Disclaimer-Not- (Wow how many days has this been on for?)
Hello. It's been...four days since the last update and I thought it was longer! Gosh..anyways not much else to comment on...thanks to the reviewers...
sjpgurl13: Haha my pinky feels much better. But sometimes when I type it gets sore again. Hmm...I don't think it's too serious. Thanks for caring!
daddysgirl101989: Yes, I feel the impact of Ron's not being there too. Hermione won't be kicked out of the DA. They're like a family. Voldemort is still alive and reigning. Something bad will happen in this chapter. Anywhoo I love the long reviews, thank you!
PinkyTheSnowman, hjpchick, Aimz16, babee-munky: I'm glad you feel the pain of Daniel's eye color like I do. Thanks!
Also thanks to...Dimensional Ananlysis, dancerrdw, horseloverforever, and bethzc.
'One trouble with trouble is that it usually starts out as fun'-Unknown
The ride that night on the Knight Bus was one of the single most uncomfortable rides of Harry's life. He'd had the feeling that he'd been on the bus before but nothing could prepare him for the constant shaking, tossing, moving, rumbling...it never stopped. He hit the glass many a time. Hermione, while holding herself better, was still shaken up.
By the time they had reached the stop two before theirs, Harry was vomiting. His stomach just couldn't handle the Knight Bus. And it wasn't entirely his fault. He had only just gotten used to walking...and riding the Knight Bus wasn't the best second step. The other wizards and witches on the bus turned up their noses in disgust as Harry threw up. Fortunately it didn't last long.
"It's ok, Jacob" Hermione comforted him"Scourgify."
The vomit promptly vanished yet the smell remained lightly. Harry tucked his nose under his collar. He noticed an older woman staring at him rather oddly. He hoped none of Hermione's spells were wearing off. However he glimpsed his reflection off the dark window. Nope...he was still Jacob. Yet the woman continued to gaze at him, intently. And then suddenly she winked at him. It shocked him so much that he quickly averted her green eyes.
Instead he looked upon that little mousy haired boy he'd noticed before. He was leaning against the side of the bus, closest to the front. He had freckles dotting his nose and lightly on his cheeks. He also had long, almost white eyelashes. It stood out greatly about him.
"Her-Mona" Harry called, catching himself at just the right moment"What's such a little boy doing working? Shouldn't he be at school or something"
Hermione glanced at the boy and then back at Harry, darkly"Well I suppose he's a muggleborn, a squib, or a half-blood. Who knows."
His mind raced as he took in all these new terms.
Muggleborn
Squib
Half-blood
"What does that mean" Harry asked, curiously.
Hermione lowered her voice"This isn't exactly the best time or place to be discussing this. I'll tell you when we get to my flat."
Harry remained slightly the rest of the ride. They passed big cities, one of which Hermione decifered as London and got off in a petit village. It was so small and welcoming that he instantly decided this was one of the few places people saw that was worthy of being on a postcard. Few other people got off at the small village. Most of them were headed for London. As they got off the bus Harry noticed Hermione giving the young boy a big, golden, coin.
Harry appreciated her good-hearted nature and brightened considerably at travelling"So where are we"
"This is the village of Hogsmeade" Hermione explained, pointing to a sign that clearly stated the name of the place"Come along, we have to walk a bit from here to get to my flat."
Harry stumbled after her as she began walking swiftly. It was more of a run than a walk actually and he had trouble keeping up. His knees were out of practice. He barely had time to enjoy the old-fashioned greatness of Hogsmeade. It was lovely with it's cobble stone paths and houses with dark wood panels on the windows. However at this time everything was closed at the moment. It was the dead of night.
"Hermione, can we not go so fast" Harry gasped out, barely keeping up with her.
"Sorry Harry but we need to get indoors as fast as possible before we run into them" Hermione responded with a shudder.
"Who are they" Harry questioned, tensing up slightly.
Hermione smiled"You'd rather not know. I know how you despise them."
"You do" Harry inquired, confused. It was strange having someone know more about you than you did yourself.
Even though Harry didn't know what was out there, he picked up his pace. Soon they were running, furiously. Nerves were growing. And a sudden pain launched itself on Harry's knees. They just couldn't handle this running. They bent from beneath him and he fell with an"Aaah!"
Hermione clamped her eyes shut and bit her lips in terror. As if the worst had come. A minute passed. Then another. Nothing happen. They were both breathing harshly. And Harry remained on the ground. Hermione opened her eyes again and helped him up.
"That was lucky" she sighed"I thought they'd hear us and come to get the source of the noise."
Harry brushed himself off"Hmm..."
However just he was about to straighten himself a jolt of chillings ran down his spine. He paused and didn't dare breath out. Hermione stopped in her tracks, obviously feeling the cold too. She quickly reacted, however. Hermione grabbed his sleeve and began pulling him along with her.
"Hurry, hurry! They're coming" Hermione cried, sounding truely desperate"Oh gosh I might have to use magic...the Patronus...goodness gracious. Such powerful magic. I'm not even sure if I can muster the skill right now"
Harry ran along with her but he couldn't help but feel the cold becoming ever so looming. Then suddenly just as they were coming out of a side alley they ran into one of them. Harry knew immediately this had been the horrid creature Hermione had spoken of earlier and no wonder he'd hated it.
It glided on air like a ghost. It was cloaked in black that hid it's face and the only body part that was revealed were it's rotting, skeletal hands. Harry cringed. The closer this thing got to him the colder and more hopeless he felt. He began to here screaming in his head. A woman screaming-a man shouting-people dying. Harry began feeling woozy and lost balance as he fell. He tried to clear his vision; tried to find Hermione. But his mind was clouding everything. The screaming grew louder and he was losing his grip on reality. The ghost being was coming ever close. It resembled death come to get him.
Harry broke from his stupor only when he heard Hermione's clear, solid voice cry"Expecto Patronum!"
A flash of blue-ish, white-ish, light flooded the scene and before Harry could even understand what was happening the coldness and utter hopelessness began desolving. He breathed out, trying to catch his breath. Hermione, his savior, now rushed over to him and kneeled down.
"Harry are you alright" she implored, her tone full of worry especially since she was using real names.
"That was amazing. That spell you just did" Harry got out, starting to sit up.
"Really" Hermione grinned"Well you're the one who taught it to me."
They had only to cross the street and they reached Hermione's flat after the encounter with the Dementor.
That's what Hermione told they were. Dementors. Harry thought it an appropriate name but he would forever think of them as the ghost of Death because not even death could be that terrible.
The place where Hermione's flat was located looked to be more of a house with four stories. Evidently the owners lived on the first floor. The second floor, as Hermione had explained was inhabited by an elderly woman named, Rita Skeeter. The third floor belonged to Hermione herself and the very last floor belonged a slightly creepy wizard in his mid-twenties.
They entered a dark room on the first floor but Hermione knew her way and lead her way to the stairs, swiftly. As they climbed up to the second floor landing a door opened and the most horrendous sight was viewed by Harry's new eyes. A witch, who looked to be in her forties stepped out wearing a dark pink robe. She had curlers in her hair and was wearing some kind of pasty substance on her face. She held a cigar between her two well-manicured hands.
"Why hello Rita" Hermione greeted between clenched teeth.
"Same to you, Little Miss Perfect" Rita replied with a shrug.
Her gaze fell upon Harry. Immediately Harry felt a knowing sense. He'd met this woman before and he did not like her.
"Whose this" Rita said with a slight guffaw"Hermione Granger and her boyfriend"
"Not quite Rita" Hermione clarified, starting up the stairs"As is usual you haven't got the facts right. And you wonder why you're not a journalist any more"
Rita Skeeter narrowed her eyes and shot daggers into the back of Hermione's retreating head. Harry followed Hermione hesitantly. The third floor was dark as the rest until Hermione opened the door to her flat. Harry blinked as he entered the unexpected bright light. It was a very dull room. Hardly furnished at all. Only the bare neccessities. The only decors were a painting of a black rose, a blue vase, a miniature of a Quidditch player, a Quidditch poster and a picture framed with three people. Himself, Hermione and another red-haired teenager. Harry's eyes devoured the picture. The three of them stood smiling under a tree. All three wore school informs. The word Gryffindor blazed on each chest. Hermione and the red-haired one almost had a badge with a gigantic P. Infact, as Hary looked closer he noticed Hermione had one that said HG on it. Head Girl, Prefect. That's what it must mean. Harry scaled out from the details and noticed the basics. It was extremely odd to see him smiling as a young teenager.
From his own self he began studying the two people next to him. Hermione looked so bright-eyed, happy and hopeful. What had happened to stop that?
And finally he rested his gaze on the red-haired boy. He kept nudging the picture Harry and laughing. The current Harry reached out and almost wanted to touch him. Who was he?
Almost as if on cue his own mind answered him. Ron Weasley. Could this be Ron Weasley? He only resembled two people. Harry's dream girl of long ago and . It was then that Harry realized Ron Weasley and Mrs. Weasley had one very huge thing in common. They shared the same name. Weasley. Many red-haired people in the DA were Weasley's. The mother of them was Mrs. Weasley. Could this mean that Ron was another son of hers? He sure looked like them.
He could ask Hermione but somehow it felt too much like acid on his tongue to pose. It was too personal on both sides.
"Harry" Hermione piped up"How do you like my flat"
Harry turned around and forced a grin"It's splendid."
And truely it was. He felt such a freedom in Hermione's flat that he could never have experienced in the confinements of the DA Headquarters. He took a seat on Hermione's couch. He sunk in deeply. It was obviously old and Harry noticed a tear in rim. It was then that Harry realized something. Hermione was poor.
It was not a word he liked to use to describe her current condition but there was none other he could use. He could not comprehend how such an intelligent witch could be in such a tight spot. Between a rock and a hard place.
"Would you like something to eat" Hermione asked.
"No, don't get up" Harry said, waving his hand and ignoring the ongoing hunger in his stomach.
"I will have to anyways to get something for myself so you might as well ask for something" Hermione suggested, standing.
"Um...how about-
"A treacle tart" Hermione supplied"You like those."
Harry smiled and tried not to resent her mass knowledge"Sure."
He heard the soft clinking of dishes in the kitchen and sat silently waiting for her return.
"So" Hermione called from the kitchen, her voice sounding distant"I never asked but how are you enjoying the world"
Harry raised his eyebrows"What do you mean"
"Well you've been knocked out for ten years, how does it feel to be back? Is it what you expected it to be" Hermione questioned.
Harry was surprised her sudden question. He hadn't really thought of it. How did it feel to be back...
"It feels...like nothing. I don't think I have many independant feelings yet. I don't think I know the proper names for all the feelings that go through me. It's all strange spasms. I'm sure it'll take quite a while to figure out what I feel, if that makes sense" Harry fumbled, not sure what he was saying"As for the second part of that sudden question...I dunno. I thought the world was a happier, less dark place."
Hermione popped out of the kitchen"This world is too gloomy for you I guess. So what kind of world would you like"
Harry scoured the room with his eyes as if searching for the answer among broken furniture"I'd like the world in that picture."
He was talking about the picture of the trio. Hermione followed his gaze.
"I'd like that to" she said, softly.
"Hermione, if this isn't too weird, is the third guy Ron Weasley"
Now this question was running through Harry's mind. But as usual he was too chicken to actually ask it.
"Hmm..." Hermione hummed, picking up a newspaper after handing Harry his treacle tart"I wonder what's in the Prophet today."
"Is that the newspaper" Harry asked, through a mouthful of tart.
"If you use the term newspaper loosely then yes" Hermione said"Or else it's just gossip about the rich and famous, purebloods mainly. The only useful stuff is the articles about the government."
"Who is the government" Harry implored.
Hermione diverted his question"Oh look, there's an important debate going on for the position of Prime Minister."
"Really" Harry said, ignoring the fact that his question went answered"Who're the canidates"
"Doesn't say" Hermione frowned"I'd like to have been there"
"-Me too" Harry interrupted.
"So how about we watch it" Hermione suggested.
"How? Wizards don't have television" Harry said, incredulously.
"Oh Harry" Hermione laughed"It's not TV. We have a spell that can make us watch important events. Mostly political. Not dramatic. Even though the two often mix."
Harry nodded, fascinated"So, let's watch."
"Projecto" Hermione said, swishing her wand. Immediately a large screen, resembling a projector appeared. "Debate beween Prime Minister canidates."
The screen went hazy then slowly but surely a scene came into focus. It was outside. Probably from this day. Hundreds of people were standing cheering. Harry couldn't decifer the names. An elderly wizard came out to the center and the cheering grew ever louder.
He tried to quiet them"Fellow, wizards and witches! Brother and Sister Purebloods! I, Rodolphus Lestrange, am proud to present to you the most intense debate between the most noble purebloods in the nation, and here they are! Let them introduce themselves althougth I doubt they need naming."
A woman screamed with joy as the two canidates came up to their respective podiums. One of the canidates was old, dark complexion. The other was much, much, younger with bright red hair. He had a charming face that still had the soft, solemn, innocence of youth. Yet his stony eyes resembled a killer's.
And the debate begun. The old man spoke first. He had a steady, solid and well said speech. After he was finished he received an even amount of cheers and appreciation.
But he was to be crushed by the red haired canidate. He spoke without even saying his name, as if he didn't need to. He was so confident, so sure of himself that his voice almost gained an enchanting, charm-like quality. And when he was finished there was not a single person that wasn't on his side.
"Hermione" Harry asked, dumbfounded"Who in the world is that"
Hermione breathed in"Don't you know? That's your best mate, Ron Weasley."
Silence met his ears.
He didn't know what to say, how to react. That was Ron Weasley? He was shocked, appalled, awestruck.
To tell the truth, he hadn't known Ron Weasley was alive. It seemed obvious to think he was dead.
To Harry's get relief the doorbell rang.
He jumped up"I'll get it."
He crossed the room and turned a corner. Thank god a wall was not between Hermione and himself. He didn't want to feel the awkwardness. He passed a mirror and noticed that the spells had worn off. He was now himself again. He stopped to brush away his bangs to make sure his scar was back. And it was. The doorbell rung again reminding him of his task. He opened it.
A creepy wizard stood there with a potion vial in his hand. Harry was guessing he was the man from the upper floor.
As soon as the door opened he said"May I borrow some Antidote to Uncommon Poisons"
"Erm..." Harry murmured. The man looked up and stared Harry in the face.
"Oh dear, you're not pretty little Miss Granger, are you" he joked"Sorry 'bout that. Is the lady in"
"Uhh..." Harry said, brushing his hair away from his face. He needed a haircut.
The wizard got the most peculiar expression. A muscle in his cheek twitched. A finger reached up to Harry's forehead.
"That's a pretty bad scar, eh" he said, trying to keep control of his voice.
"Yeah" Harry said, covering it up.
"How long have you had it" he demanded.
"About as long as I can remember" Harry responded truthfully"Erm-you still want me to get Hermione"
"Wah" the wizard broke from his deep wonderment"No, no. I actually must go. Seems to me I've discovered something even more important."
With those parting words he began hurtling down the stairs. Harry stared after him blankly and a sick feeling overcame his stomach. What he just done? He pondered over telling Hermione then decided it would just worry.
It couldn't be that big of an issue afterall.
Author's Note: I wanted to have more on his chapter but I got some other stuff to do. Hope you enjoy this! Bye!
xoxo
winky