus watched over and Jenny guarded. I
believe grandmother Chang is staying at Grimmauld place at this current moment. Not to worry. Harry I want you to focus on training with April and your mother, do you understand?" Harry nodded. "Good, and I would advise you to reconcile your differences with Rhia Black. Believe it or not, but her love may help you in time." Dumbledore said.
"But she's with Jordan Winters now." Harry said bitterly. Dumbledore smirked slightly.
"Talking is a wonderful thing Harry. Don't underestimate it." He said. Dumbledore showed Harry to the door. Harry made his way to the common room and sat down next to Ron. They soon began playing a game of wizard's chess. Ron beat him six times before Harry saw Emma leaving the common room on her own. Harry looked up curiously and looked for Rhia. Rhia was sitting with Kara over some parchment. Harry got up and went to Rhia and Kara.
"Hey." He said gently. The girls looked up at him.
"Hi." Rhia replied.
"Where's Emma going?" Harry asked, looking towards the door. Kara and Rhia looked at each other. Harry turned to look at them.
"What? Where is she?" He asked.
"She's nowhere." Kara said. She looked at Rhia. Rhia looked at the table and the parchment like it was suddenly walking.
"Rhia." Harry said. Rhia closed her eyes and got up. She pulled Harry behind her as she went up to Harry's dorm room. She went through his things and threw the invisibility cloak at him. "What are you doing?" Harry asked, holding the cloak.
"Emma's my best friend but I can't stand what she's doing this time. It's disgusting!" She said. Rhia found the Marauder's map and scanned it for Emma. She went to Harry and pulled the cloak around them. Harry held his breath, he hadn't been so close to Rhia for a long time now. He could almost feel Rhia tense up as well. She took his hand.
"We've got to follow Emma as silently as we can." Rhia said. She led Harry through the Gryffindor Tower then out into the school. It was empty now, because of the curfew that was being reinforced. Harry glanced at the map and pulled Rhia against the wall.
"What are you-" Harry covered Rhia's mouth with his hand. They watched as Lily and April walked past. They'd obviously just been to the kitchen.
"I love being back at Hogwarts." April said. Lily just laughed and licked one of her fingers free of icing. Harry turned to Rhia, who took a deep breath.
"Ok, that was too close." She said. Looking at Harry.
"I know. They would have walked straight into us." Harry said, watching the end of April's cloak disappear around a corner.
"I wasn't talking about our parents." Rhia said, looking at Harry. Harry looked at Rhia and quickly took a step away, making sure that the cloak still covered her.
"Sorry." He said quietly. "It's ok." Rhia said just as quietly.
"Come on, Emma's meeting him in a few minutes. Remember, I'm doing this for her safety, not for you." Rhia said to Harry. Harry nodded and they made their way down to the dungeons. As they turned a corner Harry heard Emma's
giggle.
"I told you to stop that!" She said while laughing. Harry's hands clenched into fists.
"You enjoy it don't you." Came Malfoy's voice. Harry started rushing forwards.
"No! I hate it when you-" Emma's voice was cut off. Harry looked at the map, they were just around the corner. He ran to the end of the corridor, leaving Rhia under the cloak. He rounded the corner to see Malfoy kissing Emma's neck. Harry got out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy. He sent a hex flying at Malfoy, causing him to fly into the wall behind him. Emma jumped in surprise and looked at Harry. She looked at
him fearfully.
"Harry, I can explain-" she started to say as she went to Malfoy's side.
"Get out of the way Emma and get your arse back to the tower!" Harry said.
"Harry!" Rhia said catching up with him. She tore the cloak off her and held it loosely in her hand. Emma looked at the two of them. Malfoy got up and stumbled to his feet. He got his wand out.
"Engorgio!" Malfoy said. The spell flew at Harry. He moved out of the way just in time. Rhia went to Emma and tried to pull her away from the fight but Emma went to Malfoy.
"Stop it! You told me you wouldn't attack Harry!" Emma shouted at him. Malfoy hit her in the face and knocked her into Rhia.
"Don't you touch her!" Harry growled at him. He sent a string of curses and hexes at Malfoy. Each one Malfoy managed to avoid. Rhia helped Emma to sit up. Emma got out her wand and pointed it at Malfoy. He turned quickly.
"Stupefy!" He said towards Emma and Rhia. The red spell hit Emma before the girls could do anything. "No Potter, where were we?" He said.
"Just on the verge of a duel, I believe." Harry replied. Rhia looked at him. "Harry, don't do it." She said, "Just leave him." Harry glanced at Rhia before pointing his wand at Malfoy.
"Furnunculus, Pinarte!" Harry said. Malfoy broke out into spots and went crashing into the wall behind him.
"Petrificus totallus." Harry said. Malfoy rolled out of the way just in time to miss the spell. Harry was getting continually frustrated.
"Fractum!" Malfoy said, a jet of light flew at Harry's wand arm. He heard, rather then felt his bone break in both his arm and his leg. He let out a cry and dropped his wand. Harry leant against the wall and glared at Malfoy. Malfoy smirked. "Looks like I'm going to win this one." He sneered. Harry picked up his wand with his left hand, ignoring the pain in his right.
"Look again." Harry said. He whipped his wand in Malfoy's direction. A jet of yellow light streamed out and seemed to whip Malfoy around the face, followed by a loud cracking noise. Malfoy dropped to the floor unconscious. Rhia's mouth dropped open in shock. Harry dropped to the floor in pain as he heard some people running down to where they were. Rhia woke up Emma and looked over to Harry. Harry looked at the end of the corridor as Cho and Bo ran towards them. Cho stopped while Bo went straight to Emma.
"What happened?" Cho asked.
"Fight with Malfoy. He was trying some stuff with my sister." Harry said, pushing himself up with his left hand. Bo looked at Emma, who let Bo help her to her feet.
"Did he hurt you?" Bo asked.
"Um, no. I'm ok." Emma said. She looked to Harry. They heard more people approaching and soon Snape was in the corridor with McGonagall and a few prefects behind them, obviously being attracted by the noise during their patrols. Harry could see Ron among the few prefects.
"Attacking students now are we Potter?" Snape sneered. He turned to one of the prefects and ordered them to take Malfoy to the hospital wing.
"He was attacking my sister!" Harry said.
"What was your sister doing here in the first place?" McGonagall asked him but looking at Emma. Emma bit her lip and looked at Harry uncertainly.
"MAlfoy told me to come here." She said. "But I don't care how much trouble I'm in, Harry's broken some bones." She said.
"He'll survive." Snape said waving a hand. McGonagall looked at Snape sharply.
"Miss. Black, Mr. Weasley, assist Mr. Potter to the hospital wing. Bo, could you please see to it that Miss. Potter gets something to calm her. The rest of you back to your patrol." McGonagall said. "Fifty points from you three, and fifty from Slytherin." Rhia looked at McGonagall in disbelief.
"You can't take points off me!" She said. "I've never lost any points for Gryffindor." McGonagall looked at Rhia like it pained her.
"I'm sorry Miss. Black, now can you please help Mr. Potter"
Harry nearly bit through his lip as he sat down on the bed and let his mum look at his arm. She looked incredibly disappointed with him and Emma, which really didn't help either of them.
"Hold still. I'll fix this then you can go." Lily said. She touched Harry's arm with her wand then his leg. He tried not to cry out in pain as he felt his bones shift back into place. The pain only lasted for a few seconds. He looked at Lily when the pain was gone but she'd already gone to Malfoy. Malfoy was sneering at her but he accepted a potion that she gave him.
"That was really stupid" Rhia muttered as she walked up to Harry, having come from Emma's side.
"But so cool" Ron added. Harry looked at Emma. She was talking rather quietly to Bo.
"Yeah, I know. What was Emma doing with Malfoy anyway?" He asked Rhia.
"It's not my place to tell." Rhia said. "You should just learn to ask the person concerned, it's not right to snoop around" She said rather tartly. That felt like an almost physical blow to Harry. Ron stood uncomfortably next to Harry.
"Ok, I think we should go, before anything else happens." Ron said quickly. Harry nodded and jumped off the bed. He looked over to his mum, who was retreating to her office. Harry ran over to her.
"Mum." Harry said. Lily turned to look at him. "I'm sorry if I've annoyed you." Lily sighed.
"Just disappointed." Lily said, "I thought you knew better then to solve your problems with a wand." Lily said. Harry could hear the disappointment in her voice. "I just don't know what to do about you and Emma sometimes. You better get back to the dormitories, it's getting late." She said before going into her office and closing the door behind her. Harry made a decision there and then that he wouldn't disappoint his mum or dad again. Particularly his mum because she was the one who was always around and knew him best. Harry turned to join Ron. They made their way back to the tower without Rhia, who chose to stay with Emma and Bo.
"So what actually happened?" Ron asked.
"Malfoy was kissing my sister." Harry said, restraining the anger in his voice. Ron scowled.
"And she let him?" Ron asked.
"Yep" Harry said. "But it doesn't matter now, what's done is done. We better get to bed, we have our last quidditch match next weekend and training tomorrow." Ron agreed with him and they returned to the dormitory in silence. The tower was buzzing with excitement, it seemed like some of the prefects had spread the word about what had happened in the dungeons and everyone was asking Harry about it. Emma came in a few moments later and immediately tried to get away. Harry caught her arm as he went past.
"Do you want to be famous now?" He asked her quietly. Emma looked at Harry.
"Harry, I'm really sorry." She said. "I didn't mean to-"
"Just go to bed Emma." Harry said, before he himself went to his room.
Emma watched Harry go. She sank into a sofa as some girls that usually hung around Ginny came over.
"Is it true that you're dating Draco Malfoy?" Asked a girl with brown hair.
"Of course it isn't" Ginny said coming to Emma's aid. She pulled Emma to her feet. "Come on, lets get out of here." She said. Emma sighed. She felt awful with herself. She looked over to where Rhia was. Rhia kept eye contact with her for a moment before heading up the stairs to the boy's dormitories. Emma shook her head and followed Ginny to the girl's dormitories.
Ron scratched his head absently, while watching Harry. Harry wasn't acting how Ron thought he would. Ron would explode if he'd caught Ginny with Malfoy. Harry changed into his pyjamas as Ron sat on his bed. Hermione came into the room and looked at Harry.
"Is it tru, what they're saying?" She asked. Ron smiled at Hermione. She was everything to him. What bothered him was that she seemed to be rather interested in Harry a lot recently. Ron understood that they were good friends, they just seemed a little closer then usual. She looked at Harry in her usual disapproving way. Ron knew there was something she was hiding, though. Harry nodded as he sat on his own bed. Hermione burst out into a grin and flew at Harry. He jumped in surprise as she hugged him.
"Hermione!" Ron said as he got up. Hermione kissed Harry's cheek and got up.
"What was that about?" Harry asked. Hermione went to Ron and let Ron put his arm around her. Ron felt the usual tingling feeling in his stomach, like someone was tickling him with a feather on the inside.
"It's about time Malfoy got what was coming." She said. She followed this with a scowl. "It's a pity that Emma had to get involved though." Ron looked at Hermione strangely. She put her head against his shoulder and rolled her eyes.
"Ok, well I'm going to bed" Harry said. He pulled the hangings shut and left Ron and Hermione. Ron looked at Hermione.
"What's up with you?" He asked with a smile. Hermione gave him a quick kiss.
"I don't know. I guess I'm glad that someone has finally gotten Malfoy. I heard from Ginny what happened." Hermione said. Ron raised an eyebrow. Hermione kissed Ron again but a bit more passionately then before. Ron pulled her closer and touched her face gently. He felt her lips move into a sort of smile.
"I love you." She said to him as they took a break for air.
"I love you too." Ron said. Hermione smiled and was about to kiss Ron again when the door opened. Rhia came into the room. She looked a little lost in thought.
"Um, is Harry here?" She asked sheepishly.
"He's sleeping." Ron said. He felt sorry for Rhia. She had been dumped for no fault of her own. Ron thought Harry was stupid but it was Harry's choice. Rhia looked slightly disappointed.
"Oh, right. Ok. I'll talk to him some other time." Rhia said. She turned and left the dormitory. Hermione put a hand on Ron's chest.
"Well, I better go as well. I'll see you tomorrow." Hermione said. Ron nodded and watched Hermione go. His mind was working slowly at a plan that would let them get closer. He wanted Hermione to be forever his but he wasn't sure how to go about that.
A/N:- Ok, i don't really mind people asking me to update a bit but after i've said in almost every single Author's notes for the last 10 chapters of so saying I NEED TO WORK AND STUDY TO GET INTO UNI I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO UPDATE AS QUICKLY CAUSE STUDY IS IMPORTANT AT THE MOMENT! i don't expect people sending me reviews and emails forcing me to update saying things like 'you update too slow' or 'You need to update faster, you're too slow'. HELLO! contrary to popular beleif, i do have a life too, and i would REALLY love to get into university. Now, i've tolerated all this kinda stuff for a while but could you guys PLEASE cut me a break, just for a few months, until July LATEST cause that's when i finish my exams. Please or i'll just stop writing this story altogether!
Anyway, now that that's out of my system, i was in a good mood until i got a few emails that got on my nerves. So, i will say that i'm fast forwarding the entire story. I don't want to write a seventh story about Harry getting ready to fight voldemort and blah blah, he's gonna have the final battle in this one, then the next one will just be a story using JKR's characters and world. Cause i have sooo many storylines that i could do but this whole Voldemort thing is a real hinderance to my story, hehe. Personally, i'm beyond caring right now if Harry's strong enough. MORE ROMANCE i say. Anyway. Came up with a kool story line for Ron and Hermione, and a cool way of V or H to die. all this inpiration is courtesy of CHarmed, and i got a few new story lines for Bo, Emma, Orion, Jaylee, Rhia and Harry...particularly Harry. Anyway, please take heed of what i've asked, cause i really do need to study. I'll make up for it in July (Update everyday)