AN: Happy Hallowe'en, everyone! Courtesy of the Mosstroopers.
Chapter Seventeen: The Best Is Yet to Come
"Okay, so we definitely have a problem."
Harry reasoned that Jack had to be talking to himself, because he barely looked up when he spoke. Or mumbled, really. He was so focused; so determined, that Harry actually had to tap him to get his attention.
"What's the problem?" Harry asked.
Jack bit his bottom lip in thought before he ran a hand through his hair, looking particularly annoyed by something. Harry happily ignored the similarities between them as they sat side by side in the stands of the Quidditch pitch. They'd flown up after the tryouts, with the students looking to join the team hanging around on the ground in front of them.
Harry could practically feel their nerves, even from all the way up in the clouds.
Well, practically.
"Look at the roster," Jack said, passing the piece of parchment he'd been scribbling on to Harry.
Harry shifted his glasses up his nose before he read the list of names, surprised to find a specific one somewhat controversially missing. "Uh, Jack?"
"Hmm?"
"Weasley isn't on this list," Harry said.
"I know."
"Oh." Harry took a deep breath. "Is that the problem?"
Jack sighed. "Can you honestly tell me that Ron is the best choice for Keeper?" he asked seriously. "Based on the tryouts we just witnessed, you know as well as I do that he's not the first choice for the position."
Harry had been trying to figure out how to bring it up, and he was relieved that Jack came to the conclusion himself. He'd been busy drawing on his 'What Would Hermione Do?' reserves, and Jack saved him the awkwardness. "Emily definitely had a better tryout," Harry agreed.
"Do you think she'll be able to handle a match environment?"
"We can prepare her for it," he said. "With a warm-up match, like last year. I mean, even if she tanks the warm-up; at least she'll know what to expect."
Jack looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Are you only saying that because you totally tanked your warm-up game?"
"I'd thank you not to bring that up ever again," Harry said casually, forcing himself not to smile. "I almost quit after that, you know?"
"I know."
Harry frowned, confused for only a moment, before he figured out that Hermione probably mentioned it. He wasn't sure what he felt about that. It was unlikely that Hermione hadn't told Jack things, but it still felt a little bit like a betrayal of his confidence. "Granger told you?"
He nodded. "We used to be best friends, you know?" he said softly. "Before everything... It kind of feels like an entirely different life."
Harry didn't like the direction this conversation was going, so he cleared his throat and sat up straight. "So, uh, what are we going to do about this team then?"
Jack also seemed to catch himself, and he took the piece of parchment back. "He's my best friend, but that's no reason to put him on the team," he said thoughtfully. "He's under the impression that he's already made it, so this is going to be really awkward."
Harry could only imagine.
"What do you think?"
Merlin Almighty, did Jack just ask his opinion?
"If it's something you want to avoid, I think I have an idea," Harry offered. "Just bear with me." He took the parchment back from Jack, reached in his pocket for a ballpoint pen, and scribbled something at the bottom of the list. "It's just, well, he's not terrible," he added. "He could be used as a Beater or a Keeper, also like Dean maybe, and it'd be good for us to have a Reserve player who's versatile, given that Voldemort is trying to kill you." And me.
Jack visibly tensed. He definitely didn't want to talk about Voldemort right now, so he just took the parchment back and studied it. Their handwriting was so different, slanting in different directions owing to their different handedness. Harry's right and Jack's left.
.
Gryffindor Quidditch Team
Chasers: Demelza Robins, Katie Bell, Harry Potter
Beaters: Jimmy Peakes, Richie Coote
Seeker: Jack Potter
Keeper: Emily Rosen
Reserve: Ronald Weasley
.
"Reserve, huh?" Jack asked.
Harry nodded. "If Emily hadn't tried out; he'd be the Keeper," he said. "It's something to consider."
"Are we even allowed to have a Reserve player?"
"According to the rulebook, yes. We can even have two."
"There's a rulebook?"
Despite himself, Harry laughed. "Okay, co-captain, you're going to have to read up on the rules before we start the season," he said. "Have to set an example."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I'll get right on it."
Harry shook his head, before he looked over the railing at the students waiting below. There was a sudden cheer, which made him pull back suddenly. "Romilda Vane and her giggling band of misfits are still down there," he told Jack.
Jack groaned. "They haven't left me alone all week," he said. "It's driving me crazy."
"Is it?"
He rolled his eyes again. "Now that Ginny's agreed to go on that date with that Carmichael guy the first Hogsmeade weekend, it's open season on Jack Potter."
"And you're actually complaining?"
He sighed. "I kind of just want them to leave me alone, to be honest. I'm sick of dodging questions about my parents, and I don't - " he stopped suddenly. "Sorry," he said; "you probably don't even care about any of this."
Harry said nothing.
Jack cleared his throat, before he stood up. "We should get going," he said. "Don't want to keep the masses waiting. They might start a riot."
Harry just nodded, as he too stood up and reached for his broom. In silence, the two of them began their descent down to the ground, the group already crowding around them.
He and Jack stood side by side once they dismounted, each of them looking quite the force. Jack was slightly taller and broader, and Harry was leaner and more agile. They were practically born to be Quidditch players.
Daddy James would be proud.
Jack stepped forward, ready to speak, but then snapped his mouth shut. Maybe his eyes settled on Ron or something, because he stepped back again and handed the parchment to Harry. He didn't have to say anything because Harry already took the cue.
Harry stepped forward and did his best not to read too much into the roles that he and Jack were now playing. "Um, well, after much thought and discussion, Jack and I have finalised the team for this year." He felt a little proud, particularly knowing that Hermione was in the stands, watching. Well, she'd spent most of the tryouts reading a novel, but he could practically feel her eyes on him.
He looked at the parchment. "As Chasers, we have Demelza Robins, Katie Bell and Harry Potter. Beaters are Jimmy Peakes and Richie Coote; Seeker is Jack Potter, and our new Keeper is Emily Rosen."
There was silence for a beat before there was a burst of surprised murmuring.
Harry continued through the noise. "And, as a Reserve, we have Ronald Weasley."
The murmuring only increased, and Harry could practically feel Jack's panic.
"And Dean Thomas," Harry added, and Jack shot him a confused look. "We'll put the list up in the Common Room for reference, and training starts later this week. Look out for the practice timetable." He knew that he and Jack would have to meet with the other House captains to discuss practice times on the Quidditch pitch. Really, the admin of this new position was a tiny bit exhausting.
"Until then," Harry said, and then turned around, effectively dismissing them.
Jack kept his eyes on him. "What was that?" he asked in a rushed whisper.
"I realised that as soon as I said Weasley; it sounded like a pity position," he explained carefully. "And, really, if Voldemort comes after you; I'll invariably get caught in it as well, so it makes sense to have two Reserves, don't you think?" Harry wouldn't say it was logical, but Jack seemed so out of sorts, and there was a part of Harry that felt as if it was his responsibility to do something.
Sometimes Harry hated that he felt so much.
Jack said nothing more, and neither did Harry. They just exchanged a nod, and then headed to the changing rooms in silence. They would have to field questions, Harry was sure, and he definitely wasn't looking forward to it.
The Gryffindor Common Room was buzzing with the news that Ron Weasley hadn't made the Quidditch team by the time Harry made it back to the Tower. Jack wasn't anywhere to be found, but people scarcely approached Harry anyway. One of the perks of being an outsider, he supposed. It was still strange for him. He was never quite sure of where he stood with the Gryffindor faithful and it sometimes gave him the effect of whiplash.
Colin Creevey did brave asking him a question about it though, but Hermione quickly shot him down, her protectiveness making him smile. She and Harry sat side by side on the couch opposite the fireplace, and she quietly assured him that, based on the tryouts; they picked the best team.
Harry had something to ask her, but he wasn't sure how to go about it. Thankfully, as if sensing what he needed, Hermione gave him the in he needed.
"Is everything okay, Harry?"
He took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself. "There's something I want to ask you," he said seriously. "Before, when you were still friends with Jack; how much did you tell him about me?" he asked.
She gave him a confused look that he struggled not to find adorable.
"Because, today, he mentioned that he knew that I wanted to quit after that first warm-up game, and the only way he would know that is if you told him, and I'm just wondering what else you could have told him when I thought that everything we talked about stayed between us."
She blinked in surprise.
He waited patiently.
Hermione cleared her throat. "In reference to the time you're talking about; yes, I did tell him that you'd considered quitting," she said. "Like he suspected; like he expected. But then I had to remind him that staying made you stronger; that, regardless of your performance or the fact that he and James enjoyed watching you fail so much, you were choosing to rise above it all. I was so proud of you, and I needed him to know that he hadn't won." She shook her head. "Really, in retrospect, I should have taken it as a sign that - " she stopped suddenly.
"That what?" he asked.
Her eyes met his. "That Jack was toxic."
Harry ignored the flare of something protective in him. What was wrong with him? Seriously. He wasn't supposed to care, and he hated that Jack was making it so difficult for him not to. "What else did you tell him?" he asked.
She took a moment to think. "Nothing personal," she said, needing to reassure him. It was the truth. "But I did tell him some things, solely in an attempt to alter his view of you because it was so skewed, and so wrong, and I tried to change it... But, clearly, I failed." She shook her head. "Turns out I learned more about my own friends than I ever thought I could teach them about you."
Harry wasn't sure what to say to that, so he said nothing. Instead, he rested his hand on her knee.
"Harry?"
He looked at her.
"Are we okay?" she asked.
Harry didn't respond because, really, he didn't know if they were okay. He didn't even think that she knew what that truly meant. Did he? What was okay, anyway? He didn't want to be apathetic about it, so, in the end, he patted her knee once, and just let it be.
For Hermione's birthday, Harry was sorely tempted to pull out all the stops like he'd promised her the year before but Luna had to convince him to tone it down. Apparently, she was the only one who was allowed to overwhelm Hermione with sentiment.
"Today could be the day," Harry argued.
"What day?" Luna asked, physically wrapping Hermione's birthday present.
"That she lets us try again."
Luna stopped what she was doing to give him her full attention. "Harry, maybe you should just let it go," she said gently.
His eyes widened in alarm. "What?"
She sighed. "Just hear me out," she said carefully. "I know you love her, and I'm sure that Hermione knows how you feel, but maybe you should take a step back."
He frowned. "What do you think I've been doing this entire time?"
Luna raised her hands in innocence. "I'm just saying that maybe you should take more of a step back," she said gently. "Just for a little while. It's obvious that she feels the same way about you."
"Then what is the problem?"
"Right now, it's as if you're together without actually being together, and she's comfortable with that. She doesn't want to worry about getting hurt again, which means that she'll fight the attachment." Luna sighed again. "I'm not saying that you should start seeing other people or anything drastic like that. Just, you know, take that step back and let her come to you. It's not important for you to be right where she left you, you know?"
No, Harry didn't know.
The mere idea of giving Hermione 'space' just didn't sit well with him. It was a thought that bothered him the entire day. And, as a result, after initially wishing Hermione a happy birthday in the morning, Harry steered clear of her. It wasn't the most difficult thing to do, given that she also stayed as hidden as she could throughout the day. Harry reasoned that she was avoiding being the centre of attention because it wasn't something with which she was comfortable.
Harry wondered if her parents sent her anything. They didn't usually remember her birthday, and he wondered if this year would be different. He wished with all his might that it would be, but he wasn't holding his breath. Her parents were -
He didn't even know what her parents were. Should he even be calling them 'parents?'
Once classes let out, Harry made his way to Gryffindor Tower. He didn't have long until he had to be down at the Quidditch pitch for practice, so he didn't bother getting started on his homework. Instead, he got changed into his practice uniform and then headed down to the Common Room. Hermione wasn't anywhere to be found, which wasn't a surprise. She was probably holed up in the library already.
He sighed.
He'd give her the space she wanted. She did want it, right? Well, she hadn't given him any indication that she wanted anything else.
"Hey, Mate," Dean said, coming up behind Harry. The Muggleborn seemed to take to Harry after he was put onto the Quidditch team. Contrary to the fact that Harry and Jack repeatedly told people that the Reserve decisions were made by both of them; it wasn't lost on anyone that Ron was Jack's and Dean was Harry's.
Choices, not replacements.
"You headed down already?" Dean asked.
Harry snapped to attention. "Uh, yeah," he said. "Want me to wait for you?"
Dean nodded. "Give me five minutes."
Harry also nodded, as he watched Dean rush up to their dormitory. A scoff to his right made him turn and he caught sight of Cormac McLaggen sitting in an armchair, looking equal parts smug and irritated.
"What?" Harry asked irritably. A year ago, he definitely wouldn't have even engaged in any type of conversation with the older boy.
"Nothing."
"Speak, McLaggen," he said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. "Nothing's ever stopped you before."
"Just, you know, I didn't think you'd be the one to pick players because you wanted to make friends."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Because you know me so well, huh?"
"I think I know you well enough," McLaggen said. "Despite what the rest of the world thinks; you are a Potter."
Harry laughed out loud, which surprised McLaggen. He was still laughing when Dean returned, confusion on his face.
"What did I miss?" he asked.
Harry took a moment to compose himself. "You know what, Dean; it doesn't even matter," he said. "People like McLaggen," he added, his eyes on the Seventh-Year sitting on the armchair; "in the long run, they don't matter." It wasn't said to be mean-spirited - just the truth - because Harry was done with the bullies. Sure, he'd had to worry about only Jack and his goons before, but now that he was no longer invisible, people like McLaggen liked to think he was fair game.
But he wasn't. Not anymore.
"Ready to go?" Harry asked Dean.
Dean nodded, and then they headed out. It was still a little early, so the two of them just raced the length of the pitch as a warmup until the rest of the team arrived. They had the pitch for two hours, before the Hufflepuffs would arrive to take over.
Jack led the first half of the practice, working on tactics and fitness before Harry and the other Chasers - including Dean - ran through a few plays. Next, they had a quick internal match to test them out. Jack wasn't really able to participate in the practice plays, but he did watch from above and make notes on where they could improve.
Once the team was dismissed, Harry and Jack did their Seeker practice. It was mainly for Jack's benefit, but Harry enjoyed it more than he let on. Basically, they'd release the Snitch, and then race to see who could catch it first. Really, only Harry could push Jack to be a better Seeker, and it also offered Harry the opportunity to get better as well.
It was also a good lesson for them both to learn when they lost.
Harry didn't exactly take great pleasure in winning and, as much as he tried not to keep count of the number of thimes he'd reached the Snitch before Jack; he was winning by a large margin. The idea was not to hurt Jack's confidence, but both brothers could tell that he was getting better and better by the day.
When Harry inevitably caught the Snitch, they called it a day, dropping off their brooms and then making their way up to the Castle. Their walks were usually made in silence, but today was different. Jack had something to say.
Or ask.
"Is Hermione okay?" he asked quietly, decidedly not looking at Harry. "I, uh, haven't really seen much of her today, and I wanted to, uh, wish her happy birthday, but - " he stopped suddenly. "Uh."
Harry just stared at him in mild disbelief.
Jack continued. "I mean, she is okay, right?" he asked. "Her parents are real pieces of work, and I know it's no longer my place to worry, but I can't help it. Is she - "
"Jack," Harry said, his voice flat. "I will talk to you about anything and everything other than Granger," he said carefully. "If she wants to talk to you, then she will, okay? I won't be some go-between. She makes her own decisions, does and says what she wants, and I'm not going to try to take that away from her."
Jack merely nodded, before he sighed. "It feels as if we've swapped places," he said solemnly. "You're now Hermione's best friend, and I'm on the outs." He huffed. "Don't get me wrong; I know it's entirely my own fault, but that shouldn't stop me from wishing things were different, right?"
Harry didn't know how to respond to that.
"Because I do," he said, bypassing Harry's silence. "I think about it sometimes. My dad was talking about regret when - " he paused. "I, just, well, I guess that I don't want to be like him. I don't want to have regrets, and Hermione is one of them."
Harry swallowed.
Jack cleared his throat. "So are you."
No. No. Harry just shook his head. No. No. This was not happening.
"I'm sorry," Jack said. " I know that - "
"No," Harry said. "Jack, no. Not today, okay? Not - "
"But - "
"Jack!" he snapped.
The older brother sighed. "Okay."
Harry's heart was beating wildly in his chest. This was too much for his little brain to handle, and he just needed Jack to stop talking. Almost involuntarily, he started to walk faster, wanting to get to a place that had other people before Jack started with his words again.
He didn't even realise that he was holding his breath until he spotted the first group of students.
"I'm headed to the Kitchens," Jack said, peeling off to the right.
Harry wasted no time in rushing to Gryffindor Tower and disappearing upstairs. He ignored nearly everyone as he showered and got dressed for dinner. He stayed in his room to work on his homework, and then sat with Luna and Neville at the Hufflepuff table for dinner, mainly because Hermione skipped coming to the Great Hall. He also wanted to be as far away from Jack as possible.
After dinner, Harry went to Gryffindor Tower to pick up Hermione's gift before he went to find her in the library. She was sitting at their group of tables, books spread out in front of her and an unapproachable look on her face.
Really, she was desperately beautiful.
"Hey, Granger?" he said, coming to a stop in front of her.
She waited a beat before she looked up from her written notes. "Hmm?"
There were so many things that he wanted to say, but he was going to listen to Luna's advice. He wasn't going to push her. "Think we can take a quick walk?" he asked. "I want to give you your present."
Hermione smiled at him as she slid out of her seat and followed him out of the library. If she'd found it odd that he hadn't joined her for a late afternoon homework session; she didn't say so. They made idle conversation as they walked, and Harry waited until they were sufficiently far away from the library to bring them to a stop.
"So, have you had a good day?" he asked, almost cringing as he did.
"It's definitely not been the worst," she informed him. "I guess I've enjoyed the fact that it's just been an ordinary day. Luna mentioned that she had to force you not to go all out."
He blinked. "I'm definitely listening to her."
"Thank you," she said, as if she knew that he was referring to something else.
Harry waited a beat, before he pushed on. Today was a monumental day for several reasons. "I think that Jack tried to apologise to me," he told her.
"What?"
"Exactly."
She frowned. "He... tried?"
"I kind of didn't let him really get down to it," he explained. "He might be ready, but I'm certainly not."
Hermione nodded in understanding. That part made sense to her, but the Jack part didn't. She'd never admit it to Harry, but she sometimes missed him. He'd never seen anything other than who she was, and he'd never shunned her for it. He was different to Ginny that way. Hermione didn't feel a burst of resentment when she thought of Jack, the way she did with Ginny.
Ginny.
It was all over the Castle that she'd agreed to go on a date with an older Seventh-Year boy, Eddie Carmichael of Ravenclaw. Admittedly, Hermione wasn't the biggest fan of the boy given his history of selling potions to other students, but it was still something to see Ginny taking her advice. The redhead definitely needed to branch out and talk to other people.
"Granger?" Harry said.
"Hmm?"
"Happy birthday," he said gently, handing her the present he'd known he was going to give her all summer. It just showed how in sync they were that their gifts for each other already matched. It wasn't particularly expensive or flashy, because he knew she wouldn't like that.
He could have carried it around all day, but he wanted there to be a special specific time for the handing-over, and this was it. The present itself was a small box that Hermione definitely recognised.
Harry started to speak before she opened the box. "I thought, you know, we could add it to the pendant you already have."
She looked at him. "You're spoiling the surprise."
He laughed softly. "Sorry."
Hermione took a breath, before she opened the box to reveal a flag-shaped pendant, to match the one already hanging around her neck. The pad of her thumb traced the letters written on the flag, her heart stilling. Mosstrooper #4.
Tears immediately sprung to her eyes. "Oh, Harry."
He couldn't help his grin. "Yes?"
"This is - " she stopped. "It's - just - " She took a deep breath. "Thank you, Harry," she whispered. "You don't know what - "
Harry's smile tempered slightly. Of course he knew what it meant to her. "Do you want me to put it on for you?"
All she could really do was nod.
Harry made quick of retrieving the pendant and waited for her to unclasp her own necklace. They were both silent as he threaded the pendant on the chain, and then used his eyes to make her turn around. Hermione turned and shifted her hair out of the way. Harry, undoubtedly, stared at the skin of her neck for an obscene amount of time, before he caught himself.
It was almost déjà vu.
Harry tried not to let his fingers linger but he failed.
"There you go," he said, stepping back. "Let's have a look."
Hermione turned around, her fingers already playing with the double-pendant. "It's perfect, isn't it?"
Harry nodded. "You are, yes," he said in a breathy whisper. Okay, that was it. He was done now. She knew where he stood.
Harry didn't miss her arms twitch, as she resisted the urge to throw her arms around him. He'd felt disheartened after Luna spoke to him, but now he was sure she was right. Hermione would come to him when she was ready.
So, literally, he took a step back, feeling the persistent tension within him relax. "You do your thing and try to resist," he said, smiling somewhat smugly. "It's actually kind of cute."
And then he walked away.
She let him.
Hermione Granger reasoned that his being the only one in the Common Room had to be some sort of sign. She went looking for someone else - anyone else - but he was the only one in the Common Room, sitting comfortably on the couch across from the fireplace, reading a book that she didn't recognise.
It was late Saturday afternoon, and people were out and about. Except him, of course.
Of course he looked up when she entered, and of course he looked worried. Anyone would be, based on her heavy breathing and slightly panicked facial expression. Because she was panicked. Really, it was actually an understatement.
He immediately stood up, his own facial expression revealing his concern. "Are you all right?" he asked.
That was a loaded question. "Uh," she stuttered; "have you seen, umm, Jack or Ron?"
He blinked in sudden confusion, before he managed to school his features. Why would she be asking for them? "I think they said something about going out to the Quidditch pitch with Dean and Seamus."
"Oh."
He shifted awkwardly. "Are you all right?" he asked again.
"Me?" She was distracted. Yes, that was the word. She was distracted, by what she'd done, and by what she now had to do. "I'm - " she halted. "I need your help."
He practically perked up at the sound of that. It'd been a few weeks since her birthday and his heart hurt that bit more every single day. "What do you need?" he asked.
She hesitated, but decided to run with it. It didn't matter now anyway. She knew that he could keep a secret. They'd been keeping each other's secrets for much too long now. "Listen, Harry," she started. "I hope you know that I would always come to you first, but, well, this is about Ginny," she said carefully.
He visibly stiffened, but pushed through it. It had to be important if Hermione was getting involved in something involved with Ginny. The two of them hadn't uttered words to each other since the first night they arrived on the Express. Also, the entire Castle knew that today was the day that Ginny and Eddie Carmichael were going on their infamous date.
"What happened?" Harry found himself asking. "Did something happen?"
"I need you to come with me," she said slowly, nodding her head. "I'll answer all your questions after we've done what we have to do."
"And what exactly do we have to do?"
She looked away for a moment, before she met his gaze, stilling at the intensity of the green of his eyes. It'd been a while since she allowed herself to look him in the eye. "We need to break into the Ravenclaw Common Room," she said.
If he was surprised, he didn't show it.
"And drop off something," she added.
He raised an eyebrow expectantly, just waiting. He could tell from her voice that there was definitely more to it.
"Or, rather, someone," she clarified.
He startled, but he wasn't that surprised. It definitely wasn't the strangest request he'd ever received. Also, if Hermione needed his help, he was always going to give it. She had to know that. "Okay then, lead the way," he said, starting to walk towards her.
Hermione waited until he was near enough for her to reach out and squeeze one of his hands, and then she really was leading the way. She walked briskly, moving through the corridors from memory. She led him into a rather large, hidden alcove, and the scene that Harry walked into was a little shocking, to say the least.
There was three suits of armour toppled over, and two prone bodies lying on the ground: one was Ginny Weasley and the other was Eddie Carmichael.
"What the hell?" Harry automatically said. "What on earth happened, Granger?"
Hermione took out her wand and lifted Ginny off the ground, levitating her in front of both of them. "There was an incident," she said flatly. "As you know, Ginny kind of went on a date with Eddie here, and he might have tried something."
Harry blinked. "Did Ginny do this to him?"
"I did."
He just stared at her.
"I'll explain later," she said. "Do you think you can help me get Ginny back to the Tower, and then we'll deal with Carmichael? I haven't yet practiced the Disillusionment Charm and I need a lookout."
Harry just nodded, as he stepped back. He peeped out of the alcove, and then stepped out. The Castle was quiet enough that the trip back to Gryffindor Tower was wonderfully uneventful. Harry was still on alert though, his own wand at the ready.
The Common Room, thankfully, was still empty, and Harry waited downstairs while Hermione maneuvered Ginny up the stairs to her dormitory. He was a little antsy, which was mainly because he hadn't spent any time alone with Hermione since her birthday, and now here they were.
Hermione looked a little less stressed when she returned to the Common Room. "She's still out," she said to him. "I think it's better that way."
Harry blinked. "Do you know what he gave her?"
"It wasn't anything long-lasting," she said quietly. "He just wanted Jack's ex-girlfriend, apparently. To laud it over the Boy-Who-Lived."
He just stared at her. What?
She nodded apathetically, before she took Ginny up to her dormitory, leaving Harry to ponder over what was happening right now. Or, what had happened. What was Carmichael thinking? What a stupid idiot. Did he really think that nobody would find out?
When Hermione returned, she looked thoughtful. "We should probably deal with him now," she said, stepping towards him.
"Why can't we just leave him where he is?" he asked.
Her eyes narrowed. "Harry."
He huffed. "Okay."
"Do you have any ideas about how to get into the Ravenclaw Common Room?"
"We could always just ask Luna," he offered. "But she's visiting Hagrid with Neville right now." He spent a moment thinking about it. "I mean, we could always just break in," he suggested. "It's not that difficult. The riddles aren't that hard and, if we're properly disguised or, umm, invisible; we should be able to get in and out easily enough."
Hermione nodded in thought. Even though she hadn't practiced the Disillusionment Charm that much, she wasn't against trying it on Carmichael. She wouldn't have done that with Ginny or herself, but she had no qualms about the Ravenclaw.
"Uh, Jack has a Cloak of Invisibility," she said. "In his trunk. I think I might still have access to it."
Oh. "If you can get it, that's a way to get in," he said. "I think, between the two of us, we can figure out the riddle."
"Okay, I'll be right back," she said, rushing past him and up the stairs to his dormitory.
Harry found this all a little overwhelming, and he was frowning slightly when she returned, Cloak in tow. He couldn't help thinking about what Jack or Ron would do to Carmichael if they ever found out what he'd tried to do to Ginny.
"Shall we?" she asked, and then they were on their way. Harry followed in silence, allowing her to lead the way. He enjoyed being able to watch her as she walked through the corridors, her skirt swaying and her ponytail swinging to the rhythm of her footsteps. He missed being able to hold her, to touch her and kiss her whenever he wanted to. He missed being able to talk to her about anything and everything and he missed being able to look at her without it being creepy.
Because, right now, he felt like a bit of a pervert.
"Harry?"
He snapped his head towards her, blushing at the fact that he'd been caught staring.
"In here."
It took them close to five minutes to figure out how they were going to get all three of them into the Common Room. First, she cast a Disillusionment Charm on the boy on the floor, surprising herself when it actually worked. She looked at Harry to see if he saw, but he was busy trying to sort out the Cloak.
It wasn't lost on her that he'd actively taken a step back.
Breathing a sigh, Hermione cast Silencing Charms on all three of them before Harry levitated Carmichael, covered the two Gryffindors, and then they were on their way. They encountered a few students, but they stayed near the walls to avoid them.
As Harry suspected, the riddle was simple, and they gained access to the Ravenclaw Common Room easily enough. There were students who turned their attention to the open door, and Hermione dropped her Silencing Charm to speak.
"Oh damn, I forgot my Transfiguration Book at the library."
Harry grinned at her, even though she probably couldn't see. She reached blindly for him, took hold of his hand and tugged lightly, getting them moving again. It was a lot harder to get through the many bodies, but they just about managed it, narrowly avoiding elbows to the abdomens. It was even more complicated getting up the stairs, but Harry was only able to register his relief that the stairs didn't practically spit them out, seeing as they weren't Ravenclaws.
As if the ghosts were smiling down on them, Carmichael's dormitory was empty, and it was easy enough to find which bed was his. The tosser had his name everywhere. Hermione could practically smell the potions.
Hermione closed the door behind them, locked it and removed the Cloak. With less care than was strictly necessary, Harry set Carmichael down on his bed, and Hermione dropped the Disillusionment Charm.
Harry immediately pointed his wand at the still-unconscious boy.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.
He looked at her with innocent eyes. "Nothing."
"Harry."
There was something in her voice that made him cower. "Well, you see, you had all the fun stunning him and I'm feeling a little left out."
"So you thought you'd do what exactly?"
"It's a mild compulsion charm," he explained.
"That does what exactly?"
He couldn't help his grin. "Well, basically, every time he thinks something nasty about either you or Ginny; he'll have the urge to visit the loo."
She just stared at him.
"And not for just a number one, mind you."
She blinked - once, twice - before she burst out laughing. "That's brilliant!"
He was surprised by her reaction. "It is? I thought you'd be mad."
She shook her head. "He deserves it," she concluded somewhat darkly, making him look at her in a new way. If Hermione were even remotely vain; she might have said that it was a look of pure fascination on his face. He hadn't looked at her like that in a while.
Well, not that she'd seen anyway.
Harry took a deep breath before he pointed his wand at the unconscious boy once more. He whispered the incantation, watched the spell take effect and then grinned at Hermione. "One week, tops," he said happily.
"Tops?"
"Depends on the potency of his thoughts," he informed her, shrugging slightly.
"I didn't know there was a spell that could do that," she said thoughtfully.
He dropped his gaze, blushing slightly. "There isn't. Not exactly, anyway."
She eyed him for a moment. "You are going to elaborate on that," she said; "but I think we should get out of here first, before someone catches us."
Harry nodded in agreement before stepping towards her, taking the Cloak from her and throwing it over them both. She absently stepped closer to him, breathing him in. He smelt so familiar that Hermione was forced to close her eyes.
It felt different this time. They'd been through something, and now there was something new and different between them, though neither would be able to explain how that was if they were ever asked to.
Hermione started them moving, absently linking her arm with his when they reached the door. She whispered another Silencing Charm before she leaned forward to check if the corridor was empty, and then the two of them were making a dash for it.
They practically flew through the Common Room, narrowly avoiding a curious Seventh-Year, and then they were sprinting away from the entrance, their feet carrying them as fast as they possibly could.
In fact, Harry was quite impressed that he didn't have to slow his steps at all as they ran together. She might even have outpaced him on an off day.
They only slowed down when they were near Gryffindor Tower. Hermione came to a complete stop when the Fat Lady was in sight, removed the Cloak from herself and desperately tried to calm her erratic breathing.
It was only after a moment that Harry realised that she was laughing.
"What's so funny?" he asked, automatically smiling at her antics as he too removed the Cloak and held it over his forearm.
"If I hadn't had the good idea to Silence us, the whole of Ravenclaw would now know that you scream like a girl."
"I do not."
She laughed again. "For a second there, I thought it was Olivia standing next to me and not a Harry Potter who's voice has already broken."
He just stared at her, thoroughly maintaining the pretence that he was offended. He was desperate not to crack a smile.
When she'd recovered enough, she pat his arm gently. "Don't worry, Harry; you'll always be my knight in shining armour."
He dutifully puffed out his chest and lifted his nose higher. "Don't you forget it, Granger."
They exchanged a significant look, which removed all amusement from the situation. Whatever they'd done was because Eddie had tried to hurt Ginny. Harry knew what it was like to be used in such a way, and he didn't wish it on anybody. Not even the person who'd done it to him.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" he asked seriously.
She looked away for a moment. "Well, I felt kind of off about the whole thing," she told him. "You know his reputation with the potions, and I was nervous, I guess. I mean, I'm the one who pushed her to start spending time with other people; to date other people."
Harry frowned. "You don't honestly think that this is your fault, do you?"
She blinked.
"Granger?"
"I don't know," she said. "I just - I guess I feel a little bit responsible."
Harry stepped forward. "Granger, please," he said. "This is not your fault, okay? Logically, I know you know that. Everyone makes decisions, and things happen."
She swallowed, effectively bypassing his words. "I went looking for her, because I had a bad feeling. It's - I found them and I - "
Harry stepped forward again. "You had to do something."
She blinked back her tears. "I did."
"And you did."
"I don't even think she saw me," she said. "Or him, for that matter."
"So my punishment is moot?"
"He'll probably have bad thoughts about her, so probably not."
Harry nodded. "Are you going to tell her it was you?" he asked.
"I haven't yet decided," she said. "But I think I won't. I wouldn't even know what to say."
Harry wanted to offer her something, but he wasn't sure what. Which words was a person supposed to say at a time like this anyway?
"I just - I had to do something," she repeated.
"You did, Granger. You did good." Harry lifted his arms, moving to hug her but she flinched involuntarily.
"I should probably go and check if Ginny's awake," she said, sounding particularly nervous as she took a small step back.
Harry didn't allow the sting to show on his face. "You should," he agreed. "Umm, I'll just return this to Jack's trunk." He stepped back, hoping that Hermione left the trunk open. She didn't say anything otherwise, so he suspected that the genius she was had the foresight to do just that. "Will you let me know how she's doing?" he asked.
She waited a beat before she nodded, and then she was leading the way to the Fat Lady, thankfully at a much more sane pace. The Common Room was as empty as it'd been when she first entered almost an hour ago. Just him, and just her.
She gave him one last look. "Thank you, Harry," she said sincerely, and then she was sprinting up the stairs towards the girls' fifth-year dormitory.
Harry just watched her go. There was so much he wanted to say to her; so much that she needed to know. But they didn't have that kind of relationship anymore. He didn't even know what kind of relationship they did have.
That all changed on Hallowe'en Day.
On said morning, Hermione noticed that Harry, Luna and Neville weren't at breakfast, and she immediately knew that the Mosstroopers had something planned. Instead of the burning desire to find out what they were up to, she was hit by a different feeling; a more morbid one. Loneliness. They were out somewhere making plans, and she was here, with people whom she didn't actually like.
She shook her head. No. These feelings were just residual ones from her birthday. This life she lived here had nothing to do with her parents, and she wouldn't allow them to ruin this day.
A day that was just a normal one, really.
Her resolve barely lasted through her morning classes. Hermione felt the full weight of her realisation as she went through the motions, barely participating in class and nodding absently whenever Fay or Eloise attempted to engage her in conversation.
By the time classes let out for the afternoon, Hermione was ready to disappear into a corner of the library and try to force away whatever she was feeling. That was the worst part, wasn't it? She couldn't even explain what she was feeling. It was something; something bad.
One of those feelings that creeps up on you, coming from no place in particular. One of those feelings that you don't see coming, that settles over you like a heavy cloud, demanding to be noticed.
It was suffocating.
She packed up her things, shouldered her bag and then left the classroom with her isolated destination in mind.
"Hey, Granger?"
Her heart skipped a beat, whether from the shock of the sound of his voice, or because the voice belonged to Harry Potter; she didn't know. "Harry. Hi."
He fell into step beside her as she continued with her walk towards her solitude in the library. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes full of concern as they stayed on her face. "You've been, uh, quiet. Barely said anything at lunch."
"You weren't even sitting with me at lunch."
He blushed, but ignored her comment. She had to know that he couldn't stop looking at her. "Are you okay?" he repeated.
"I'm - "
He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Hermione wasn't able to tell him that she was fine, because she definitely wasn't. She hated that these feelings were manifesting today. It was supposed to be a day of celebration, but all she could think about was -
Well, really, she couldn't help thinking that, even on this day, the great big world probably wouldn't even notice if she were to disappear.
"Granger?" he prompted, bringing her to a stop by placing a hand on her forearm.
She stared down at where he was touching her.
"Talk to me." His tone was so gentle, so pure, that tears sprung to her eyes. Merlin, what was wrong with her? Harry immediately stepped towards her. "Hey," he whispered. "Granger. Oh, Hermione."
At the sound of her first name from his lips, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He closed his arms around her a beat later and Hermione couldn't remember feeling as safe as she did in that very moment. There was just something about being held by Harry Potter that settled the anxious monster inside of her.
Harry ran a soothing hand over her hair. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"What are you sorry for?" she mumbled back, barely loosening her grip on him.
"I don't know," he said. "Just, whatever's making you feel this way. I'm sorry that it does. Please tell me what I can do to make it better."
"You're doing it."
He held her tighter. "You know you can talk to me," he whispered. "Describe what you're feeling. Maybe we can work through it together."
Hermione didn't know if she could put whatever she was feeling into words, let alone convey them well enough for Harry to understand. Nevertheless, she was willing to try. "I feel - I feel like I'm all on my own in this world, Harry," she said softly. "Like, I'm just forgotten in the middle of nowhere, and I could just disappear and nobody would notice."
There was so much that he wanted to say, but he kept his mouth shut. She was talking now.
"Sometimes I feel like I don't even matter; like I'm lost in all this unknown." She wiped at a stray tear. "There's just darkness, and it's as if the ground is broken beneath me, pulling me down. I don't - I mean, I want it all to stop. How do I make it stop?"
Harry didn't immediately say anything. Instead, he just reached for her hand and squeezed it tight. "I know it feels like it sometimes, Granger, but I already told you that you are most definitely not alone in this world," he said carefully. "Let me be your anchor, Hermione. You can hold onto me."
She had to wipe away some more tears as they started to fall.
"Anytime you're lost and alone, I will find you," he told her. "Need me. Hold on. I won't let you drift. I won't let you disappear. I promise I won't."
Hermione just stared at him.
"Please don't cry," he whispered. "I don't like it when you cry."
"I don't like it either, believe me."
They shared a small smile.
Harry lifted his own hands to wipe at her tears. "These are just moments, like stepping stones, on your way to the you you're supposed to be," he said, cupping her face in his hands.
"You sound like a greeting card," she said, laughing through her tears.
"Made you smile, didn't it?"
"Thank you, Harry," she said softly, her gaze meeting his.
"I don't know what I did, but anytime, Granger."
She reached out to touch his face, her fingers featherlight against the skin of his cheek. Sometimes she caught herself marvelling over this boy who, in the great scheme of things, shouldn't exist. After all the world dealt him, he shouldn't be so full of care and love.
And yet.
"Where are you headed?" Harry asked, blinking.
The sound of his voice seemed to snap her to attention and she pulled her hand back. "The library."
"Oh, cool," he said, stepping back slightly. "Well, let me not keep you."
She kept her eyes on him, even as he shifted awkwardly and fidgeted in position. She cleared her throat. "Would you like to join me?" she asked.
His eyes snapped towards her. "What?"
"That Ancient Runes assignment looks tricky; I could use some help with it," she said, which they both knew was a lie.
A lie that Harry was always going to exploit. "Oh my," he said, dramatically clutching at his chest. "Did Hogwarts' Number One Student just ask for my help? Professor Slughorn would croak and die if he were to hear that. I'm so honoured."
She rolled her eyes, before she put her hand out to take. "Come on."
Harry recognised that this was one of those moments he mentioned, and his heart skipped several beats. Was this it? Was this the moment that she told him she was ready? And, if it was, why on earth was he hesitating?
Taking a quick breath, Harry reached for her hand and allowed her to lead the way to the library. As they walked, his grip on her hand shifted until their fingers were entwined. Harry could practically feel their magic swirling together, and he couldn't help feeling as if he was coming home.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder at him as they walked, having to remind herself that he was still there. He told her that she could hold onto him and that was exactly what she intended to do.
Once they were settled at their table - opposite each other because Hermione's hands were coming to life again - it was a struggle to focus on the work in front of them. Harry tried. He really tried, but Hermione kept sneaking looks at him, only to constantly catch him already looking at her. They would exchange embarrassed smiles and then feign getting back to their work.
It happened a few times before Hermione had enough. They were being ridiculous. This whole thing; it was just ridiculous. She set her quill down and looked at him. Surprisingly, he wasn't looking at her.
"Harry," she said.
"Hmm," he sounded, scribbling the last bit of his sentence. "What's up?"
"Do you think I could talk to you?" she asked seriously. "Somewhere private."
Harry frowned, suddenly nervous. "Uh, sure," he said.
Hermione stood up and waited for him to do the same. She turned on her heel and headed further into the library, intent on finding a quiet spot where she could tell - no, show - him that she was done with all this ridiculousness.
When she found the best spot, she stepped between two bookshelves and pulled Harry's sleeve sharply enough for him to stumble to his right, bumping her in the process.
"Sorry," he automatically said.
She pulled him further away from the aisle, hiding them both. "I'm the one who should be sorry, Harry," she said.
He dusted himself off. "Uh, I'm pretty sure I'm the one who stumbled into you," he said, frowning in confusion.
She laughed. "I'm not talking about that," she said. "I'm talking about everything else."
His frown only increased. "I don't understand."
She smiled. "Of course you don't."
"Still don't understand, Granger."
She stepped towards him. "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course. You know you can tell me anything."
"I've always been a little terrified of you," she said, her hands reaching out to touch his chest. "You've always been so sure, Harry, and I'm... not." She dropped her gaze to her hands. "Well, I wasn't."
He just stared at her.
"I guess I want to tell you is that I get it now." She took a deep breath. "I'm still unsure about many things, Harry," she said; "but I'm sure about you."
He blinked a few times. "Okay," he said. "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?"
She bit at her bottom lip while she nodded slowly, trying to gauge his reaction. It was when he started to smile that wicked grin that she absolutely adored that she realised that she was holding her breath.
"Hermione," he whispered, his fingers threading a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
She took a deep breath, steeled herself, and then reached up to kiss him. It was a chaste kiss, short and sweet. Enough to make her meaning clear to him.
Harry definitely understood.
She kissed him once, twice, and then pulled back to find him smiling at her.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi back."
Harry kissed her again, just because he could. "I missed you," he whispered.
"I missed you too."
"I was always right here, you know?"
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest, gripping his shirt in her fists and breathing him in. It felt like it'd been years since she felt this calm, this relaxed. This peaceful.
Harry wrapped his own arms around her, and they stood like that for close to seven minutes. Hermione was content to listen to his beating heart, allowing herself to feel everything she was feeling. This was Harry. She was safe with Harry.
At a certain point, Hermione lifted her head so she could look at him. "Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"We're going to be okay, right?"
"I like to think so, yes," he told her.
"Because you're a realist?"
"Would you rather I were an optimist?"
She let out a breath. "God no."
He laughed lightly. "You really are a cynic, aren't you?"
"But a romantic one."
"Such an enigma."
She kissed his cheek.
"It's going to be different this time," he said. "It's going to be better, Granger."
Hermione wanted to believe him. If she were any other person on the planet, she probably would have. But, in that moment, she just couldn't.
"It's okay, Granger," he said, noticing her skepticism. "The best is yet to come. I promise."
It wasn't exactly a surprise when Harry and Hermione were spotted holding hands later the same day, each of them content to allow the school to think what it wanted. There would be no confirmations or denials from either one of them, though Luna did raise her eyebrows suggestively when Hermione sat with them for the Hallowe'en Feast.
"Harry," Luna said; "is she your girlfriend?"
Despite himself, he blushed. "Shut it, Luna."
Hermione just laughed. "Oh, Luna, please never stop being you."
"Who else would I be?" she asked innocently.
Neville just smiled at them both. "It's about time, don't you think?"
"I do," Harry and Hermione said at the same time, before they shared a smile.
"So, what do you three actually have planned for tonight?" Hermione asked.
"What makes you think we have something planned?" Luna asked.
"You weren't at breakfast," she pointed out.
Harry glanced at her. "You noticed that, did you?"
She blushed as if on command.
Luna leaned forward, her eyes on Hermione. "I'm so glad you're here," she said. "And, no, we don't have anything planned." She leaned back, smiling knowingly. Then: "Not tonight, at least."
Hermione looked at Harry. "Really? Nothing?"
He nodded. "Nothing."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "Why not?"
She pouted slightly. "There you go answering my questions with questions."
"I learn from the best."
She couldn't stop herself from kissing him, pecking him quickly but not entirely discreetly. It didn't matter. She didn't care. It already felt different.
Harry could feel as if she really was his this time; nobody else's. She wasn't splitting her time, or trying to share herself. She was either here with him or she was with herself. As sad as that was, Harry secretly wished that he would be enough for her. Enough to cover the holes Jack, Ginny and Ron left, and make up for the oblivion that existed where her parents should. He needed to be enough.
Because, well, he had a promise to keep.