Everywhere
By: lee meilin/shadowee
A/N: Hi everyone! This is my second fanfic about Harry Potter. Actually, I still haven't finished the other one and I think I can't finish that anymore. I know it's been a long time since I posted a fanfic here. Anyway, the pairing of this fic is none other than drum roll………………Harry and Hermione! I'm a big fan of them. By the way, it's their fifth year in Hogwarts. I've changed the story a bit though.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters here. I also do not own some of the scenes in this story because I got them from the book.
Chapter One – UnbearableThe Christmas holidays were drawing nearer as far as everyone in Hogwarts was concerned. The fifth year students were about to have a break at last after all the evenings they spent on doing tons of homework.
Our hero, Harry Potter, was no ordinary boy. He was different and popular among witches and wizards and it was because of his untidy black hair, emerald – green eyes, and of course, that thin lightning – shaped scar on his forehead that was given to him by a dark wizard called Voldemort. Voldemort tried to kill him for about four or five times now and still, Harry lives to tell the tale.
So there he is, sitting on an armchair by the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room with his best friends: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Hermione's head was hiding inside her bushy brown hair, and she's curled up beside the armchair that Harry was sitting on, doing an essay for Professor Binns. Ron was constantly complaining about how nasty Professor Umbridge could get. His flaming red hair matched with his emotions right now. While Harry, the hero, was thinking about Cho Chang, the girl whom he had a crush on since his third year at Hogwarts.
After finishing her essay, Hermione chucked her things inside her bag and rested her back on the couch near the fireplace. A/N: Ron was still blabbing.
"Ron," Hermione said impatiently, "would you please stop your blabbing? You've just been saying it over and over again." Ron frowned at her.
"That," he argued, "is because you and Harry weren't even listening to me."
"If I haven't been listening," said Hermione, "then why do I know that you were complaining about Professor Umbridge?" Ron opened his mouth but no words came out. Recognizing defeat, he closed his mouth.
"I think Harry's the one who's not listening to you," Hermione added, looking suspiciously at Harry.
"Er…Harry?" Ron said quietly, looking at Harry. Harry, who was still thinking about Cho, quickly snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Ron call him.
"What?" he asked.
"Whom were you thinking about?" Ron said.
"No one," Harry lied. Hermione snorted.
"Oh, what rubbish!" said Hermione, "It seems that you were excited about something since yesterday."
"It's nothing, really."
"Come on mate," Ron pleaded. "Tell us."
"Well –"
"It's about Cho, isn't it?" Hermione guessed, although she was sure that this was the reason. Harry simply nodded. He had no choice.
"What about her?" asked Ron.
"I – uh…happened to –"
"Ask her out?" Hermione continued, grinning.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "How did you know?" Harry frowned at Hermione with suspicious-looking eyes.
"Erm…Like a guess?"
"Blimey, Harry!" Ron said, "You actually asked Cho Chang out? Didn't you know that there's been a rumor about her that she's a playgirl? And I always thought she disliked you!"
"Of course not," snapped Hermione. "Cho isn't a playgirl and she does not dislike Harry. She's just confused."
"How did you know about that?" Ron asked, rather suspiciously. Hermione looked at Harry, who was looking at her too, then looked back at Ron.
"What is it, Herm?" Harry asked kindly.
"I heard you talking to her the other night after the DA."
Ron raised his eyebrow at her and said, "That's eavesdropping!"
"You were there?" asked Harry, his ears and cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Yes," Hermione answered. "I'm so sorry Harry. I really didn't mean to. I was about to go but I thought it rude to pass while the two of you were in a deep conversation."
"You – heard – everything?" Harry asked, his voice trembling. Afraid to be shouted at, Hermione just nodded and looked down at the carpeted floor.
"I also saw you and her –"
"What is it Hermione?" Ron said excitedly, "Tell me!"
"I saw Harry and Cho," said Hermione, checking if Harry was angry or not, "kiss each other."
"What!" Ron exclaimed. Everyone in the Common Room looked at them for a second and went back to their business after that.
"She forced me into it!" Harry reasoned out. "I was cornered!" Hermione laughed while Ron thought that it was something interesting.
"Great move Harry," he said. "How did it feel then?"
"Wet," replied Harry. Upon seeing the green-minded looks on their faces he added, "Because she was crying!"
"What Ron meant," said Hermione "was the feeling you had."
"I was nervous," Harry replied.
"Why?" asked Ron
"Because…it was the first time I have kissed a girl."
"Must be good for you." Ron said
"It really wasn't good for him," snapped Hermione. Harry looked at her intently. It was true.
"And why do you think so?"
"Because deep inside Cho's heart, she was still thinking about Cedric, which makes Harry feel uncomfortable with her."
"Is this true, Harry?"
"Yes, it's true." Harry answered. "Since when did you learn to analyze things like those, Herm?"
"Ever since I met Viktor," Hermione replied.
"You mean since you met that ugly scumbag?" said Ron loudly.
"He's not a scumbag Ron!" Hermione argued.
"Oh yeah? He almost had you lost your sanity!"
Ron's right, Hermione thought. The memory of Krum didn't sound too good at all. She had loved Krum so much that she got so hurt when he broke up with her last year a/n: They had been boyfriend-girlfriend since the Triwizard Tournament in my fic..
"Served you right, didn't it?" Harry said, smiling.
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, "I shouldn't have been so crazy about him."
"That's right!" Ron said loudly, "You shouldn't have been too sure that he really loved you!" Harry looked at Ron then turned to face Hermione. He stared at her brown – black eyes. There was an expression of loneliness in them. Ron kept on blabbing about how Krum, who used to be his idol, can't be trusted when it comes to love. Harry continued to stare at Hermione. There were tears in her eyes. She wiped them before Ron could see it. She didn't know that Harry saw her.
"He's so confident about girls!" Ron continued. "He knows they like him very much so he dumps them one by one and –"
"Stop it Ron!" Harry snapped. Hermione and Ron looked at him.
"What's the matter, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Can't you see? Hermione doesn't want to talk about him anymore!" Hermione looked up at Harry, tears streaming down her face.
"She was the one who first mentioned his name!" Ron argued.
"But –"
"He's right Harry," Hermione said quietly, making him and Ron look at her. "It's my fault anyway…"
"Of course it isn't!" Harry said, his voice now rising. "It isn't anyone's fault!"
Ron sighed and said, "Okay! I get it, Harry! I know you care for her. I care too because she's also my friend."
Harry tried to calm himself. He didn't want to cause fights among the three of them. Hermione, whose tears used to be because of loneliness, turned into tears of joy.
"I'm glad," she said, smiling broadly. She rose from her seat and hugged Harry and Ron tightly.
"Ouch!" said Ron, trying to escape from Hermione's tight hug.
"Her – my – ow – nee," Harry said. He was nearly out of breath. "You're – squeezing – us!" Hermione quickly let go after realizing that she was hurting them.
"Sorry," she said quietly as she returned to her seat. As the night grew deeper, the people in the Common Room slowly cleared out. Ron yawned widely. He looked at his watch. It was half – past ten.
"I think I'm going to bed," he said, standing up and placing his things inside his bag.
"What about your homework?" Hermione asked.
"I think I'll finish that tomorrow at breakfast," Ron answered. He quickly headed upstairs so as to avoid Hermione's telling off. Hermione watched him go, telling Harry about how he shouldn't waste time like Ron.
"I know, I know!" Harry said impatiently. He looked at Hermione, who was now writing a letter, then reached for his bag and pulled out a parchment, a bottle of ink and his quill. He started writing an answer to the question that Professor Binns had given them. He was in the middle of writing his essay when the clock struck twelve.
"Are you done yet?" Hermione asked him.
"Nearly," Harry answered, looking around him. They were the only ones left in the Common Room.
"Let me help you then," Hermione said, reading Harry's essay thoroughly.
"Thanks Herm," Harry said quietly. He yawned widely as he rested his back on the armchair he was sitting on. Slowly, his eyes closed and without realizing it, he fell asleep.
"Harry, you just need to add –" Hermione stopped dead at her sentence when she saw Harry fast asleep. She put the quill down on the table and turned to face Harry. She stood up, walked a little closer to him and stared at his handsome face.
The one thing that Hermione liked most about Harry was his eyes and that scar on his forehead. She bent a little lower towards Harry to touch his scar. Very slowly, Hermione moved her fingers towards Harry's forehead. She didn't want to wake him up. Hermione touched it with excitement. How does it feel to have a scar like Harry's? She asked herself. She then knelt down before him and watched him sleep. She stroked Harry's untidy black hair fondly, finding herself yawning. Hermione didn't realize that she too, had fallen asleep.
Harry woke up at about five o'clock in the morning, still finding himself in the Common Room with Hermione, after having a very wonderful dream. The Common Room was still deserted except for the two of them. Harry saw Hermione sleeping with her head on the table. The essay lay finished on it. Harry stood up and read it, including the part which Hermione had added. He placed his things inside his bag and looked at Hermione once more. He couldn't just leave her there. So he carried Hermione up to the girls' dormitory and laid her on her bed near Parvati. Then, he went to his dormitory and slept again.
Another delightful winter morning has come. It was the first day of the holidays. As Harry went down to breakfast, he saw a lot of students that were ready to leave for their homes. He was already starting to eat when Ron and Hermione came walking towards him. Ron was dressed, which means only one thing: he wasn't staying for Christmas.
"Hi Harry," Ron greeted, taking a seat beside Harry. Hermione sat beside them, speechless.
"I see you've packed," Harry said, drinking from his glass of pumpkin juice.
"Well, we're having a vacation somewhere in Scotland, see."
"Must be good for you," Hermione said at last. Harry thought she wouldn't say something.
"It is," Ron said proudly. "I better get going now."
"Bye then."
"Bye!" Ron joined Ginny, Fred and George as they went out of the Great Hall. Harry went back to eating again once Ron had gone. Hermione, on the other hand, was barely touching her plate.
"Hermione, you better eat a lot," Harry told her. "You need to." Hermione looked at him intently. There was one question in her mind that she wanted to ask Harry ever since she woke up.
"Harry?" she said quietly.
"Hmm?" Harry asked, looking back at her.
"Were you the one who –"
Harry read her mind quickly and said, "Yes."
"Thanks," Hermione said, grinning.
"You're welcome." Once this matter was settled, Hermione began to eat at last.
"Bye the way Harry," she said, "when's your date with Cho?" Harry choked at the mention of his date with Cho.
"It isn't really a date, you know. Besides, I wasn't really thinking about that."
"When is it then?"
Harry didn't speak for a while then said at last, "This afternoon at 5 o'clock."
"Oh. I see…"
"Why did you ask?"
"Nothing. Just wondering…"
The afternoon had arrived so fast. Harry was in the boys' dormitory, looking for fine clothes that he could wear during his date with Cho.
"I prefer this," Hermione said, handing him a white polo shirt and black pants. A/N: Harry was the only one left in the boys' dormitory so Hermione could go there.
"Thanks Herm." Harry took them and pulled the curtains on his four – poster bed so that Hermione wouldn't see him. After a few minutes, Harry was ready.
Hermione eyed him from head to toe. She can admit that he really looked handsome.
"How do I look?" Harry asked her.
"You look great," Hermione answered, though it was not that convincing. A few minutes later, Hermione accompanied Harry down the snow filled grounds to meet Cho. They saw her sitting by the now frozen lake, under the snowy beech tree. Cho waved at Harry as he and Hermione approached her. Cho smiled at them.
"Is she coming with us, Harry?" she asked.
"Well no," Harry replied. "She was just kind enough to go with me and look for you." Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. Cho giggled at her.
"By the way Harry," Cho said. "You look handsome in those clothes." Harry's ears turned slightly pink.
"Thank you," he said diffidently.
"I shall be leaving the two of you now, I guess," Hermione said loudly as she headed back to the castle.
"Don't mind her," said Harry. "She's always like that." Cho giggled. She smiled prettily at him. Harry turned red at the sight of this.
"You must be lucky," Cho said, still smiling. "Having a friend who's intelligent and understanding at the same time is rare."
"So, where would you like to go first?" asked Harry, trying very hard not to sound nervous.
"Three Broomsticks would be all right," Cho answered, taking Harry's hand and dragging him towards the path to Hogsmeade. "I thought it better if we'll just walk."
As they took the pebbly road to the village, Harry felt really hot holding Cho's lukewarm and thin hand. He even tried to make his first move by placing his arms around Cho's waist. Unfortunately, they have arrived at the front door of Three Broomsticks. They entered and found a seat near the counter.
"What would be your order?" said Madam Rosmerta, the caretaker of the pub.
"Um," said Harry, "two butterbeers please."
"Okay. Do you like anything to eat?" said Madam Rosmerta, jutting notes on a paper with a wave of her wand. Both Harry and Cho looked at the menu. This time, it was Cho who spoke.
"Er…meal number 3 please," she said, rather nervously.
"Okay. Your food will be served in 15 minutes." Madam Rosmerta left, grinning at the both of them.
"Do you think that meant something?" asked Harry.
"I don't know," Cho replied. "Maybe she's happy because only a few people chose her place fit to have a date or something."
"Oh…" A few minutes later, the food they ordered magically appeared on the top of the table. Both Harry and Cho seemed amazed by this. Just when Harry and Cho were halfway done with their food, someone came running in and stopped in front of them. Harry looked up and saw that it was Hermione.
"Harry," she said panting, "I've got to talk to you."
"What? Why?" Harry asked, confused. Hermione took a deep breath. Cho, on the other hand, looked at them.
"It's urgent Harry," said Hermione defiantly, upon seeing the look on Harry's face. "It's about Snuffles." Harry blinked at the mention of Snuffles.
"Who's Snuffles?" Cho asked curiously.
"A dog," Hermione snapped.
"Oh," Cho said, nodding to herself.
"Excuse me Cho," Harry said, rising from his seat. "I have to go." As Harry and Hermione ran out of the pub, Cho shouted, "Wait!" but they didn't go back. She disappointedly went back to eating.
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him towards the way to the Shrieking Shack where no one did dare go.
"What is it about Sirius?" Harry asked, looking around for eavesdroppers. Hermione took a deep breath again, her eyes full of woe. She took the Daily Prophet from her robes and handed it to Harry. Harry quickly read and reread the news on the front page, as though he wanted to say that what's written in it wasn't true. After he had read it for the fifth time, he walked towards a big rock that stood on the snow-covered ground. He sat carelessly on it, threw the Daily Prophet away and covered his face with his hands as though he was crying.
"Harry?" Hermione said, walking towards Harry, her brown eyes now filled with tears. She kneeled in front of him and looked at his buried face, tears streaming down her face. She tried to touch him but Harry simply pushed her away, making her fall on the ground. Hermione wept more at Harry's action.
Hermione stood up, her hands trembling with fear. She once again tried to make Harry talk to her.
"Harry," she cried, "please, listen to me!" She tried to remove Harry's hands off his face but he was stronger than her. "Please, Harry…I know it's hard for you to accept that Sirius is –"
"SHUT UP!" he shouted, rising from his feet and revealing a red – faced Harry with tears in his eyes. There was anger and pain in them. "He's dead! And there's nothing I could do!" He continued to shout. Hermione was still sobbing, trying to prevent Harry from hurting himself by holding him by his back.
"Harry, please!" Hermione cried. Harry hit a tree near them with his fist, which made the snow above it fall on them. His right hand was now bleeding. Hermione didn't know what to do anymore. Harry was too strong for her. He was about to hit another tree with his left hand this time, but Hermione have managed to block him and hug him tight so that he couldn't let go.
Eventually, this worked because Harry didn't fight Hermione anymore. Instead, he let her hug him. This hug wouldn't take away all the pain inside of him but it will somehow make him feel a little better. There was nothing he could do but hug back. He could feel that Hermione was still crying. She was his best friend after all and she too is affected by what happened. A few seconds later, Harry and Hermione pulled away from each other. Harry looked at Hermione. Her eyes were soar.
"I'm sorry," Harry said, wiping a teardrop that fell from Hermione's eye. He noticed that someone was watching them. Harry turned to face right and saw Cho, standing right there, taken aback by what she has just seen and heard.
"Harry," she said, her eyes not moving, "you're…"
"Look," Harry said defensively, "It's not what you think. It's just –"
"You knew all along where Sirius Black was hiding!" she said loudly.
"Cho, stop it!" Hermione said, pulling her wand out of her robes. "Stop it or I'll stun you!"
"I'll –" But before Cho could even utter another word, Hermione had shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" and hit her right on the face. She lay on the ground, looking as if she was petrified.
Hermione placed her hand back inside her robes and looked at Harry. He looked as though Hermione had cast a spell on him too.
"Wh – how –?" Harry didn't finish what he was about to say because Hermione grabbed his arm, cast a spell on Cho to make her forget about what happened, then ran as fast as she could, Harry being dragged by her.
By the time they have reached the Common Room, they were both breathless. Hermione threw herself on one of the couches, breathing heavily.
Harry was just standing there, totally stunned. He didn't know how to feel. He didn't know whether he should feel pity for Cho, whether to be angry with Hermione for doing that to Cho, whether to be glad that Cho wouldn't be able to tell anyone about what she heard…these were the things inside Harry's mind. He really didn't know. He felt numb and it was like his feet were glued to the ground that he couldn't move a muscle…