Summary: Harry starts his sixth year at Hogwarts, a little less naive and a little less interested in romance. That is until a formerly timid and shy Gryffindor piques his interest with her new brash, bold and brazened self.
Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I don't own anything.
A/N: Hey folks! Sorry it took so long to update! But anyway, there's quite a big jump here, as far as time. Actually, there'll be a few more jumps like this, until Christmas -then things will slow down. And the end of this chapter markes the beginning of the AU-ness. But I hope you enjoy. Go check out my beautiful banner! (it's in my author's page) and leave me a little review, if you would. Let me know what I'm doing wrong or right. Plus… it always makes my day. : )
Chapter Three: Obstruction
Eight and a half more weeks, Josephine figured. She had finished her potion earlier than expected and was left to her own devices too long; long enough to count the weeks until she would next see David. The last five weeks had breezed by in a haze of studying, reviewing and practicing for the N.E.W.T.s. It had been more than a month's time since the first day of classes, already. But she didn't complain. It only meant she would see her beau the sooner. She smiled inwardly as she imagined their long awaited embrace. Maybe it will be snowing. That's always romantic. She imagined him brushing his fingers through her hair, maybe a tear of joy running down his cheek? …No, he's no Nancy-boy.
"Upon my word, Ms. Foer," her reverie was curtly interrupted by the aged voice of the stout man standing before her. "Why… You can't be finished already." He leaned over her desk and peered into her cauldron. Josephine surveyed the class. All eyes were lifted toward her. Nobody else is done yet?
"How can it be?" he excitedly exclaimed. He began to count on his fingers then mused, "…22 minutes of incessant counter-clockwise rotations…"
Josephine's nervously averted her eyes. I thought it said 12 mintues.
"The moonstone should've cooled too fast. It's not been 20 minutes," he pondered, eyeing the girl suspiciously.
Moonstone? What Moonstone? Josephine began to bite at her lip. "I'm sorry Professor Slugho- "
"Nonsense, Ms. Foer! Do not apologize! I do not reprimand my students for innovating, thus exceeding their classmates… admirable…" He studied Josephine's dumbfounded face with a thoughtful smile. "It's been my experience that the skill of potion making is hereditary. Tell me, who are your parents? I expect they also excelled under by tutelage."
Her brow wrinkled then softened when she discovered what must have happened. She must have accidentally finished the potion correctly. And more efficiently? But I'm rubbish in Potions.
"Er… I'm Muggleborn, Sir."
After class, and making her way to her dormintory, Josephine threw herself onto her bed with an exhausted yawn. Andrea scoffed from her own bed and set her book aside.
"Jo, I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, but, would you go to Hogsmeade with me?" Andrea mocked sincerity. A muffled snort escaped Josephine as she turned to face the girl.
"Can it be? Do you really love me?" Her eyes widened for effect then softened with a giggle. "Of course we're going together …as if either of us would be asked," she finished in a mumble. "The last time either of us had a date to Hogsmeade was in fourth year."
"Please, don't remind me." Andrea's face wrinkled with disappointment. The room momentarily fell quiet before Josephine chuckled.
"Slughorn's asked me to stay after class Wednesday. For some sort of meeting or something. Of course after arguing over my Muggle heritage for five minutes." Josephine perched one arm under the side of her head for support, and brought one hand up to bite at her nails. Andrea shifted oddly.
"You mean, you've been asked to join the Slug Club?"
"There's even a name for the godforsaken thing? …But I suppose so," she finished in a whisper, noting her friend's odd aire. "Are you alright, Drea?"
"I'm great, Jo. I'm so glad you're getting along so well," Andrea quickly returned with a small smile. "I've just been sort of preoccupied with the Hogsmeade trip and all."
Josephine hesitatingly layed back then closed her eyes. "Fine, lie."
---
"Maybe you could buy him something for Zonko's," Andrea suggested as she and Josephine surveyed shop windows while walking through Hogsmeade.
"Maybe… Or maybe I can get him some nice parchment from Scrivenshaft's. Saying as he's a student and all…"
"Jo, you're a student, too. How would you like to get paper for Christmas? And from your boyfriend, none the less. 'Hello love, instead of some sexy nickers, or even a sloppily hand-made snowman jumper, I've resolved to buy you paper for Christmas! Enjoy writing things on it!' "
Josephine shot a sideways glare at Andrea but softened her eyes as a smile crept upon her lips. "I don't know if I should thank you, or hate you for being honest."
"You never do… Anyway, let's go to The Three Broomsticks for a drink. We can think of what to get your lovey inside. It's freezing out here."
Josephine nodded an agreement and the two girls drudged through the muddy grass, towards the small pub. But before they could enter, a scared looking Hufflepuff prefect, Alexis, called out to them.
"Everyone's been called back to the castle immediately! There's been some sort of 'accident' involving another seventh year Gryffindor," she finished in a whisper, taking hold of each of the girls arms and ushering them carefully back towards the school.
"Alexis, what's happened?" Andrea nervously ventured.
"You know Katie Bell… She's been injured somehow, I'm not sure about the details. But there's been whispers about…about… you-know-who!" The three girls winced simultaneously, then the corners of Josephine's mouth twitched.
"What could Vol- you-know-who want with her? …That's just rediculous," she finished with a small giggle.
"This is no laughing matter, Miss Foer."
Both Andrea and Alexis glared offendedly at Josephine.
"I'm sorry, I just don't understand why anyone thinks he has anything to do Katie Bell."
"Sounds like someone's jealous," a throaty voice drawled from behind the girls. Pansy Parkinson sauntered by, linked arm-in-arm with Millicent Bullstrode. The two girls snickered.
"That must be it, Pansy: I'm jealous because I wasn't the one targeted and potentially killed… always the bright one, you are!" Josephine yelled after the two girls, brow furrowed, lips pursed. "I hate that cow," she whispered, turning back to the two girls.
"Well, sorry to have to do this, but you've got to return to your commonroom. All the prefects are rounding up the students. ALL must return immedietly -Direct orders from Dumbledore, girls."
Andrea smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Jo. Maybe you can order something for David."
"What other choice do I have?" she grumbled.
---
"Here, Jo," Andrea plopped a small magazine atop Josephine's stomach. She didn't stir from her bed, only hesitatingly picked up the pamphlet. "It's Winifred Darcy's. She had about ten of them, but this was the only one that didn't include anything pink in it."
"Thanks, Drea," Josephine sat up and placed the catalogue in front of her. She began to flip through the pages when she felt a dark pull at her stomach. "Any word on Katie?" she delicately asked.
"No," Leanne Marsters chimed in from her own bed. Her face remained blank as Josephine studied her. Katie won't be sleeping here tonight, she regretfully thought. With a heavy sigh, she returned to the catalogue in front of her. There were nice robes and wand hollisters and other little gadgets like remembralls and such… but these were all things she couldn't buy for David. She grudingly set the magazine aside and laid back again. So much for sleeping tonight.
The dormitory remained quiet for the rest of the night. Leanne didn't even look at anyone. Is it guilt? Josephine thought. Professor McGonagall came to speak with the house, then privately with the girls who shared her dormitory, reassuring them, really only Leanne, that Katie would recover and anything that happened that day certainly wasn't any one of the girl's fault. She was right, but it didn't make anyone feel any better.
Josephine laid awake, observing as each girl fell asleep. There's no use staying in here now, she reasoned before pulling on a sweatshirt and creeping down the stairs and into the commonroom. It was quiet and unusually still as she tip-toed barefoot across the room to her favorite armchair. Before she could sit, she caught something in her periferal She turned to find a dark-haired boy seated on the sofa. She jumped with a gasp then quickly regained her posture with an awkward, weak smile.
"Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to be out here," she nervously explained, half turning to walk back upstairs.
"No, that's okay. You don't have to leave. I mean… I'm just sitting here is all."
Josephine bit the side of her cheek before slowly walking to the chair she initially intended to sit in. She quietly took her seat then followed Harry's gaze into the orange flames under the tall mantel.
"Couldn't sleep, either?" he stumbled a bit with his words.
"No. I'm just a little off today. I suppose a lot of people are having a worse day then me, though. Do you know Katie at all?"
"Not very well," he started, "Me and my friends saw everything, though. We were the ones who took her to the infirmary."
"Oh right! You like to save people…" Josephine bit her lips harshly, hating herself for the moment as Harry's eyes flickered away uncomfortably. "Sorry. I didn't mean that. What I meant was that you help people a lot. Which is a good thing –
I just have a habit of accidentally insulting people."
"And I am habitually 'accidentally insulted,' so that's alright," Harry explained, making it a point not to look her in the eyes. Josephine laid back in the arm chair, wiggling her bare toes against the rug then relaxing again. She tugged at the hem of her shorts, racking her brain for something else to say.
"I'll leave you be," she whispered, standing and readjusting her sweater. Harry's eyes flickered to her bare legs and toes. As she made her way around the sofa and to the stairs, a rare, sly smile stretched across Harry's face.
"Goodnight, Josephine."
"How did you know my name?" she turned, curious.
"Hermione."
"Ah… Well, goodnight Harry." She stood still, watching him turn back away. "Aren't you going to ask me how I knew your name?" she finished with a scoff. He returned a similar one then ran a hand through his messy hair.
Careful, as to not make any noise, Harry turned his head over the back of the sofa and watched Josephine slip back into her dormitory. A quick grin passed over his face, along with a fleeting warmth over his cheeks. There was something different about her, he thought.
