Chapter 4

"It was a good first practice, everyone. We will have our next practice next Wednesday, the second. In the meantime, eat well and study well. If you have any questions about the things we went over today, you know where I sleep." He released the Gryffindor team after their Wednesday night practice. He waited until they were halfway back to the locker rooms before he let the practice snitch fly off.

He began the complicated hunt for the golden ball. He had no time to practice himself as he was forced to watch over the team. He was focused on the beaters today as Ginny and Katie dealt with the new chaser. Ron would block the shots or help act as a target for the beaters.

This was the only time he could get a break without anyone near him.

He didn't see Susan after their date the next day in the Great Hall. Justin told him that she elected to spend time with Hannah for the weekend. The weekend came and went, and she still didn't return as of Sunday night. He figured she would return the morning of Monday, but was disappointed not to see her during the day.

His true return to life before he stumbled into her by the lakeside returned then. The weekend found him once again quiet and doing homework without much sound. Hermione and Ron would stay with him the whole weekend to keep him company. It wasn't until he didn't see the redhead on Monday that he started to try and shake his companions.

He almost made it to supper without saying anything and being by himself before Luna cornered him. He almost got away from her before Hermione and Ron found them. Neither looked pleased with him.

Tuesday brought him some cheer as he finally got a letter from Susan saying she would return after the funeral on Wednesday. His smile started teasing from his friends. He was content with life for the rest of that day.

Today he still had his friends sticking to his side whenever they could. Hermione was beyond joyful with having someone else to do homework with; it was the only time Ron left him.

He figured the funeral would be in the morning and that she would be back before supper. The food came and went without a sign of her. He wasn't sure how wizard funerals were held. Sirius never had one, and he was never invited or never got the message to go to Cedric's. He could imagine that there was a night element to do with it, perhaps he could ask Hermione once he saw her; she would know or at least where to look in the library for answers.

It was another hour and the sun starting to set that forced him off the pitch and into the showers. By the time he finished cleaning up, the sun was halved by the horizon. Harry wasn't that surprised to see Hermione and Ron waiting by the entrance to the pitch for him. He sighed; they could have trusted him to make it back to his dorm without an escort.

"You two, alright?" He caught Hermione, staring daggers into Ron, who seemed just to want to ignore her.

"Hm? Oh, yes, we are fine, Harry. Isn't that right, Ronald." Use of the full name, not fine then.

His best mate ignored their other friend, "About time. Think we could swing by the kitchen before we head back up to the tower? I am famished. Hermione wouldn't let us go without you."

An angry scuff was the only sound coming from the bushy-haired girl as she gathered up her supplies.

"You both didn't need to wait for me. I know my way back to the castle."

"That is what I said!"

"We will let you off on your own again tomorrow. Until then, you are stuck with us, Harry."

He rolled his eyes as they began their journey back to the castle.

"I am fine." He knew how much she hated when he said those words, but they were the truth.

"I gotta agree with her, mate. You go on one date with a girl and make her cry, and then you get all moppy when she isn't here."

Harry stopped in his tracks, "I am not moppy because she isn't here. And I didn't make her cry."

"We know you didn't, Harry." Hermione tried to give him a reassuring smile. "But you have been moppy. You are not allowed to fall back into that state that you were in earlier in the year." The poke in his chest nearly caused him to stumble.

He received a swat on the arm after daring to roll his eyes at her words. "Merlin, fine. I won't do it again."

They continued on their way to the kitchen in silence. It felt good to be back in their trio form. He liked it when Neville, Ginny, or Luna joined them but being with just the two of them felt like old times before the world was crazy and depressing, well more crazy and depressing.

"Are either of you going to start dating so I can start teasing you two?"

Hermione blushed, sending quick unnoticed glances at Ron. "I am talking to some girls. Gotta find the right one you know. Most just want to be with Ron the Quidditch star."

Maybe Susan was right that Ron and Hermione liked each other. At least now that he was looking for it, he could see the glances they kept stealing of the other when they thought no one was looking. He has been catching Hermione far more as Ron has been looking at other girls too.

"What about you, Hermione, any boys that caught your fancy?" Her eyes narrowed as he stared at her with a smug, knowing look. She must know that he knows now. Oh, how much fun he will have teasing her.

"I am far too busy to be concerned about boys." He watched as she seemed to find her feet more interesting than looking at her friends.

Whatever else she was going to say was interrupted as the noisy of Dobby squealing in joy at seeing them.

They were given more than enough food as they chatted with the house-elf. Ron was in heaven as he accepted everything Dobby gave them. Harry managed to escape with only some sandwiches and an apple.

Hermione forced them to stay in the common room once they made it back to the tower. Ron and Harry were allowed to grab their homework but were told to come back down. He didn't need the extra study session tonight but figured Ron would gladly go if he went down too.

They sat around for an hour going finishing up their work. Hermione would correct their sheets once they were done. Ron wasn't that far behind as Harry would have thought. Maybe it was because he was trying to impress a certain girl.

He glanced up to spot Hermione looking at Ron over the edge of the book she was reading. She seemed to sense his stare as she looked at him. He could spot her cheeks begin to redden before he smugly smiled at her. Her glare only caused him to widen his smile. He was going to have fun with this.

"Oi, Harry." He turned to see Dean and Seamus standing by them.

"Dean, Seamus. Need help with something?"

"We heard you are rerunning the DA this year." At the mention of the DA, most of the common room paused what they were doing to listen for information.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Ernie mentioned how he was going to be part of your private DA lessons. What gives, mate, you will teach the Hufflepuffs over your housemates."

He sighed, Ernie was causing him problems again, "I am not doing the DA again. I was asked to start a small study group for DADA, and that was what I was going to do. DADA isn't bad enough to warrant the DA."

"Can we join?" He looked to see a third year ask the question.

Looking around, he could see at least one person from every year wanting to ask the same question. It seemed like even the first years wanted to know if they could join.

He didn't want to start the DA again. He was fine leading a small study group but didn't want to run what would be a whole class again. He wanted to have free time this year to do what he wanted. With Quidditch, his meetings with Dumbledore, classes, homework, and whatever this year's adventure will be his time is already shortened compared to the average student.

"I will do a study group for sixth-year students. I am not going to run a full-scale DA." He could already hear the complaints, "However, if other years start study groups, I can try and stop by every once and a while and help. Though someone from your year will need to start it."

The common room went back to regular conversations after that. It seemed like him offering small help would be enough for most of them.

"So when are we starting?" Dean asked eagerly.

"I don't know. I will talk with Susan and the other Hufflepuffs tomorrow and see when they can all meet up."

Dean and Seamus seemed pacified as they began to ask questions about other assignments. He and Hermione offered what they could as Ron continued to work on a charms essay.

He was pushing his food around on his plate during breakfast. He wasn't all that hungry this morning but was dragged down here almost literally. They were sitting at the end of the table, furthest away from the professors. Hermione and Ron sat across from him. So far, the third, fifth, and seventh came up to him to tell him they started their own study groups and wanted to know when he can come and help. He just offered up that he will need to figure out a schedule, and they needed to pick a time to meet.

Katie just left from his empty side; she had already talked the other seventh-years in the other houses into it. He was sure that he was going to start getting requests for help from the other houses.

"What is wrong, Harry?" Hermione's brows furrowed as she tried to figure out the answer.

"I am going to give it ten minutes before other houses start coming up to ask me for help in their study groups or if they can join the new DA." He proposed the idea of multiple study groups so he could have more time on his hands; maybe he should just restart the DA.

"Ron and I can help."

"Us? They want Harry Potter to teach them. I am sure you could do an excellent job at it, Hermione, but I don't think they will listen to you. They want the man that has faced You-Know-Who and lived teaching them." Ron resumed his eating of breakfast.

"I don't see why they want the DA again. Snape is one of the better teachers we have had." He speared an egg before stuffing it in his mouth.

"Honestly, Harry, Snape's teaching style leaves much to be desire. It may not be bad for someone who is gifted in DADA like yourself, but for the rest of us, it is not easy to learn from him. Like it or not, you have been the best DADA teacher Hogwarts has had since we have started here."

He just hummed in noncommitment as he continued to push his food around. Remus was better than him. Barty Crouch Jr wasn't that bad of a teacher, a very practical teacher but he was still one of the better ones. Harry would rank Snape above Barty and below Remus. He would rank himself under Barty. The rest would be all equal as the worst.

They sat for a few more minutes in silence as Hermione read the paper. He felt the bench creak as someone sat down next to him. He inwardly sighed as he was ready to face another question about his study group.

"Hi, Harry."

His head shot up and turned to be close with a redhead with blue eyes. His heart began to pace faster. He could feel his mood begin to brighten.

"Susan, you're back!" He didn't need to look to know Hermione and Ron were giving him amused looks.

She smiled sweetly at him, "Of course I would be back, you did get my letter right?"

"Oh, he got it. He was beaming after reading it. It took him out of the funk he was in." He groaned under Ron's teasing.

"Funk? What happened?" She moved in her spot; she was now pressing against his side. Their closeness caused their thighs to be pressed against each other.

"Nothing. I was fine." His response did not seem to settle the worries she had.

"He was falling back into his earlier habits of the year after you left. He started to act partially normal when he received your letter. We tried keeping him happy, but did not do as good as a job as you."

Traitors, both of his friends were traitors.

Her hand grabbed his right, "Thank you for trying, and I think I know of a way to make him feel better." He and Ron choked on their food. Hermione blushed furiously before starting to laugh.

Their talk became more innocent as Susan was caught up on everything that happened while she was gone. She did not let go of his hand during it, not that he wanted her too.

"I don't understand how you got tricked into leading another DA."

"I am not leading another DA." Both Hermione and Susan shook their heads at him.

"He doesn't see what he has done, Susan. I have tried pointing it out to him all morning and last night."

"Harry," He turned to look the redhead in her eyes, "you basically just split the DA into smaller sections. You are still going to end up being in charge of all of the DADA study groups. It is basically the DA, but with extra steps."

He groaned in response. He created far to much work for himself. To be fair, he was tired last night.

"Snape is going to fail me when he finds out." He can only imagine how his least favourite teacher will take the news that his least favourite student decided to start up an almost class like study group.

Susan freed his hand as she used her arm to pull herself closer to him, snuggling into his side before resting her head on his shoulder. Surprisingly he didn't feel his body tense up like it would normally do when someone besides for a few people touch him so intimately. He actually felt himself relax.

"It will be fine. I am sure you can just defeat this DADA professor again like you have with all the last ones." Susan's joke caused the surrounding students to laugh.

"I didn't defeat them all. Remus is a good friend."

"I am sure it was Umbridge's hubris that caused her downfall."

"Lockheart was just a shit wizard, terrible at casting spells."

"Language, Ronald. And wasn't he using your wand?"

The rest of the table broke into laughter again as Ron tried to sputter out something.

The rest of breakfast went by without any issue. Susan stayed at his side, pressed against him. She finally let go of him. He knew they were receiving some strange looks. He had seen Ginny looking almost betrayed as he and Susan would talk. He would have to ask Hermione about that.

It was when the bells tolled signalling the end of breakfast and the beginning of the first class that he left the Great Hall. Both he and Susan had a free period, so they left their friends to find somewhere to catch up. They ended up in the empty classroom that they have been using to study. He no sooner shut the door before he felt himself get pulled into a tight embrace.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know, but I think if you actually hug me I would begin to feel better." He quickly realised his arms were still at his side. He rectified that error immediately.

"Better?" He asked, half amused.

"Mmm better."

They stood like that for a few moments. She tried to bury herself more into him.

"How is Hannah?"

"She is still shaken." Susan broke apart their hug before leading them over to the professor's desk. She sat on the table, pull him with her. "I think she will be alright; she just needs some time."

He nodded, "Losing her mother must have been hard."

He couldn't imagine going through that kind of loss. He had already lost his parents before he could know what that meant. Sirius was the closest he could come to understand how Hannah or even Susan felt about their recent losses but his time with Sirius was short compared to their shared time with their parents.

"It was the first time she lost anyone. She doesn't want to be away from her family right now." Susan grabbed his hand and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Is she coming back to Hogwarts this year?"

"She wasn't planning on it. But I convinced her otherwise."

"Oh, how so?"

"Well," she sounded a little too pleased with herself, "I might have told her since I am a prefect now I am going to abuse the power it will give me."

"What with giving me unfair detentions?"

"Only if you misbehave." He hasn't 'misbehaved' yet this year, though that may be because he was too busy hiding away from everyone. "I also told her I wouldn't share any details about the boy I was dating. And that I will be using my patrols to be around him every so often."

He felt his heart stop. She has a boyfriend. He knew it was too good to last. Why would you want to be with the danger drawing boy when you can be with someone normal. He tried to recall any boys that he has noticed around her in the time they spent together.

"Wait, do you mean me?"

She turned to face him. She wore an adorable confused face. "Who did you think I was talking about?"

"Well, I thought that-"

"Harry, we have been spending alot of our recent days with each other. And lately cuddling and kissing. Oh, do you think me as some girl that would snog multiple guys?"

"That's not-"

"Or do you just not want to be my boyfriend?" She shot accusingly at him. Her blue eyes were frozen in anger.

"I do. I mean, I don't. I-" Susan furrowed her brows as he stumbled over his words. "I mean, I want to be your boyfriend."

She stared at him a few more moments as he hoped he didn't ruin anything. Susan began to giggle before breaking out in laughter.

"You're too easy, Harry." She managed to say those words through her laughs.

"Merlin, Susan. I thought I ruined everything."

He fell backwards onto the table as he let out a breath of relief. Susan laid down next to him, resting her head on his chest.

"It is a good thing you are cute. I am sure Hannah will love this part of the details when she comes back."

"When does she come back?"

"Two weeks, at most three."

"Well, I think we can create some more details for her," he smiled slyly. "We do have some time before class."

He only heard the giggles coming from her before a pair of lips attacked him.

Author's Note

Meant to have this chapter down Black Friday but the holidays were too busy for me to work on the story. Meant to have this done last Friday but do to increase of amount of work and birthday plans I couldn't get it done in time. I am not sure if I will be able to get a chapter out this Friday. Next week though I will get back on schedule of 1 chapter a Friday.

Thank yall for reading. Hope you enjoy it!