CHAPTER ELEVEN
Finally reaching the castle, Draco opened the wooden doors, and stepped inside, closely followed by Hermione, and Harry; still holding Viktor's stiff body. As the three crept back up the hallways of the virtually deserted castle, they could hear the noises of their footsteps echo around the corridor.
"We should finish that antidote now while the fur is still good'
"Yeah, the sooner the better" Draco scoffed at Harry's remark and replying with a sharp mimic of Harry's words.
"I just need to drop Viktor off at the hospital wing" Hermione turned to Harry in surprise
"What? You are going to let them treat him? Well . . . I guess you are probably right, I mean . . . I doubt he will be able to understand what is going on and . . ."
"Anyway, do you need me here or not?" Draco ceased staring at the cuticles of his nails and turned to look at Harry looking at Hermione affectionately as she mumbled on about the pros and cons of treating Viktor Krum. Draco stood for a moment, slightly disheartened by the total disregard of his feelings in this situation, before he closed his mouth and repressed his jealous feelings spouting out
"Well, hello? Are we not listening to me in this situation? I believe it was my brilliant efforts that gained the ingredient you need . . . I don't even know why we had to get it, I mean . . . it's not like it's . . ."
"Oh, yeah." Harry pulled himself out of his pull of fascination, and brought himself back to earth.
"I should get going, you know, I will meet you guys in the toilets in about ten minutes"
"Okay, finally someone is paying the slightest attention to me, I mean, not than I'm surprised . . ." Draco turned and began his way down the corridor, again immersed in his finger nails.
Hermione turned to Harry, slightly uncomfortable, her knees subconsciously turned themselves into one another and her hands met at the front of her chest, playing with one another.
Harry noticed the strange body language and could not help but pull his hands up to rub the back of his neck, sighing.
"Well . . ."
"Yeah, look . . . I'm sorry about before, if I mean, if you didn't"
"No, its okay, yeah, I kinda yeah . . ." as the two fell silent, Hermione felt herself pull all of her courage from deep within and began to speak.
"Harry, it's only been over the past months, I mean, its not like I have had deep secret feelings for you since first year" she laughed and re-began her speech "I really like you Harry, I mean, I have never felt this way about anyone before, you don't know how . . Yeah, when you kissed me before, I mean, do you . . . you know?"
Harry, feeling slightly more comfortable with Hermione's confession of her deepest feelings, began to return the favour.
"I'm not really sure how to tell you, you know? I . . . since we started with the antidote thing, it's like, I have noticed I whole different side you . . . and I like it" Hermione smiled as she looked to the floor.
"We are acting like first years!" they both laughed, returning their gazes again to the floor, both still uncomfortable with the situation.
"So . . . back at the clearing, that wasn't just, a one off? . . . You know, it really was something?" Hermione looked up at Harry's face hopefully.
He met her gaze and replied, "Yeah, that definitely was something, so, this"
Harry gestured towards himself and Hermione
"Do you want to give it a go?"
"Yeah" Hermione looked up smiling and laughed to herself. "Yeah, I want to give it a go"
Harry took her hand tenderly and held it for moment, looking into her face. Hermione's eyes came up to meet Harry's and they stared at each for a moment. Eventually Harry shyly moved his head in so his lips brushed Hermione's briefly, smiling awkwardly, they continued to hold hands when Harry pulled himself out of his truthful fantasy, still aware of the presence of Viktor Krum. Harry pulled his hands from her and hoisted Viktor onto his shoulders.
"Draco will be wandering where I am, I'll see you there Harry"
"I'll be there as soon as I can"
Hermione turned the corner towards the stairway while Harry made his way to the hospital wing.
Viktor was heavy on his shoulders, as they almost struggled to hols his weight, changing his position for the third time, Harry could see the door to the hospital wing in sight. He moved closer and placed Viktor on the floor next to the doorway. Moving towards the closed door, he knocked loudly, and turned to run behind the corner. Just as the door began to open Harry whispered
"Obliviate" pointing his wand to Viktor's frozen body.
"Oh! Deary! What do we have here? Mr Krum in a bit of trouble, we'll get you right inside!"
As Madam Pomfrey bustled out of the doorway and began pulling Viktor inside she yelled something into her office, awaiting another pair of hands to help. Harry watched for a moment to ensure Madam Pomfrey could handle Viktor, then turned, and silently made his way to the nearest stair-well.
"What took you so long?" Hermione pushed her way into the room, stepping over the puddle seeping from under the toilet door. She ignored Draco's last statement and instead looked over to him, sitting to the left of the basins, a large cauldron in front of him. She continued to stand in front of the doorway and surveyed the room beyond her. All the toilet doors were closed and she stepped near them, peering into each to check for unwanted presences.
"I already did that; you don't think I have just been sitting here do you?" Draco sneered as Hermione turned from the nearest toilet door and gave a small laugh.
"It's better to be safe than sorry, knowing you, there are probably people still in there"
"Well, that would be your fault considering this is your choice in environment" Hermione sneered at his reply when Harry cam through the door, slightly puffing.
"Well?"
Hermione and Draco both looked at Harry in surprise and gave him an expectant look.
"Well what?"
"Are we ready to go or not?" Harry walked into the room, scuffing his feet through the puddle Hermione had tried so hard to avoid and shoved his bag onto the floor, taking a seat opposite Draco. Hermione timidly sat down in-between the two, creating a cult like appearance to any who would walk in at that moment, thankfully, no-one did.
Hermione took out her book, and opened it to the marker placed on the top of the page.
"Well . . . "she said thoughtfully, skimming through the instructions.
"Why don't we check our ingredients first?" Harry looking around hopefully, but was met with the top of Hermione's head, still immersed in the book, and a stupid grin on Draco's face.
"Okay . . ." he said uncomfortably and pulled numerous bottles by their tops out of his bag and placed them on the floor, standing those that toppled over. Draco proceeded to his bag and took out two small bags, one with the strong stench of burning grass and the other soaking with a purple liquid.
"Okay . . . is this everything?" Harry put his hand into his pocket and pulled out the all too familiar light brown bag containing the albino fur, who would have thought he could forget this?
"Yep" Hermione, finally paying attention to the scene around her scanned the bottles and bags in front of her, pointing and speaking to herself.
"That's everything"
"Should we . . . get started?" Draco sighed dramatically
"If we really have to . . . but I don't see the need . . ." Draco's head fell into his hands as he stared affectionately at Harry from across the cauldron. Harry tilted his head to the side and scratched his forehead, attempting to cover his face.
"Let's do it" Hermione laid the book on the floor on front of her and Harry leaned over to get a better look.
"Okay, first . . . stir water and base liquid for ten minutes . . ." Hermione tipped the nearest bottle into the cauldron without taking her eyes off the book and began to stir. She flicked her wand and muttered an incantation and an hour glass appeared above the cauldron, counting down the minutes until the next ingredient could be added. When the last sand dripped through the glass Harry read over Hermione's shoulder
"Ad Dragon, pond weed and albino . . ." Harry pulled the sack leaking the purple liquid from Draco's reach and untied the knot, letting the slimy insides fall into the cauldron. It immediately turned a pale pink colour letting off a puff of foul smelling smoke. Hermione then reached for the pond weed and untied the knot, unleashing the overwhelming smell of smouldering grass, slightly dazed she tipped it onto the cauldron and went to hold the albino fur, but it was grabbed by Draco seconds before.
"Considering I found it, I think I should be able to put it in"
"Okay, just don't be stupid Draco, we only have one chance at this" Draco chuckled and opened the bag, feeling the furry insides in his palm for a moment he placed them into the cauldron and watched the substance go bright red.
"Okay last ingredients" A drip of perspiration fell from Hermione's forehead, from the combined stress and heat coming off the cauldron, smouldering in front of her. As the last two ingredients plopped into the cauldron a puff of black, dying roses rose from the cauldron, wisping into black smoke. Hermione watched for moment, intrigued by the roses, and then coming to her senses scooped a small amount of potion from the cauldron and spoke to them men in her presence.
"Okay, I need to rub this potion onto your hearts . . . so . . . if you'll just, oh come on! Just take off your shirts"
Harry pulled his blood stained t-shirt over his head to reveal his pale, muscly chest. He took a step towards Hermione and pulled his arms away from his chest. Scooping the thick red, black potion in her hands she rubbed in on Harry's chest and watched at it absorbed into his skin leaving him standing with his eyes closed, arms limply by his side.
She turned to do the same to Draco but was met by a reluctant snare.
"I won't do it"
"Draco . . . you have to, I'm not interested okay, just do it" She gave a dramatic sigh as Draco finally began pulling his black t-shirt over his head. Hermione looked for a moment at the scar across his chest, but thought better of saying anything and began rubbing the potion into his heart, as before, it absorbed into his skin and two dead roses rose from above his head and as it did to Harry, Draco was left standing unconscious until both awoke with a start.
"Well?" Hermione said hopefully
"Well what?"
"What do you feel?"
"Like I am going to let you inside my head!" Draco stood stubbornly with his arms crossed and an idea moved into Hermione's mind. She stepped towards Harry and pulled him close, the two shared a passionate kiss, Hermione felt her tongue massage Harry's and she reluctantly moved away, looking at Draco expectantly. The look on his face seemed more disgust than anything.
"Bloody hell, just what the world needs . . . a Potter Granger child" Draco pulled his t-shirt back on, grabbed his bag and stated
"All better, you breath a word of this to any-one and you will pay" He stalked out of the room carrying his bag leaving Hermione and Harry standing a lone in an abandoned bathroom.
"That was a good idea Hermione"
"I think so too" She giggled as Harry held her in a tight hug followed by a fanatical kiss . . . and many more
Ron awoke the next morning lying on his potions homework, a deep crease in his cheek. He looked down at the drool on his work, and rolled it up grumbling. He stood and placed it back with the other endless essays he had began but never finished when he saw something on lying on the side of the desk. He walked over to the scroll and picked it up.
Ron,
I am very sorry, but I have to leave and return back to my school, all exchange students are returning, I have had a brilliant time with you, but don't think that things would have worked out that well between us, I hope you will one day find true love
My love,
Victoria Krimin
"Oh" Ron stared at the note for a moment, shockedthen held it tightly in his hand. Walking to the portrait hole, seeking to speak to Victoria, he pushed open the portrait and walked right into someone.
"Oh . . . sorry" Ron looked at his feet, slightly disorientated by his sudden break up with Victoria, more confused than anything. As he continued to examen his runners, he took a look at the feet opposite his, the were small, but not abnormally small, he followed the shoes up two legs and was met by the black, girls robes; following the skinny, womanly figure he finally reached the face of a sixth year hufflepuff. It was delicate, and surrounded by medium length, blonde curls, he looked into the eyes opposite his, they were deep blue, but filled with embarrassment.
"Oh . . . . I . . . I am so sorry" The girl turned her eyes away from his and laughed sheepishly. Ron replied
"Oh, no, really, don't worry about it." He felt worry flood through him as he put his hand out.
"I . . . I'm, Ron Weasley"
"Hi . . . I'm Lara Cordiate . . . it's nice to meet you, I'm new here"
"Oh, really? If you like I could . . . argh, show you around?"
"Yeah, that would be really nice!" Lara looked up at Ron's face and smiled as he lead her down the hallway towards the great hall for breakfast, a small piece of paper slipping from Ron's hand, almost as if he didn't notice.
is that enough? i didn't want to end it too quickley or without tying things up please review