Chapter 11

"Good afternoon Miss Reese. I am glad to see that you and Miss Mondragon are still in one piece."

Dumbledore glided into the room as Harry and Alex both stood up, stepping away from each other. Ron walked in and went over to his chess board, his eyes locked onto Harry. Hermione went over to Ron and sat down next to him, silently watching.

"Erm, yes sir. I...Harry was...was just telling me that Cat and I were missing."

"I see. And did he tell you everything that has happened?"

Dumbledore stared at her from over is half-moon spectacles, his bright blue eyes twinkling.

"Erm...I think so sir. He...he told me about Kagato."

Alex had looked to the floor as she spoke and began shaking again. Harry instinctively moved over to her, rubbing her shoulders. Ron knocked over one of his chess pieces, mumbling under his breathe. Dumbledore frowned slightly and walked over to Cat, removing his wand from his robes. He pointed it at her and murmured the counter spell. The moment Cat opened her eyes, Alex's whole demeanour changed. She was smiling, a smile that did not reach her eyes and she pulled her wand out, pointing it at Dumbledore. Harry grabbed her hand and began struggling to hold onto her. Cat, on the other hand, had gotten to her feet and raised her wand, but Dumbledore was too quick for her. He hit her with the stunning spell again and she fell back to the floor. Ron and Hermione were now both on their feet, wands out and on Cat. Alex stopped fighting Harry and looked at him, quite confused.

"What...what just happened?"

Dumbledore turned to Alex, a grim look on his face.

"It seems that you and Miss Mondragon are connected. What ever spell has been placed on you seems to only work when both of you are awake. We must take both of you down to the hospital so Madam Pomfrey can have a look at you."

Alex sighed and nodded. Harry squeezed her shoulder gently as he looked to Dumbledore.

"We can go with her...right?"

"I think it would be better if the three of you stay here until it's time for Christmas tea Harry. Miss Reese should be able to join you then."

Dumbledore stood at the portrait and held it open, Alex shuddered a little, smiled to them and left the common room. Dumbledore conjured a stretcher for Cat and left with her floating ahead of him. The portrait closed with a soft thump and next thing Harry knew Ron was in his face...looking very angry.

"Where do you get off on making a move on her Harry?"

"What on earth are you talking about Ron? I just told her that her boyfriend is dead...she's upset. What would you have had me do...tell her then leave the room so she could fall apart all on her own?"

Ron twitched a bit and stammered for the right words.

"Still...the way it looked when...why couldn't you have waited till I...till I got back?"

Hermione tutted under her breath and Ron rounded on her.

"Go ahead...tell me I'm being a git...you live for that Hermione."

Hermione scowled at him and stood up...her voice rising with her temper. Harry knew that look and backed away.

"I DO NOT live to call you a git Ron, but that's exactly how you're behaving! She's just had a lot of information thrown at her and all you can think to do is yell at Harry because he was the one comforting her instead of you! We're all friends here Ron...least we're supposed to be...but with friends like you who needs enemies!"

Harry's anger had found it's way out of where he'd been hiding it and he started to yell at Ron as he made to yell back at Hermione.

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT YELLING BACK AT HERMIONE! SHE'S RIGHT! YOU ARE BEING A GIT! AN INSENSITIVE GIT AT THAT! ALEX'S BEEN MISSING...SHE'S CONFUSED AND SCARED AND UPSET! SHE'S LOST HER BOYFRIEND AND TWO MONTHS OF HER LIFE! LAST THING SHE'S GONNA BE THINKING ABOUT IS GOING OUT WITH YOU OR ME OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER! SHE NEEDS TIME...NOT YOU FALLING ALL OVER HER!"

Ron just stood there and blinked at them. Harry was breathing heavy, his anger still on the surface and he was waiting for Ron's reaction. Hermione kept looking between the two of them.

"Harry...Ron, please...don't. You are best friends. And you're both being ridiculous. Calm down and think about why we're shouting. It's silly. Let's play exploding snap until it's time to go to the Great Hall."

They looked at each other and nodded. Harry sat down next to Hermione and Ron sat on her other side. She pulled out the cards and they began playing in silence.