Disclaimer: I don't own HP or any of these characters. That belongs to JKR, Scholastic Books, Warner Brothers, etc.
Chapter Thirty Seven : Chaos
Hermione stretched out her arms towards the ceiling, while still sitting on the couch, a large tome settled on her lap. That felt good. After her conversation with Viktor was over, she had put the Diagon Alley trip on hold and returned home so she could start laying out how to change the charm that was on her. Hermione thought that might be the more difficult of the two parts. Transmutations were always tricky spells. But Viktor had been right. Once it was done, the harmonization spell would be a prophetic spell (though her friend had used a different term for it that she couldn't remember). Prophetic spells were much easier to counter, as such counters were needed on a regular basis, usually because of some witch or wizard performing a spell wrong. Hermione blushed to think that in this instance, she was that unfortunate witch. She would have never thought that she'd be silly enough to get herself into this whole mess. At least the end was now in sight.
Settling back down into her seat, she turned back to her sketches of how the spell would work. It had taken several hours, but Hermione thought she had the basic framework of it figured out. She debated silently with herself on whether or not she should ask Professor McGonagall or Flitwick to look over her calculations. It was very early in the process still, but on the other hand, it was a very important part. She needed to know how the spell would have to function in order to create it. If she got any of the mechanisms, then the harmonization spell would either not change at all or it would change into something completely different – which would lead to her wasting time to figure out what it had become.
Sighing softly, she decided it was best that she go and get someone else to look over what she had done. Obviously, she didn't want any part of the counter to go wrong, and she would also be upset with herself if she found out later that she had wasted time by using an incorrect model.
That didn't mean she couldn't still work on the counter. She just couldn't work on the transmutation half. She grimaced as she remembered that the transportation half of the charm would still be in effect. Hermione started rooting through the books strewn on her desk, trying to find the one about passive transportation charms. She wasn't sure what the consequences would be of leaving that part active, but she knew there would be some. If she had to take a guess, it would be that it might react negatively with portkeys or—and Hermione hoped desperately that she was wrong here—with any Apparation attempts. Then again, Apparation was an active spell, so maybe it wouldn't pick up on that. It would be very inconvenient and a little bit humiliating if she had to walk everywhere.
Of course, that would be better than her current situation. She would be able to leave Hogwarts without fearing that she might be transported to some unknown and dangerous place. That was a big plus. Especially as Hermione really couldn't see herself living as she had been for the rest of her life. Hence the reason why she had decided to make a break for it and meet with her parents this afternoon. She knew that she wouldn't try that trick again, as she didn't want to tempt fate, considering that there might be a counter for the blasted charm very, very soon.
Just then, her ears picked up a light baritone voice saying, "Fiat lux." Hermione leapt to her feet, eager that Harry had finally arrived back home. She couldn't wait to tell him the good news. Her stomach was a bit troubled about how he would take it, hearing that it was Viktor who had suggested the counter to her, but surely he would be more happy that there was finally some good news than upset that Viktor had helped her. Besides, she didn't think that Harry was really the jealous, possessive type. He was too sensible for that.
The scowl on his face as he entered the room should have been a big clue about that.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "How are you?"
"Bruised, Hermione," he replied, wincing. "Very, very bruised."
She rolled her eyes. "Didn't your team Mediwizard see you after the practice? To fix up everything?"
"Yes. And that's why I'm not more bruised. But he said the rest would be fine with just a good night's sleep." Harry hobbled past her, towards their living room and the couch. He threw a sharp glance at her as he heaved himself on to the couch. "You seem very happy," he remarked.
"Yes." Hermione nodded her head and smiled brilliantly. "I had the best afternoon ever."
Much to her surprise, Harry's features darkened. "Did you?"
"Um . . . yes. Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Not for you, it seems." He bent over, gripping his head with his hands. "So when did you plan to tell me?"
Hermione's brow furrowed, as she tried to puzzle out the meaning of his words. What could he be talking about? Did he already hear about the counter? It was possible, she supposed. Viktor might have been invited to watch the Arrows practice and then he might have mentioned something about it to Harry. "I had planned to tell you right away, of course," she said finally. "But it seems like you already know?"
Harry looked up at her, his eyes devastated. "So it is true? I thought that . . . I thought you . . . oh Merlin!"
"Harry!" Hermione rushed forward, wondering why he was so upset. "What's wrong? I thought you'd be happy to learn that I—"
"What's wrong?" he repeated. "What's wrong? Why, you've just confirmed everything Malfoy told me! And why the fuck should I be happy to hear that you're leaving me for Viktor!"
"What?" Hermione screeched. "What makes you say that? If Malfoy said so, I wouldn't trust him."
"I didn't," Harry mumbled, his face listless and his eyes roving the room. "I didn't. Got in a fight with him over the rubbish he was talking about you. But I come home . . . I come home, and you're busy confirming everything he told me!"
"I didn't confirm a damn thing!" Hermione could feel her temper rising. Her good mood had dissipated, with Harry's accusations of – of what, she didn't exactly know. "How could I? You've not said anything of substance. All I did was tell you that I had a very good afternoon."
"Because of Viktor?" Harry spat out. "Didn't think that that would get back to me? That you had planned to meet him?"
"Viktor?" Hermione winced. "I didn't have any plans to meet him. We just ran into each other after I had lunch with my parents."
"You know, Hermione, I thought that you could trust me. If you wanted to . . . if you wanted to end everything, you could've just told me. I would've left, and you could've met him here at Hogwarts where you didn't have to risk yourself."
Hermione bit her lip. She hated it when Harry went into martyr mode, when he was trying to make the entire world feel as sorry for him as he felt for himself. "So you've heard about that as well, I see," she said through gritted teeth. "Well, for your information, I didn't go out and risk myself to meet Viktor. I did that to meet my parents. It might seem as though I'm happy inside so long as I have something to read, but in reality, it was driving me bloody mad."
"You met your parents too?"
"Yes! I paid for lunch too. Do you want to see the bloody receipt?"
Harry flinched. Evidently that had got through to him. "But you still did see Viktor."
"Yes, I did. We're friends, Harry, that's all."
"You know, considering that all the blokes you've dated, you've been friends with, that's not as reassuring as you might think."
"You are being incredibly unreasonable right now," Hermione said, stamping her foot.
"So Viktor didn't have anything to do with why your afternoon was so good?"
That was a sticking point. He did, with the help that he had provided her. "He . . . I saw him, and he helped me out with a problem I'd been having."
Harry looked at her in horror. "Merlin. I can't believe that . . . I don't want to hear this. I really don't want to hear—"
"How he helped me figure out a counter for that charm? Are we speaking different languages, Harry? As I've no idea what you thought I just said." She received no reply, as Harry simply sat there, mumbling to himself. "Harry!" she said, tears beginning to form in her eyes, as her exasperation and frustration came to the fore. "I told you Viktor and I are just friends. Why can't—?"
"I always thought it strange that you'd like someone so much when he mangles your name beyond belief . . . Mione." He glared at her. "I thought you hated being called that. But apparently, Vickie can call you that all he wants.
Again Hermione winced. "I do hate it. But it's either that or be called a ninny."
"And so why can't I call you that?"
"I've told you. I like my name. I don't like any nicknames. And besides . . . I like how my name sounds when you say it." Hermione hated this. She hated fighting with Harry, and she had never expected a fight with him over the friends she had. Then, Malfoy was there to poison Harry's ear. Too bad Ron hadn't been there to pound on Malfoy before he ever got that far. "I've told you and told you. Viktor and I are just friends. Friends like to spend time with each other. I'm friends with Ron. You've never complained about it if I had lunch with him, or if I met him somewhere or—"
"I trust Ron," Harry replied. "I don't trust Viktor."
"This isn't about trusting Ron or Viktor," Hermione said, almost sadly. "This is about trusting me. And if you don't . . . after everything that has happened, after all those times I stood by your side . . . well, I—"
Not knowing what to say or do and not wanting to stay in the room or
fight any longer, Hermione turned tail and fled.
Author's note: I know it's short, but it's a great place to stop. For me at least. And there will be more of Harry's view next week, when I update. As always, I'd love to know what you thought of this bit and I'd appreciate it if you could leave me a review. Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter: Shawn Pickett (Harry's certainly not the voice of reason in this chapter either), danielerin (yes, and he's made a big mess of trouble, hasn't he?), xxbabysparklesxx (he'll make another appearance), ExcalibursZone (yes, well, he's had a lot to think about on his way home--and up all those blasted stairs ), Tywyn, juliet's rose, Mergincia Phoenix (right now, Hermione would be surprised to learn that he has any), lee74, EuphoniumGurl0, chisox727 (do you still love jealous Harry?), Leah6, Orlando's Gurl, Ali (alas, no fluff in this chapter), TheGreatFox2000, PoTtErSPaYnE (I didn't see any review by you--I usually sort them by chapter and go by that, so if it wasn't for the last chapter, I wouldn't have seen it. Gomen ne), justin-4902, Sheilalein (that last one is right on the money ), funvince (it was the nickname that did him in), Gamali Howell (he's not very nice in the books, either. Last chapter, he was more true to canon than he has been in others), hermione'sboyfriend, wyndnfyr (Hermione could've chosen better words to use in reassuring him though), aliceinwonderville (that wouldn't fit into my naming scheme, so no ), Haystack8190, malu (okay, I'm choking over the thought of Hermione's face if someone gave her the gift that keeps on giving), SunFactoryGirl, shaznay17, and liongirrl4eva.