Chapter 10: Getting On With It

A/N: Now- I can't believe I've made it this far...presenting to you: Chapter Ten!

Once they had gotten back, things went on like they normally would. They had had a match against Hufflepuff, Harry's new broom proving its worth. It could go about two times faster than his Firebolt had- he looked like a blur of scarlet when zooming along on his broom. With that aid, he had caught the Snitch before either team could score. Katie had been most impressed.

"I thought you were well on that Firebolt- you're better on the Torpedo by a long shot! And what are you going to do with the Firebolt, anyway? Don't give it away to just anyone!"

"I don't think I will, I may just keep it..." Harry said, not really there.

"Okay, if that's what you want to do with it," Katie said, shrugging. She had better thoughts to think about, after winning against Hufflepuff- Slytherins were all they needed to worry about. They were ahead by about twenty points, but what did that matter? It wasn't much, and little could squash the optimism Katie held.

"Potter! Have you gotten your assignments turned in?" Harry, in a kind of stupor, looked up at Snape, with his terribly crooked nose and greasy hair. The slimeball he was!

"Er, no...I didn't get it done," Harry said, quietly.

The Professor smirked. "Looks like another D for you, what's next?" Then Snape leaned closer to him, whispering so no one else could hear, "Remedial Potions, for real this time?"

Urgh! Harry badly wanted to put his hands around the evil wretch's neck, blocking off his windpipe, losing the life in his eyes- he had to stop. Anger shouldn't overcome him!

This was when the bell rang, with Snape saying, "Now I want you all prepared for Tuesday's lesson, on brewing Memory-Loss Potions. In fact, why don't we make that an assignment? A foot-long report on how to brew these potions, I want the directions in correct and precise order of brewing it, and the description of the effects of the potion. Handed in by the next class. Class is now dismissed."

"Grr, why did he assign us that?" Ron complained.

"Since when hasn't he given us an assignment!" Harry said, exasperated.

"You know, it's a wonder you two even went out for Potions when you didn't need to," Hermione said.

"We both want to become Aurors," Both explained in unison.

"And why," Harry asked, "Are you taking Potions?"

"Oh, just 'cause. I could use the extra work, and besides- who knows when we need to know how to brew Memory-Loss Potions? Could become helpful in situations.." Hermione said, sarcastically.

"Extra...work?" Ron said, weakly. "Blimey, you could be spending that time in Potions doing something useful!"

"Oh like what, read a book? Or in your terms, practicing Quidditch?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know, there's nothing wrong with taking extra classes."

"Someone banged your head on a wall or something, I don't get you!"

"You're just lazy and don't like work," Hermione answered, matter-of-factly.

"Well the positive thing is, is that it's the last class we have for the day. So let's go and eat dinner," Harry said, loudly.

On their way down the hall, Harry spotted Jacoba futher along down. Ron saw her too, and nudged Harry in the side. "Y'know, there's a Hogsmeade trip this weekend, shouldn't you ask her to go?"

"I don't need tips on asking a girl out," Harry spat out, angrily.

"And you don't need to shout back at me for giving it either," Ron said back, calmly. He was getting used to Harry's anger bursts.

"I wasn't!" Harry stated, clearly yelling.

Ron said nothing, only raising an eyebrow. His best mate had some issues.

"Look," Hermione said, soothingly, "Maybe you should ask her there, I mean, you both don't seem to know each other well...both of you could- get acquaintanced."

Harry slowly nodded in agreement. "I s'pose I could."

"No you couldn't, but you can," Hermione said, assuringly.

Harry's confidence was rising to Hermione's words. "Alright, I can, and I will now!" With this Harry surged past the other two and walked off to Jacoba.

In the meanwhile, Ron was disgruntled. "No fair," he started. "How come he'll listen to you but won't listen to me?"

"Ron, I'm a girl, I know things. Besides, I don't think I'd like advice from you either, you aren't exactly all that great with asking girls out," Hermione replied.

"What? I asked you out!" Ron said, hotly. Hermione only gave a smile, that same dazzling smile- in Ron's eyes. He pulled her close and gave her an everlasting kiss.

As this was going on, Harry had gotten closer to Jacoba. "Now that I think about it, what am I going to say? I'm terrible with words..." He was panicking, and he knew it. And now he was right behind her...what was he going to say! He was too flustered.

"Um, Jacoba?" He asked. She stopped and turned, seeing it was Harry speaking.

She smiled and said, "Hey Harry! Haven't talked to you for awhile, how are you?"

"Er, fine, I was just going to ask...erm, I was going to ask-"

"About what?"

"I..." Harry looked at everything else except her, trying to get the courage he couldn't summon up. "Well, there's a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow- this weekend."

"And?" It was driving Harry insane, and Jacoba knew it. She wanted to see if he could really ask her to it, or chicken out. Of course, she'd terribly wanted to go with him, but she wanted to test his courage first. He was a Gryffindor, afterall, wasn't he?

"And, I thought.." Harry's throat was drying up. He just couldn't do it.

"Look, Harry, it's time for dinner, and I think I had better go now," Jacoba said, showing no signs of disappointment on her face (but were clearly obvious, but not to Harry). His emerald eyes showed pleading, but what could she do about it? She didn't want to sound stuck-up and ask herself out to the trip with him this weekend! Who knew, maybe that wasn't what he was asking at all..

"Just wait! I've been trying to ask.." Harry closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, saying rushing the words, "I've been trying to ask if you'd like to go with me to the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow?" Yes, he had done it! But what would she say? But what he didn't see, was how much Jacoba's heart lightened considerably, or felt like it, anyway.

"Sure I will," She said, anticipating that question no longer.

"Great," Harry said, beaming, giving her one of his nowaday rare smiles. There was a pause, then Harry asked shyly, "Um, may I escort you to dinner?"
"Of course," She answered, then with this they headed on down to the Great Hall, both of them quite content.

Later in the common room, the three of them were sitting near the hearth, doing their homework. Rather, Hermione was the only one doing her homework, while Ron and Harry were doodling away on their parchment.

Hermione looked up from her work, looking at them sternly. "Should I even bother to ask why you two are drawing instead of working?

"No, besides, it's not like this homework is due anytime soon," Ron answered, lazily.

Hermione sighed. "Too bad both of you lost those homework planners I had gotten you last year." Harry and Ron exchanged glances. Neither had really lost them, they just had thrown them away. The terrible objects wouldn't stop badgering them to do their work. They were too lazy, and procrastinated far too often for their own good. What was wrong with that, anyway?

"So, how'd it go with Jacoba? Did she say yes?" Hermione said finally, after no reply from her last remark.

"Yeah, she said yes," Harry answered. His stomach was still buzzing uneasily, even after she had given him the answer he'd hoped for. What if he messed something up?

"Well done, mate! It's officially your second date! You know, it's very coincidental that you had been to Hogsmeade around this time last year with Cho too! But don't screw it up and end up in a coffee shop- Madam Puddifoot's, wasn't it? Especially, do not tell the girl you're off to see another girl!" Ron gave this advice, missing Harry's wince.

"Ron, I'm sure Harry learned from his past mistakes, you don't need to go and remind him of them either!"

"What, do you want him to do that all over again?"

The bickering that never ceased for more than twenty seconds (or so it seemed) continued relentlessly on the subject. Harry muttered something about going to bed, of course not to be heard by his two best friends. So instead he got up and somewhat snuck out of the common room, a few second years looking at him with expressions of great interest. "It's a wonder Colin isn't with that bunch," Harry thought, dully. By then he had made it up the stairs and into his dormitory, getting into bed without changing. No time for that- he needed to think and get over his nerves for the morrow. A date with a girl to Hogsmeade, something was surely going to mess it up! He probably would be the cause to mess it up...Thoughts like these swam around in his head, and eventually he fell into a troubled sleep.

He was in a room. It was dark- he looked out a nearby window. It was night, which was the reason for the darkness. He looked around the room- plastered walls, nothing on them. Just a normal, plain, dark room. He got out his wand and muttered, "Lumos!" giving off light so he could see. He turned around and saw an opening, leading out into a long hallway. He had an uneasiness to go out there, but sensed that nothing was going to happen if he didn't. Walking down, he saw strange things inside different rooms, not really knowing what they were or paying attention to what it all was. Then after looking at another odd room, he ran into someone, their back turned. Funny, the person looked very familiar. The person turned, and it was- what?

This was when Harry awoke, groaning and looking at his new wristwatch that he had gotten from Hermione. It was only around four in the morning, and he was annoyed. He remembered everything in his dream, all except for who that person was. Why couldn't he tell? It was all so strange, it reminded him of the nightmares he had gotten nearly every night in the previous year- but this wasn't a nightmare. It was surprising, and a betrayal. But why did he think that, argh, what did it all mean! Harry stayed up the rest of the night, rather, morning- pondering his thoughts of the dream, and rethinking things he would usually think about. He wondered if it was a dream conjured by Voldemort- but it didn't seem so. It was realistic, but it wasn't something Voldemort would have him dream, he was pretty sure of it. "Perhaps it was only a dream, a normal dream that people have when they sleep. I'm just not used to dreaming things like that.." But he was almost sure it was real. Like it was going to happen. However, what proof did he have of it?

Dawn approached, leaving Harry with the nerves he thought had left him. He got ready early, deciding to go to the Great Hall and have breakfast. He ate some toast and bacon, but was somewhat too nervous to really eat anymore than that. "What is wrong with me? I've gone through this kind of nerve-thing before, I shouldn't feel like this." But he did. And he lived with it, unfortunately. He decided to spend the rest of the time in the Great Hall, watching groggy people arrive to eat, until it was time to go. It passed time.

And then came the time, Harry got up and stretched, trying to find Ron and Hermione- but they were already lost in the crowd of the waiting people to go. As he was still trying to find them, someone touched him lightly on the hand, making him jump. "Sorry," someone muttered, embarrassed. It was Jacoba.

"Oh, it's alright," Harry said, feeling foolish for jumping in surprise. "So where would you like to go? Have you ever been to Hogsmeade before?"

"Um, once," Jacoba answered, shortly. "But it was awhile back, so you wouldn't mind giving me a tour..?"

"Sure," Harry said, giving her a smile he hoped looked pleasant and meaningful. She smiled back, somewhat nervously, which Harry was glad to see. He didn't want to be the only one nervous!

In the end it had been well worth it. They had had a wonderful time, laughing and talking freely. Harry had even gotten the nerve to take her hand, and once passed Ron and Hermione (who were spending the day together, since when did they not?) who gave Harry encouraging winks. He smiled throughout the whole day, probably about twice the amount he had smiled in the previous year. The last thing they did was go to the Three Broomsticks, sipping their Butterbeers. Harry grew nervous once more, deciding to finally ask her out. He probably would've so much longer ago, but he didn't have the courage until now.

"I enjoyed today," Harry started to say.

Jacoba smiled and said, "So did I."

"Erm, do you only see me as a friend..?"

"Well, do friends hold hands?" Jacoba asked, stating the obvious.

Harry answered, sheepishly, "I don't know. They could...but I'm trying to ask you...do you..want to go out with me?"

"I thought that was what we were already doing," Jacoba replied, slowly.

"Um, of course it was!" Harry said quickly. "I was just checking!"

"Right." Jacoba paused, then leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

It was brief, but it was like everything to Harry. And earlier he was worrying about this? This and some silly dream!

A/N: I think I've been kind of flinging things around in this story here and there, okay- I HAVE been doing so. Now I'll be trying to make it flow, as a story would usually go. I'll do my best, and I'd even rewrite the whole thing again- perhaps I will when all is said and done. I'm kinda mad at myself for doing that...but for it I'm sorry! I'm still improving my skills on writing, I am NOWHERE near professionalism (like who couldn't tell?). As for your reviews, constructive criticism is alright, just don't be too harsh!