A/N: Here's chapter 18! No long wait this time.

the two-way mirror: I'm glad you like it. Don't worry. There will be much more to come with the love triangle. It's no where near over yet.

The Hour Before Dawn: I'm glad you like it. I actually didn't notice how alike these last couple chapters were to the 2nd and 3rd books. I can guarantee I'm not trying to plagiarize anything, and it does play a part in my story. But, I'm glad you like this story.

Zarroc: Thanks. Glad you like it. Hope you like this one.

disclaimer: i do not own Harry Potter or any characters

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The next morning, Harry woke in the Hospital Wing once again and sighed. He wanted out. He had to think of someway to prevent Snape and Voldemort's plan to kill him, whatever it may be, from happening. Luckily, to Harry's delight, he was released from the Hospital Wing later that day.

Harry rushed up the stairs toward the portrait of the fat lady, said the password, and stepped inside the Gryffindor common room. He looked around, hoping to find Ron and Hermione, and saw the sitting on the couch talking. Harry made his way over and saw Ron's eyes drift up toward him. Hermione followed his gaze and smiled when she saw Harry. She jumped off the couch, ran up to Harry, and threw her arms around him, embracing him in a giant hug.

"When did you get out of the Hospital Wing?" she asked, releasing him.

"About ten minutes ago," Harry replied. "There's something I have to tell you guys."

"Come sit with us," Hermione offered. Harry sat on a chair across from the couch that Ron and Hermione sat on.

"What happened?" Ron asked. Harry began the explanation about last night's conversation with Dobby.

"I was laying in bed last night and suddenly Dobby showed up. We had a long talk, but in the end, he told me that I was right. Snape and Voldemort are putting together a plan to kill me," Harry concluded. Ron's mouth dropped slightly.

"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked. Harry shook his head.

"I'm not sure yet," he replied. "But I can't just sit here and wait for them to come get me."

This comment frightened Hermione. She assumed that by this, Harry meant he was going to go off and try to find Voldemort by himself. She decided she couldn't let this happen and would just have to prevent it herself.

The next day, Hermione wouldn't let Harry out of her sight. She walked right beside him on their way to all meals. She followed him to his classes, making sure he went to them and didn't try to leave the school, before going to her own. She watched all Quidditch practices. Basically, everywhere Harry was, Hermione was right behind him. Ron, noticing his girlfriend's sudden attraction to another guy, began feeling jealous. In return to Hermione's spending time with Harry, Ron avoided them both in any means possible. That is, until Hermione confronted him about it one evening.

"Ron!" she called from across the Gryffindor common room. Ron looked to where the voice had came from. He rolled his eyes and walked over to Hermione.

"What?" he asked, irritably.

"What has been up with you these past few days?" Hermione demanded.

"Nothing," he replied shortly. "What makes you think something's been up?"

"Just the way you've been acting," Hermione replied.

"And how would you know how I've been acting?" Ron asked. "After all, you spend all your time around Harry."

"Is that what this is about?" Hermione asked, angrily. "You're jealous of Harry?"

"Absolutely not!" Ron exclaimed. "I just don't like the fact that my girlfriend is spending so much time around another guy, that's all."

"That's jealously, Ronald," Hermione spat, sarcastically. "And Harry's my friend. You never had a problem before about me hanging around him."

"Well there's a difference between hanging around him and hanging on him," Ron said. "You've been following him everywhere, pretty much worshiping the very ground he walks on."

"I have not!" Hermione shrieked.

"You're denying that you've been following him everywhere?" Ron asked.

"No," Hermione replied. "I admit that. I deny worshiping him. There is a reason I've been following him, Ron, and it's not because I feel any attraction to him at all."

"Then what's the reason?" Ron demanded. Hermione stared at him for a moment.

"Didn't you pay attention to our conversation a couple nights ago?" she asked. "Harry said he wasn't going to wait around to be found. I took that to mean he was going to go out and look for him by himself. By following him, I was making sure he wasn't going to attempt to." Ron looked at the floor, embarrassed.

"So that's it?" he asked. "You've been following him because you're worried about him?"

"Yes!" Hermione sighed.

"All right. I'm sorry I made a big deal over it," Ron said.

"Well, I'm sorry too," Hermione smiled. "I do see where a boy would feel jealousy."

"I wasn't jealous," Ron insisted. Hermione looked at him questioningly. "Ok, maybe a little jealous." Hermione laughed. Suddenly, Harry entered the common room from the boys' dormitory and came over to Ron and Hermione.

"Ron, Hermione, I have to talk to you about something," he started.

"What?" Ron asked.

"I uh," Harry started, "I know what I have to do."

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A/N: Ooohh. What's Harry gonna do? Keep reading to find out. Let me know what you think of this chapter.