A/N: So, I didn't post yesterday. Well, I did but it was another thing entirely—Potter Boy. (Check it out)! I'm posting today so get over it. Lol—j/k.
Lock and Key
Chapter 21
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were forbidden to tell anyone what they had seen and they obliged, once more. (They, of course, were still stunned). Back at Grimmauld Place, they heard Snape telling Dumbledore Micheals had been a new Death Eater. His test had been to successfully carry out manipulating the Minister in order to benefit Voldemort; he had undeniably failed. Another meeting was held, but the trio stayed in Ron's room and discussed the events for themselves.
"What was Fudge thinking, having his wand out?" Hermione asked in a sad tone.
"The idiot doesn't think." Harry bluntly answered.
"Well, this'll be in the Prophet in no time," observed Ron, "Fudge will be made out as the hero, despite the fact that he gave Micheals his murder weapon."
Ginny ignored them all for the remainder of the night, isolating herself in her room. She spoke to them the next morning as they prepared to catch the train back to Hogwarts, but if the conversation even alluded to the previous day, she'd shut up. Fred and George came to see them off and be a part of the guard, which included Molly, Arthur, Remus, Elphias Doge, and Moody. It was hard saying farewell to them all, and it was poignant knowing they had just finished their last Hogwarts' winter holiday.
Hermione pushed her trunk into the luggage rack, huffing. Crookshanks brushed against her leg, purring.
"Your dumb animal wants something," Ron noted, easily putting his own trunk away.
"Don't call him that!"
"Ron's only mad that your pet is useful and his isn't," remarked Ginny, gathering the "cat" in her arms.
"Useful?! That? Yeah right! I don't see Crookshanks flying around, delivering post!" he protested.
"To the wrong person?" Hermione smiled.
"Pig does it a few times and he's branded for life!" Ron then let his owl out and watched it ram jauntily into the Head Girl's head.
"Ouch! Ron!" she yelled, trying to shoo Pig away.
"Hello all." Neville greeted, coming in with Luna Lovegood behind him.
"Hi Neville."
"Hey Longbottom." Luna and Neville put their things away overhead.
"Salutations Ginny, Ronald." Luna said dreamily. She took his hand in hers and gazed at it before letting it fall.
"Er… hi Luna," he replied, ears going red. Hermione and Ginny grinned at each other.
"I've observed your necklace Hermione. It's marvelous. Those are scare you know. But I suppose they would be—they came from a small meteor that lost its way to Saturn and ended up here, on Earth," she explained.
"Um, thanks, Luna." Hermione said, biting her tongue.
"Harry's out there." Neville reported, sitting down.
"Still?" She stepped outside the compartment, an amused smile tugging at her lips.
"Har—" Hermione let the rest fall. He was with Parvati, and she was talking animatedly, a smile radiating her face. His trunk and Hedwig's cage were still at his feet. (The bird seemed perturbed with her master's behavior). She went back inside.
"He's talking to Parvati." Hermione said, surprised she was taking it rather well. Harry came in not too long afterwards, but as his two best friends were leaving.
"Prefect meeting. Trains rounds and such." Ginny explained to him.
Draco Malfoy appeared to be back to normal. He was smirking and leering comfortably during the meeting, so that meant he was himself again.
"What'd he get for Christmas?," Ron bitterly asked, "His father?"
When they returned, Hermione didn't say much and took to staring out of the window. Something had been pestering her since her talk with Ginny about her feelings for Harry. They had never truly discussed it, or said that it was definite. She wanted to bring it up, but didn't know if Harry would think of her as being… clingy.
"You know, it's my second to last ride on the Express," Ron announced after 20 minutes, "I think I'll go… take it all in."
"Be careful." Luna airily warned.
"Oh, that I will be," he darkly assured, strolling out. Ginny frowned. She had a sudden urge to follow him and Colin flashed in her mind. Hermione watched him depart and then glanced quickly at Harry: he was staring at her. She gazed down at her robes. All right, so he knew she was being disturbed by something. After a few minutes she announced:
"I'm going to see if the trolley is moving anywhere, um, in the front of the train."
"Oh, d'you think you could get me some Pumpkin Pastries?" inquired Neville.
"I'd enjoy a few Licorice Wands." Luna added.
"Sure." Hermione replied awkwardly, going out. She hoped Harry caught on to what she was doing. She moved further down the corridor, away from their compartment, and then waited. Harry walked out a couple of minutes later.
"Where are wegoing to go?" he near hissed.
"Prefect carriage—it's empty." Hermione whispered. They hurried to it when no one was around, and lounged casually when students were in the hallways.
"I told them I had to go see Seamus and Dean," Harry relayed, once inside, "So… what's wrong?"
"How'd you know—" she began.
"You were dead silent!"
"Yes, well, there is that little fact…"
"What is it Hermione?"
"Erm… well… so, what'd you say to Parvati?" She didn't really care to know what their conversation had been about, and knew she probably sounded jealous, but it was the first thing that popped into her head that wasn't the real issue!
"I-I just thanked her for the watch. A-And she told me she's going out with Marx, the Slytherin," Harry explained. He looked forlorn, "Hermione, you're not… not starting this Parvati thing again, are you?"
"God, Harry, no!," Hermione insisted sincerely, "I'm moving past it, I really am! I just… don't, can't, seem to get this… thing, out of my mouth."
"Hermione," he started, glad to hear she wasn't jealous of Parvati, "You can tell me! I won't wig out."
"You might," she mumbled. He raised his eyebrows, "All right! I just… I was wondering how you see us."
"See us?"
"Yes. If you, er… consider me—you may not be into labels—but, think of me as… your g-girlfriend." Harry looked at her.
"Why would you worry about that?" he questioned.
"Because I was afraid you wouldn't like titles! I thought it'd frighten you off or something," Hermione admitted, playing ashamedly with her fingers, "It does a lot of males."
"How long have we been together?"
"A month." Had it been that long already?!
"Do you consider me as your boyfriend?" he asked.
"Yes. Happily," she responded, feeling butterflies. Harry was her boyfriend….
"Then you're my girlfriend, end of story." Harry resolved. Hermione grinned. She never thought she'd see the day when she could say she was Harry's girlfriend. Another milestone….
"You worry too much, Mione," he smiled seductively, moving closer to her.
"Don't call me that." Hermione warned him, smiling herself and moving back shyly. The doorknob rattled just as Harry had her around the waist.
"It'll have to wait," she quietly told him, put out and referring to the inevitable heavy snog that was about to happen, "It's not safe here."
"Fine. First chance we get at Hogwarts, Room of Requirement." Harry said.
"All right, so Thomas is finally going out with Bethany!" Seamus pointed out the next day at breakfast.
"It's about bloody time." Ron commented, shoveling eggs into his mouth. His search for Colin on the Hogwarts Express had proven futile.
"Yeah, yeah." Dean said, half smiling.
"Two down, three to go. Ron's working on Loony and Harry, your chance with Patil is over," remarked Seamus.
"She's going out with Daniel Marx. She made sure the entire student population knew on the train yesterday." Neville noted. They had spent the previous night talking about their vacations and Christmas presents.
"What do you mean, I'm 'working on her'? And don't call her that!" Ron said, in an irritated manner. Harry smirked, not saying anything. He mentally corrected Seamus: three down, two to go. He had a significant other. They hadn't gotten the chance to snog at all the previous day—they had been too busy.
"Hey Harry, when's our first DA meeting?" Dean wondered.
"Oh, and our first Quidditch practice." Ron put forth.
"When's the first game? For Gryffindor, that is," mentioned Neville.
"Who do we play again?" pondered Seamus.
"Oh, uh…," Harry started, dazed by the onslaught of questions fired at him, "Er, we play Slytherin next Friday, and our first practice is Thursday. The DA will meet this Saturday."
"Saturday?" Ron asked, unsure.
"Like you've really got anything better to do." Harry insipidly observed.
"Obviously not, but holding a meeting on the weekend seems completely sacrilegious! Harry, have you no morals?" Harry merely leaned back in his seat and stared at Ron, arms crossed. An owl suddenly dropped a parcel in front of Neville, while another had the newspaper for Seamus.
"From Gran." Neville muttered. (The post had arrived).
"Holy shite!" exclaimed Seamus, eyes wide.
"What?" Dean and Harry wondered.
"A Death Eater?!" said Seamus. On the front page was a picture of a weary Cornelius Fudge over a lengthy article titled Fudge Fuddled: Minister Has Imperius Curse Performed on Him By a Death Eater. Harry looked at Ron.
"Hurry and read it so we can!" Dean instructed. After a quarter of an hour, the Great Hall was positively buzzing. No one could believe it. The story hadn't mentioned all of the people whom had seen Micheals kill himself, nor had it said whose wand Micheals used. Ginny soaked all of it up like a sponge. She wanted to ask her brother and his friends for the details of the event now that it was out.
"It's crazy now, isn't it?," Neville asked, as a group of Hufflepuffs ran to the Ravenclaw table, Prophet in hand, "I mean, things are really starting to hit the fan."
"Makes you not want to leave Hogwarts again." Dean quietly observed.
"Yeah, but all of You-Know-Who's attempts are failing." Seamus noted.
"Not all. When something doesn't work out, he goes out and kills innocent people!" Ron remarked, gesturing to the periodical. He was referring to another article in which it stated that a small village of Muggles had been killed, along with a small community of wizards the night of the Death Eater mishap. Harry looked dully at the paper, then straight ahead. What was Voldemort's next move? He did seem to become brasher with each day. Much of the Slytherins were all huddled together, discreetly discussing the story. Harry could make out Malfoy's gleaming hair somewhere in the middle.
"Class then, yeah?" Ron prompted, sighing heavily.
Ginny cornered the trio that evening in the common room. They spoke to her in a secluded corner, seeing no harm in filling in the gaps since she knew most of it. As expected, she was shocked to learn that it had been Fudge's wand. It was near impossible for Harry and Hermione to leave for personal solitude what with everyone and all of the Fudge talk, and what with it looking bizarre for them to leave the room at the same time. They simply stayed put and reasoned they could be alone the following day. Consequently, that did not pan out; Harry and Hermione did not get to snog on Wednesday either. Harry had to tackle his ridiculous amount of homework and Hermione asserted she had to begin studying for NEWTs. (She tried to recruit Ron to study with her but he quickly disappeared). On top of that, Lavender was sick so Hermione had to substitute for her that night during rounds while she was in the hospital wing.
By Thursday Harry was going through withdrawals. He hadn't the pleasure of kissing Hermione since Saturday and felt he was starting to lose it. Hermione appeared to be affected by it as well—she was much more snappish than usual. Their first week at Hogwarts was not a good omen for how their snogging opportunities would be.
"Milk please, Harry." Ron requested as he pulled his plate in front of him. (It was breakfast, of course).
"Catch up to Colin yet?" Harry pondered, giving the pitcher over.
"No," he darkly replied, eyes narrowing in the boy's direction, "the twit's well guarded."
"Honestly Ron, you should leave him alone. Ginny likes him and that should be enough." Hermione advised.
"All right Hermione, I'll do that. Right after I claim I love Draco Malfoy for all to know!"
"I would kill to see you do that!" she told him through gritted teeth. Did he have to be so close minded?! And did Harry have to be sitting right there, utterly out of her grasp at the momenet?! Suddenly the owls flooded the Great Hall. A dark, majestic one swooped in front of Ron.
"It's Bird!" he exclaimed.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Bill's owl!" Ron took the letter and gave Bird some toast.
"Everyone in your family's got an owl." Hermione mentioned.
"All except Ginny. Charlie has Celeste and Percy's got that uppity one," he elaborated, commencing in reading the letter.
"So, Harry… what's, er, happening with you tonight?" Hermione questioned, striving to sound indifferent.
"Quidditch practice," he guiltily answered.
"Right," she briskly stated, angrily tearing into a croissant. Ah, yet another inconvenience.
"Bill's back!" Ron suddenly shouted.
"What?" Harry said.
"Bill! He's finally back from his mission! He got home two days ago!"
"Ron! That's wonderful!" smiled Hermione. Harry couldn't do anything but nod enthusiastically and grin.
"I know! I have to finish reading it, a-and go find Ginny! He wants to know about Christmas and how things have been. I have to reply. He wrote something about Fleur in here," Ron elatedly spilled, speaking to himself more than them, "I-I've got to go! I'll see you later, or in class!" He then stood up and hurriedly exited the Great Hall, smiling.
"That's great news," said Harry.
"Yes. It's good knowing Bill made it back safely," she replied.
"Listen… so I know we haven't really been…," He checked to assure no one was listening to them, "Alone so far, but—"
"Oh no Harry, it's understandable—we've both been occupied. So busy, in fact, that we can't even seem to get ten pathetic minutes to ourselves! But you know, it's all right. Maybe we'll find some time two weeks from now!," Hermione raved. Harry looked at her with a despondent expression, "I'm just going to go to class. I'll… study until it begins." She grabbed her bag and left the dining room. As she headed to Muggle Studies, she put a hand over her face. It had been immature and unfair of her for blowing up at Harry like that; she certainly hadn't meant to. Hermione was simply frustrated! It was unjust that others could go around, openly, and show affection for their companions, while she was practically forbidden. She and Harry were people too and deserved to be together, along with everyone else. It's because he is Harry, she bitterly thought.
Hermione neared the entrance hall, preparing to enter the Great Hall. It was lunchtime and she wanted to grab a little something to eat before going to NEWT study in the library. She looked up when she sensed someone fall in step with her. It was Harry, and he smelled terrifically, as usual. Skillfully and without bringing attention to himself, he slipped his hand in hers and removed it. He smiled at her and then moved ahead. Hermione watched his back while rolling the scrap of parchment around in her palm.
"Hermione!" a recognizable voice called behind her. She turned around to see David Rice.
"Hi David," she greeted, stopping to let him catch up.
"How are you doing?" he inquired.
"I'm pretty well. Yourself?"
"Same here! How were your holidays?"
"Brilliant! How were yours?"
"I enjoyed myself as well. I'm glad to know you had a smashing time." David commented.
"Thank you."
"Oh, your necklace…" he began.
"Oh, yes!" She opened it for him.
"Wow! That's… amazing," he said.
"Harry gave it to me," she murmured. David nodded, closing it and looking at her.
"So, I'm going out with Rebecca!" he reported, smiling.
"Are you really?!"
"Yes. She asked me when we got back, though I was planning to do the same thing!"
"David, that's fantastic."
"Yeah," He checked his watch, "I've got to meet Professor McGonagall right now, but why don't we continue this tomorrow at lunch?"
"All right." Hermione agreed.
"I'll see you later then Hermione. Bye!"
"Bye." David walked off in another direction. So now both of Harry and Hermione's old flames had mates. It seemed as if everyone was coupling up all of a sudden. She then recalled Harry's noted and unfurled it.
Meet me in the Room of Requirement at 8:40, no exceptions.
Hermione gripped her necklace and grinned a bit.
Harry made sure to end practice at precisely 8:30. It took about ten minutes for him to put away his broom, switch robes, and hurry to the Room of Requirement, and this was with him rushing. He prayed no one was occupying the room and was relieved to know it was empty. When he arrived, a small table stood near the door with lip balm and breath mints on it. And was he crazy, but were there flower petals on the floor? Shrugging, he popped a mint in his mouth and went to turn off the romantic music coming from a recorder.
Harry sat lazily on the red sofa when Hermione came dashing in six minutes later. Her hair was tousled but it only made her prettier, and she looked about the room in comical understanding. However, it melted away when she saw Harry.
"Sorry about being late, but—" she started.
"Doesn't matter—you're here now," he assured, suddenly next to her. If they intended to kiss gently, it never happened. It was hurried, frantic, and fast paced, hands not in a spot for more than four seconds before jumping elsewhere. It was rather a needy snog, and it was wonderful.
"Hermy." Harry tried to say, at around nine o'clock. His arms were tangled up somewhere inside her robes.
"What?" she breathed, fingers all but attached to his back. She kissed him roughly again.
"I haf… go," he exhaled.
"What?" Hermione repeated, not wholly listening to his words. One hand weaved into his hair while the other snaked around his neck. She began kissing him behind his ear. Harry shut his eyes and had to put a hand on the wall to steady himself. Focus Potter!, he told himself, you've got snogging—no, no, a session to go to, with Flitwick! Now!
"I h-have… detention, with Snape." Harry said. Hermione pulled away, eyes locked on his.
"Are you serious?" she wondered.
"Yeah, unfortunately." Her shoulders fell.
"Harry! Again? So soon? Another one?!" Hermione scolded.
"I know, it's—" he started.
"What are you doing to make him so mad?!" Harry opened his mouth helplessly but she crossed her arms, scoffing.
"I'm sorry Hermione, I swear." Harry said.
"You could actually start having sense when you're in his presence!," Hermione lectured, looking angrily at him, "We finally get 13 minutes together after days, and it's ruined!"
"I know, I know. I messed up; I'm sorry," he apologized, taking her face in his hands, "You—have—no—idea—how—sorry—I—am." He had kissed her for every word.
"Fine Harry, just go, before you get in even more trouble," she told him. Of course he didn't want to leave, but he had no choice.
"Things'll get better." Harry guaranteed, smiling sadly. He kissed her lightly and then left the room. Hermione went and slumped down on the couch, pouting. She had not had enough time with him, and what was more, she felt as if he was lying about Snape's detention.
A/N: I'm predicting… about 14 more chapters for the story. I'll also explain the meaning of the title of the fic in the second to last chapter of the story. Chapter 22 on Tuesday.