Author - Chibi / Warlordess
Disclaimer - I don't own JK Rowling's masterpiece, Harry Potter. All of the credit and my obsessiveness is thanks to her. No. . . Really. . .! Also, the second part in italics, with Snape and Hermione and Ron, is a direct quote from HPPoA and all credit for that should be given to JK Rowling. Credit for everything should be given to her, really, but if I keep thinking about that, I begin to feel useless… Lol.
Notes - I just wanna let the readers know that this fic takes place during the trio's sixth year. Yea.
Summary - When one of Malfoy's and Harry's rows gets out of hand, Hermione ends up injured. Harry, once known as "The Boy Who Lived" is now "The Boy Who Saw" as he offers to be Hermione's eyes. But can he manage his schoolwork, his Quidditch training, and keep his friend from running into everything at the same time? A Harmony fic.
Warning – This chapter includes monumental fluff, shipping between Neville/Ginny, and – well – there was something else, but I can't remember what it is. Oh, well; you'll probably say so in your chapter, if there's something you don't agree with, or are confused by.
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Harry Potter – Blind
Chapter Four
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"Er. . . !" Ron turned pink as he twisted on his broomstick, preparing to whack the ball in whatever direction he could.
Swinging the bat, he came into full contact, and the Bludger changed direction almost entirely, this time heading towards a high column in the stands, and exactly where. . .
"Hermione!" Harry shouted, horrified, as he watched her turn confusedly towards him.
Neville was stumbling around, poking at his robe pockets for his wand, but Harry knew that he'd never find it in time. . .
Harry didn't know what he'd been thinking in both the moment before, and the moment he was currently at a stand-still in facing. Why had he told Ron to impress upon Kirke and Sloper his families' expertise in the game of Quidditch? Was he trying to get Hermione maimed or killed?
Having done this before and, being highly suspicious what with the many incidents that had happened to him on the Quidditch field, it wasn't exactly surprising that Harry was able to remember placing his wand up his sleeve for safe keeping. Quickly, he let go of his broom and hooked his legs strongly around the wooden frame, ripping the magical instrument from his clothes.
"Er. . ." What spell was he to use? Unable to think clearly, Harry shouted the first incantation that came to mind, "'Imotrani Lite!'" The effects of the spell were instantaneous. Hermione disappeared from her place in the high benches overlooking the pitch and Neville, unsuccessful in finding his own wand, was able to duck out of the way as the Bludger went crashing past him, shattering the nimble wood of the seats just behind.
Hermione reappeared instantly behind Harry in mid-air, and, disbelieving and unaware as to the goings-on, she let out a terrified squeal, gripping at whatever just happened to be in front of her, and catching Harry around his waist. There was a split second that Harry became completely numb to everything around him at the feeling, but he shook it off, finally clearing his head enough to understand.
Hermione was safe. . . Thank God. . .
"H-Harry. . . What just happened? You used that Apparation Charm, didn't you. . . ?" She whimpered lightly, gripping him tighter still as he slowly descended to the ground. Ginny and Ron were the first ones beside them, hurriedly examining them both and making sure that they were fine.
"Are you alright, Neville?" Harry had enough time to call up to the Longbottom boy, who was currently regaining a stable pace of breathing, but who gave his loudest affirmative in return, ". . .And how about you, 'Mione?"
Hermione seemed to be completely unknowing of the people attempting to look her over. She was still hanging on to Harry tightly, as though she expected to vanish and reappear in mid-air once again, and was hoping to drag him along if that were the case. He managed to twist around and face her, and he gripped her on her shoulders in order to reassure her that everything was fine.
"Hermione. . . ?"
She slowly lifted her head, revealing a terrified and tear-stained face and Harry remembered, quite suddenly, that Hermione had never been one to fly, "W-what just happened, Harry. . . ?" She didn't even know what had gone on, but she was still crying? Gods, that didn't help his attitude towards the whole situation.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione. . . I think it was my fault a—" He was interrupted by Ron.
"—It was my fault, Hermione. I was bragging to Kirke and Sloper about my Quidditch talent and Harry suggested that I prove it to them by going one-on-one against the Bludger we were using for the practice session. . ." The redheaded sixth year sighed despondently and patted her on the back, "I'm really sorry. I guess I didn't have full control of the direction I was aiming for." As he said this, he didn't look Harry in the eyes.
"O-obviously. . ." Hermione's tone had turned cold and biting. She was finally able to let go of Harry, now understanding what had happened, and attempted to leap off of the broomstick even though it was still about a foot or two in the air. She hit the ground, her legs crumpling beneath her, and Ginny ran forward to pick her up by the arm. Not knowing this, Hermione called in a loud, quaking tone, "I-I think I'm just going to go back to the Gryffindor common room and wait this whole thing out there. Ginny, I know that you're in the middle of practice, but do you think you could help me get there. . . ?" Her tone died out as calmly as possible, though her voice was naturally hysterical at this point.
Ginny looked questioningly in Harry's direction and awaited his answer.
"Go ahead; it's not like I don't know your level of skill at this point. . ." He replied with a nod towards the castle, And make sure that you get Hermione to smile before returning. . . He thought desperately, at the memory of all of her tears. He could still feel the residue on the back of his Quidditch robes from when she'd been resting her head there.
After Ginny had left them behind and begun leading Hermione back towards Hogwarts, Harry turned back to Ron.
"After this, let's talk." He said shortly, seemingly furious about all that had just happened. Ron, not knowing how to reply, simply regained his place on his Cleansweep and rose into the air, heading back towards the goalposts.
Harry proceeded to instruct the rest of the attempting Quidditch players but his mind was so nettled at the thought of the disaster just having taken place that he could barely keep a straight face. And so, being sure to remember clearly all that he could of the third part of the practice session, he flew back to the ground, allowed the others to follow him there, and told them to expect the list of the new members of the Gryffindor team to be posted in the common room query board later that evening. Then he and Ron proceeded to the changing rooms alone, Ginny having never returned.
It was a strange feeling. All of the sudden, as he knew that it was just him and Ron, Harry felt such a sweep of anger that he almost contemplated throwing his Firebolt against the wall in his temper. Of course, he didn't, and he had no true explanation for his mood, and so he breathed as silently as possible, hoping to rid himself of his less than satisfactory state of mind.
Ron was completely quiet as well, and he seemed to be apprehensively avoiding Harry, even though he hadn't left. He had already rid himself of his Quidditch robes, and his broomstick was over his shoulder, and he obviously didn't want to be around Harry when he was like this, but he hadn't left him. Somehow he knew that Harry still wanted to chat.
"Ron. . ." Harry's tone was very low, hardly able to be understood, "Why did you take the blame for something that was so obviously my fault?" It must have been that, because asking the very question seemed to lessen his anger.
Ron shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, trying to think up an excuse for that.
"I dunno, mate; I just didn't think it'd be a good idea for Hermione to be angry with you, even if what happened back there was your fault, which it wasn't. At least, not completely," Harry didn't understand.
"Why wouldn't it be a good idea for Hermione to be angry with me? I was stupid for suggesting that you prove your skills. I was just trying to be a prat; you don't take the blame for someone who acts like that."
"I do if he's one of my best friends. Harry, I was being a prat. I was all talk, giving Kirke and Sloper the impression that I was naturally the best at their occupations on the team. You were just trying to put me in my place, and be funny about it. It's not your fault that I messed up and accidentally hit the Bludger in the direction of Hermione's place." A sigh, "I started and finished it. You just ended up caught in the middle. Besides, Hermione's depending on you to help her along, and I know that you'll be in a right state if, in anger, she refuses to let you anywhere near her." A shrug, "But she'll get over her temper with me; it happens so often that I end up acting a git, and she ends up lecturing me, and then, after about a day or two of glaring at each other and snipping away, we get back on speaking terms. I think it's different between you two."
Harry was aware of any lingering anger he'd held slipping away almost immediately at this explanation. Holding back a grin, he asked, "How so?"
"You and Hermione are more – natural? – towards one another. If you disagree, you remain silent, but you never fight out loud. And you always make up immediately afterwards, or else it's something serious. Either way, it's always forgotten. You and she have this connection that I never really became a part of, like when she's thinking of something, or you are, and the other just happens to know what it is without speaking a word. And she's so much more comfortable around you than she is with me. . . And I think I just realized something." He ended with finality.
Now Harry quirked an eyebrow. What was Ron talking about?
"What's that?" Ron looked questioningly at Harry, then around the changing rooms, not knowing what he meant, "No, I mean, what did you just realize?"
"Oh; nothing, mate. It's not something that one guy talks to another guy about. You'll just have to get it on your own. But, I'll have you know. . . If I start acting like a git around the two of you again, like I was this morning, just let Hermione slap me like she did Malfoy third year, okay? 'Cause I might not be able to help it."
Harry, unsure as of what Ron was talking about, nevertheless gave a nod.
"Er. . . Alright."
OoO
It was one of those conversations that you wanted to forget more than anything, and yet, you just couldn't.
Harry returned to the Gryffindor tower in a slight daze, confused as to how his discussion with Ron had ended. What had Ron been talking about? What had he figured out that Harry, himself, was still unaware? And why was he being so secretive about his discovery, whatever it was?
When he found himself in the common room for the first time since this morning, he saw Hermione sitting alone in the armchair the two of them had ended up sleeping in together the night before. Ginny was nowhere around and Harry was left to wonder what, if anything, could have happened between the two girls.
"Er. . . Are you better now, 'Mione?" He asked her, cautiously taking the comfortable place beside her. It didn't happen to cross his mind exactly what it was that made the place comfortable – the cushion or Hermione, herself.
"I. . . Guess that I am, now," she replied, leaning back against the arch of the chair, her pale brown-white eyes glistening as they caught the light of the fire, "I just don't know if I want to go to another Quidditch practice until after I have my vision back. Er. . . Not that there's an issue with you."
"About what happened, Ron and I are really sorry. We were both acting a bit. . . Off. And we're both willing to do whatever we can to help you forget it."
"We'll, it's not really something I can remember, concluding that I didn't see it. I just – perceiving that it happened. . . That's the problem. You know that I've never been one to like flying, or even Quidditch as a whole. And now you see why. I'm prone to being hit upside the head with game memorabilia," she joked, "so there's really nothing you or Ron. . ." she halted for a moment, and Harry felt just a bit more guilty that Hermione seemed to be holding the redhead personally responsible, ". . .can do about it."
"You know, Ron and I had an interesting conversation after we ended the training session. . . We were in the changing rooms and. . . Well, we started talking about our relationship – yours and mine, that is." Harry noticed that Hermione's gaze, though not really one at all, was focused almost completely on him, "He said that it wouldn't be great for you to be mad at me for what happened because we're closer than you and he are, and so it's easier for me to be the one helping you get better. He said that he realized something; I'm assuming that it was about us."
Perhaps Hermione didn't know it, but her eyebrows had risen so high at this point that they disappeared under her thick, curly bangs. Then she looked away, her expression returning to one of logical conclusion.
"And why are you bringing this up with me? Isn't that something you boys should be keeping to yourselves?"
"Well, I just thought that – he wouldn't tell me what it was he got. And I thought that you, what with your being so great on feelings and being able to tell when we're keeping secrets. . . I just thought you'd be able to decipher what he meant by that."
He knew almost immediately that Hermione could, because she looked as though something was constricting her throat. He leant in, hoping that, even if she were to whisper, he'd be able to catch her response, but he was mighty disappointed when she looked at him and spoke, next.
"I have no idea, Harry; sorry."
Feeling slightly awkward, Harry fell back against the cushion once again, sighing almost aggravatedly. So, even his intuitive best friend wouldn't tell him what was going on. Why were the two of them keeping secrets from him? What was it that they didn't want him to know?
It was strange; Ron had been acting almost jealous of his and Hermione's position earlier this morning. . . And then he'd apologized for it, and told Harry to let Hermione give him a good beating if it happened again. And now Hermione wasn't telling him what he so wanted to know, even though he knew that she knew. . . Not wanting to think any further of the many upsetting possibilities coming to mind, Harry tried to start up another conversation.
"Er. . . So, what happened to Ginny?"
"Oh, well, after we came back to the common room, Neville happened to walk in. He was stumbling around a lot, according to Ginny, and he seemed a bit. .. Peaky, I guess. . . And so she helped him off to the Hospital Wing. But I don't think it's anything serious; more likely he was just winded by what happened and needed a calming draught." Hermione finished, and then she looked suddenly contemplative, "Come to think of it, that was almost an hour and a half ago. I can't imagine what the two of them could be doing now. I suppose that Neville might be trying to woo Ginny, seeing as he's liked her since the Yule Ball. . . And she's probably trying to hold him at bay. . ." Hermione gave a laugh out of nowhere, "But, then again, that's not likely to happen."
Harry couldn't tell if Hermione was being truthful or if she was just having a go at him, but his eyes widened considerably either way.
"Does Neville really fancy Ginny?" He asked, amazed, yet having time to wonder what Ron's reaction would be to this information nonetheless.
"Oh, of course; Harry, wasn't it obvious after he actually tried to take on Warrington last year outside Umbridge's office? Since when do you know Neville to act that bravely on his own? He was trying to impress her, surely." Hermione still managed to roll her eyes, which Harry thought would be somehow difficult what with her condition.
Huh; somehow, that made him thought of something. . .
"That is the second time that you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," said Snape coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."
Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?"
Had Ron been trying to impress Hermione, then, at that time? Or was he just trying to defend her as a friend? Harry hadn't really spoken up, but Ron had stood up alone against Snape. . . And that was something, considering Snape was often one to make Neville feel like crawling under a rock with a single glance.
"Hey, Hermione. . . I was just thinking – what you said – does that mean that Ron fancies you?" Why was he asking this question? Why did he care? He shouldn't. He didn't. Did he? "Or did he, ever?"
Hermione gave a disgruntled murmur and she twisted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Yes; he did. . . Or, maybe he still does. Unless, what he realized. . ." Hermione was muttering as she often did when she was planning on researching something secret in the library, or scheming of ways to get Harry a private interview with a snotty ex-Daily Prophet clientele, "but that would make things almost too easy." Her expression seemed to be one of someone who wanted badly to dart her eyes over at something in particular, but because of her handicap, she was unable to do so.
Harry, hoping to get a bit more information out of her, opened his mouth to say something more, but he was cut off by Ron's furious tone as he ambled through the portrait hole and into the common room. Harry and Hermione turned to face him with blank expressions, Harry at once noticing his flushed face while Hermione centered on his frantic manner.
"You'll never believe what I've just seen!" He stated maddeningly, walking towards them and collapsing into a separate chair.
"What is it?" Harry and Hermione queried him at the same time.
"Can't believe. . . Never would have guessed. . ." His timbre was caught somewhere between rage and wild incredulity, "It was Ginny and Neville! They were snogging in the corridor outside of the Infirmary!"
"What?" The two friends asked, also more than slightly disbelieving towards this news.
"I know. . . ! I was just walking by the hall to come up here and, well, I heard Ginny's voice and I couldn't help stopping because I couldn't tell what she was talking about and. . . The next thing I knew, I looked around the corner and Neville was snogging her!" Ron's brow was creased as though he were trying to come to terms as to how he felt about his younger sister and the Herbology geek in a relationship together, "And, well, here's what's worse. . ."
But he, too, was interrupted as the portrait hole opened up again and Ginny and Neville heaved their way inside, neither looking at one another, nor the three fellow Gryffindors in front of them. Knowing that it would be useless to escape their questions, however, the Weasley and Longbottom sat down next to Ron, who was glaring at his own feet, suddenly embarrassed for some unknown reason. Or, at least, it was unknown to Harry. Hermione, though, gave an affronted gasp in understanding, even though she couldn't even tell their expressions as evidence.
"You two caught him staring, didn't you?" She cried out, ". . .Not that you don't deserve it." She finished almost venomously to Ron, who had the grace in himself to look ashamed.
"I couldn't help it! She's my little sister! And Neville's the prat who was – he was. . . You lot know what you were doing." He stated pointedly, turning his eyes on Ginny and Neville, both of which continued to stay silent. . . Though, not for long.
"Please, Ron, it's not as if I've never kissed anyone before. I have had a boyfriend or two. And it's to be expected in a relationship." Ron started sputtering but Ginny continued speaking as though she didn't hear him, "Although, that's not to say that we're in a relationship." And now she was completely scarlet in the face.
Neville was probably looking the most despondent of them all at this point. It was so much so that Harry could feel the sorrowful waves carrying their way towards him and Hermione. Ginny seemed to understand her mistake almost at once, and tried to replace her statement.
"I mean, I'm sorry, Neville. . . But you just. . . Came at me and. . . Well, it was something to be caught up in the moment like that, but. . ." Both of the Weasley children were speechless.
Unconsciously, as though Hermione felt that she was in the middle of a tense lovers' spat, she grasped Harry's hand in her own. Harry tried not to think of that at this point, even though he couldn't really understand why he'd be bothered to think of it in the first place.
"It's alright, Ginny. I guess that I just. . . Let myself go. Er, can we just forget it ever happened?" Harry had never heard Neville speak like that. He almost sounded, fearless, cold. . . As though he were actually, truly angry at someone for the first time in his life. But it was impossible to tell if he was angry at Ginny, Ron, the others, or himself the most of all.
At Neville's response, Ron started nodding his head furiously in reply, and he looked to Ginny, expecting her to do the same, but Ginny, biting her lip in anxiety, began to speak again.
"Well, no, Neville. It's not that I want to forget it. In fact; I didn't really mind it, to be perfectly honest." Neville took this chance to look at her for the first time (or at least, the first that Harry noticed), and his eyes were pleading with her, as though he expected her to come out and start laughing at him, larking him for his taking her on the way he had. But Ginny wasn't like that; in fact, she was looking at him the same way.
Ron was the first to speak again.
"No! No, no, no, no, no!" He rose from his seat and stomped his foot on the ground, apparently against the whole idea of Ginny and Neville together. Harry couldn't help thinking that he was acting a bit like a young child who wasn't getting his way, and he was sure that Hermione agreed with him after she spoke next.
"Would you like a bottle of warm milk to rid yourself of that temper, Ron?" She asked him in a simple, honeyed, motherly voice. Ginny and Neville looked at her gratefully, but she couldn't tell.
As though this statement seemed to get through to him, Ron regained control of himself and sat back down.
"Ginny, are you sure that you want to. . . You know. . . Be with Neville?"
". . .No." Neville snapped his head in her direction, looking as though all of his worst fears had been confirmed, "After all, this came on just a bit quick. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to give it a try. It's not like I don't care about him. . . I just don't know if I care about him that way, so I'm going to be spending my time with him, hoping to figure it out." She seemed finished, but then added as an after-thought, "And there's nothing you can do to stop me, Ron."
Ron, looking addled, attempted not to yell, and, after a few moments, he won the battle.
". . .Fine." He gave a sigh, "It's not like there's really anything I can do to stop you, even if I tried my hardest. You just be positive that this is the choice you want to make."
"It is." She stated coolly, grasping Neville by the arm and leading him away, "C'mon, Neville; let's head outside to the lake and have a break from all of this. . . Tension." She glared in her brothers' direction to point out that he was the one producing it all, and then she and Neville exited the common room through the portrait hole again.
"She is so… Irritable." Ron stated in an aggravated tone, also jumping from his place and running after the two.
Harry and Hermione were left alone as they'd been in the beginning, until Hermione gave a small laugh.
"I can't believe that I was actually right about them. . . !" She stated with a chuckle.
"I can. . ." Harry replied earnestly. She was Hermione, after all. Being right all of the time was her thing.
The two of them were able to have a good fit over everything that had just happened, not once realizing that their hands were still intertwined, or bothering to pull apart.
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Notes – Wow; I finished this entire chapter in one setting. There're some things you just can't help but be proud of, and typing up a 4.5 thousand word chapter for a fic featuring characters that you aren't well-acquainted with is one of them. And all in under a couple of hours! Yay for me! Now, don't you all think that I deserve a review for this?
