Sorry it's taken so long guys. It was finals week (I totally failed my Econ final) and my computer's been on the fritz. I lost all my work for this last chapter:( and had to try to re-write it from memory. That, and I'm lazy as hell and fell into a serious case of writer's block(I've still got it by the way) Okay, problems aside, here's the next installment:)
Chapter 21- Reality as a Smack in the Face
******************************
Harry and Ron left the hospital in a hurry to find Hermione. Things were starting to get strange (well, stranger. Things were already strange) and Harry was starting to have a bad feeling of wicked things to come. This incident with the Slytherins seemed to coincide almost too perfectly with the fact that Harry had revealed his secret to Ron. He was having doubts as to whether it was coincidental, and whether he should tell Hermione.
It seemed an omen of sorts.
"Ron," Harry said with immediate seriousness.
Ron stopped in the middle of the hall, alerted by the tone of Harry's voice. "What?"
"I don't think I should tell Hermione."
"What? Why?" As if Harry wasn't already confusing enough. "If it's because of those Slytherins...You had nothing to do with that, so don't go sayin' anything about trouble, mate."
"It just seems too perfect. I don't think it was chance that we came upon them, Ron."
"You didn't do that."
"I'm not saying I did." Although he had his doubts. "Look, first I tell you, and we come across this. Next thing I know, I'll tell Hermione, and-"
"Tell me what?" an inquisitive voice asked behind Harry. He turned around to be face to face with Hermione.
"I-uh..."
"Tell you about the Slytherins in the courtyard," Ron interjected.
"Uh-Yeah."
"I heard about that already. I came to find you," she said looking intently at Harry. She didn't hold any such demeanor of the previous day that she did when she had gone crying from the Great Hall.
Harry looked to Ron for help, but he was conveniently staring at the wall. "Hermione, listen. I-"
"Harry." She looked around to make sure that they were alone. She was in no mood to cause a scene today. "If you don't want to tell me about yesterday, then that's fine. I won't let one incident get in the way of our friendship, and keeping secrets is fine. But really, Harry, keeping big secrets from your friends doesn't really make you a friend at all."
Ron looked nervous, if not very guilty for already knowing, and Harry felt low. Very, very low. "Can we talk about this later, Hermione? Now's not good."
"Why isn't now good?"
"It just isn't. Not here out in the open. In the Common Room, or the dorms, but not here in the middle of Hogwarts."
"Harry, I'm begging you. Please." She looked to Ron for some support, and was thoroughly surprised when he wouldn't meet her eyes. "Ron! What do you know?!"
"...Nothing..."
"What did you tell him, Harry?!" she demanded. Harry's expression told Hermione all she needed to know, and before she knew what was happening, her hand made firm contact with his cheek.
"OW!"
"Ow!" Hermione shook her hand to cool it off as Harry covered his cheek. When Harry's surprised eyes gawked at her, she stormed off down the corridor, leaving both boys reeling in the aftermath of her anger.
Harry gaped openly at Ron, who smirked and clasped him on the shoulder. "She could've hit you somewhere else."
"Has she always hit that hard?!"
Ron laughed as Harry removed his hand from his face, revealing a crimson cheek. "Glad it wasn't me."
"Think this is another sign?"
"I don't think so."
"If she hits that hard for me telling you, then what will she do if I tell her?"
"What will she do if you don't?"
"I'd really rather not find out."
*******
After much deliberation and pleading with Hermione through girlfriends, Harry finally got her to come out of her dorm and down to the Common Room where he explained everything he had previously told to Ron, who received more than his share of glares from her.
"And I didn't want to tell you, either of you, because of the risks involved. You know now, so you must be extra careful. Don't trust anyone or anything, and don't speak of it outside the Tower. I'm not sure how safe things are, especially after the incident with those Slytherins, and no one is even sure how that happened, so be on your guard. I'd kill myself if anything happened to either of you because I've talked."
Hermione looked thoughtful at Harry's last sentence and Ron looked sulky. Harry wasn't sure how exactly they were handling the gravity of the situation. Ron didn't look half so dejected the first time he'd been through this, and Harry supposed it took awhile for it to sink in.
"But just remember, I have 'detention' every evening, and I'm still not sure what I'm currently capable of, so just watch out. Not only for trouble, but also, watch out for me."
"Harry, what do you mean? You aren't dangerous," Hermione said with certainty.
"Yeah, mate. I proved it to you." Having said this, Ron gave Harry another punch in the arm, at which he tried to slug the youngest Weasley male back. "Too slow for ya, Harry. As we said before, you're not a danger to us."
"Promise me you'll be wary though," Harry said, resigned to the fact that he could always get Ron back later. "Dumbledore himself said that the risks are great, and personally, I have no reason to doubt that he isn't joking in the least."
"Everything will be fine. You'll see."
"Ron's right, Harry. With Snape and Dumbledore both helping you, things should start looking up. I mean, you're already stronger, aren't you?"
"That's what Snape seemed to think," Harry said, omitting unnecessary details.
"Well that's good, isn't it?"
"The thing is, I don't know why my magic is suddenly stronger. It could be due to any number of reasons-"
"Not that you could just be progressing, eh?"
Harry gave Ron an annoyed look, and Ron merely grinned. "I don't know, Ron, but I'm not taking any chances."
"Don't worry, Harry. We're here for you, and you don't have to worry."
"Right. Let us worry about us, and you worry about you. You've got more than enough going on already, and you don't need extra to worry about. And is that a gray hair?" Ron plucked at Harry's hair, and Harry pulled him into a headlock, ruffling the fiery-red.
"This is for before!" Harry said with a vengeance, tickling while ruffling Ron's hair.
"St-o-op!!" Ron shouted out at Harry. "Herm-m MIONE!"
"Nope, I'll have nothing to do with this. We have a test to study for, and I will not waste time refereeing you two." She got up out of her chair, and tried to side-step the scuffle to get back to her dorm, but in a split second, both boys united against her, and she fell to a barrage of tickles.
"Gah!!"
"Take that Hermione!"
"I'll kill you both!!"
*******
After more time than they should have spent attacking each other, they collected themselves against the furniture in the Common Room and were very pleased that no one saw them behaving so 'childish' as Hermione termed it.
"As much fun as it is being with you boys, I believe it's time to buckle down and study." Ron groaned and threw himself upon the floor melodramatically. "Oh really, Ron. You of all people have no free time to waste." She didn't touch upon the subject of his detention with Snape, but she greatly wanted to get some school work done before she could return to her own research.
"I have all the time in the world," Ron lied.
"Well then, don't expect me to help you cheat tomorrow." She got up and proceeded to climb the stairs. Ron sat with his eyes closed as if he didn't care, and then suddenly sprang up after her as he realized that she wasn't going to come back and fetch him.
"Hermione! Wait! I'm sorry! I need you! Please!" His voice started to disappear up the stairs as he chased after her begging for help to study.
"Ron, I'll help you study!" Harry called up the stairs. He heard huffing and puffing before he actually saw Ron poke his head out of the stairwell.
"I couldn't catch her. By the time I made it up the steps, they weren't steps anymore." He huffed.
"That's okay. She'll be back. I'll study with you until we have our...detentions." Ron grinned and sat Harry down at a table with an armful of books. Harry immediately regretted taking on Hermione's job.
*******
Some hours past, Harry was making ready to go to Snape's dungeon for his training session. He was nervous, if anything, and hoped against hope that Snape would be able to figure out what was wrong with him, as well as a cure to whatever caused his strange visions. He didn't want anything to happen during classes, and he wasn't sure what he could do to stop them, or if he could even recognize them against reality.
"I suppose I could always ask..." he smiled at his own stupidity and hopped out of the Common Room in the direction of the hospital. He wanted to visit Draco before his 'detention', and he had plenty of time to do so before hand.
*********************************
Ummm...yeah, there you are. Short, I know, but it was either upload this now or have an even larger, scarier delay. Sorry I've been such a butt, guys. I have some of the most severe writer's blocks ever to hit anyone anywhere. I think I'm intimidated because I keep trying to get long chappies, and I end up getting scared 0.o But yeah, whatever. Sry again, and tell me what, if anything, you'd like to see. People...places...whatever...:)
~And to those who have been so graciously patient~
NO NAME, lol: Yeah, well, my titles include that of The Evil Demon Cliffhanger Queen, so yeah:) *Snape smacks you back* Geez, he's in a pissy mood today, isn't he? Well, you did bite him...and was that a threat?! Well, it got me goin':) Hope you enjoyed this chappie!
RAV: I hope you like the way I'm portraying them, or else I really suck:) Okay, here's your update then.
PhoenixPadfoot89: No no, it wasn't the Imperius, but good guess:) You're on the right track:) Yeah, I looked back over it afterwards and I really have no explanation for why it effed up. I always have to upload as text cuz I have a dinosaur e-machine from like '97 with Windows 98, so yeah...
Katani Petitedra: Points to you, then! *Snape gives you a get-out-of-detention-free card* Wow, he really is mood-swingy today...we betta watch out! Hope you liked this one!
ParanoiaIn2005: *laughs* Yeah, I was seriously considering putting in that they were getting wicked stoned or something. :) it was very tempting. Oh, Snape would never admit he's experimented before...and he wouldn't dare admit how much he was the life of the party ...*wraps arms around her Sevvy* Yes, I suppose some things are better left unsaid:) *Snape looks horrified once again, and a little confused*
Charmed-103: naughty naughty Slytherins! What would your Head of House say? *Snape looks at Slytherins with approval* Hey you! They ain't allowed to attack my reviewers! *Snape punishes Slythies* hee hee...there you are...
Anne: I think Harry may be just as kinky as that godfather of his (see my glory story for explanation of joke:)) Oh, I'll make their days alright...hehe heh heh...*suddenly sees Harry creepily watching her from behind couch* AHH! *Snape chases Harry* hee hee...always good to me:)
Arizosa: Maybe you could try anonymously giving reviews, but then again, the damn things keeps having proxy errors or whatever the hell that happens to them:) Glad to see you enjoyed Ron smackin' Harry. It just seemed like something he'd do. Well, Harry isn't exactly full-on wizard anymore, is he? but he's certainly not full dractnox either, so he sorta has to watch it. *huggles you back* You're so sweet! *Snape tries to escape from huggles* Get back here you!
Earth Angel: Ooh! Yay! Thankies! And sorry about that =^..^= I've had a few problems:)
Chapter 21- Reality as a Smack in the Face
******************************
Harry and Ron left the hospital in a hurry to find Hermione. Things were starting to get strange (well, stranger. Things were already strange) and Harry was starting to have a bad feeling of wicked things to come. This incident with the Slytherins seemed to coincide almost too perfectly with the fact that Harry had revealed his secret to Ron. He was having doubts as to whether it was coincidental, and whether he should tell Hermione.
It seemed an omen of sorts.
"Ron," Harry said with immediate seriousness.
Ron stopped in the middle of the hall, alerted by the tone of Harry's voice. "What?"
"I don't think I should tell Hermione."
"What? Why?" As if Harry wasn't already confusing enough. "If it's because of those Slytherins...You had nothing to do with that, so don't go sayin' anything about trouble, mate."
"It just seems too perfect. I don't think it was chance that we came upon them, Ron."
"You didn't do that."
"I'm not saying I did." Although he had his doubts. "Look, first I tell you, and we come across this. Next thing I know, I'll tell Hermione, and-"
"Tell me what?" an inquisitive voice asked behind Harry. He turned around to be face to face with Hermione.
"I-uh..."
"Tell you about the Slytherins in the courtyard," Ron interjected.
"Uh-Yeah."
"I heard about that already. I came to find you," she said looking intently at Harry. She didn't hold any such demeanor of the previous day that she did when she had gone crying from the Great Hall.
Harry looked to Ron for help, but he was conveniently staring at the wall. "Hermione, listen. I-"
"Harry." She looked around to make sure that they were alone. She was in no mood to cause a scene today. "If you don't want to tell me about yesterday, then that's fine. I won't let one incident get in the way of our friendship, and keeping secrets is fine. But really, Harry, keeping big secrets from your friends doesn't really make you a friend at all."
Ron looked nervous, if not very guilty for already knowing, and Harry felt low. Very, very low. "Can we talk about this later, Hermione? Now's not good."
"Why isn't now good?"
"It just isn't. Not here out in the open. In the Common Room, or the dorms, but not here in the middle of Hogwarts."
"Harry, I'm begging you. Please." She looked to Ron for some support, and was thoroughly surprised when he wouldn't meet her eyes. "Ron! What do you know?!"
"...Nothing..."
"What did you tell him, Harry?!" she demanded. Harry's expression told Hermione all she needed to know, and before she knew what was happening, her hand made firm contact with his cheek.
"OW!"
"Ow!" Hermione shook her hand to cool it off as Harry covered his cheek. When Harry's surprised eyes gawked at her, she stormed off down the corridor, leaving both boys reeling in the aftermath of her anger.
Harry gaped openly at Ron, who smirked and clasped him on the shoulder. "She could've hit you somewhere else."
"Has she always hit that hard?!"
Ron laughed as Harry removed his hand from his face, revealing a crimson cheek. "Glad it wasn't me."
"Think this is another sign?"
"I don't think so."
"If she hits that hard for me telling you, then what will she do if I tell her?"
"What will she do if you don't?"
"I'd really rather not find out."
*******
After much deliberation and pleading with Hermione through girlfriends, Harry finally got her to come out of her dorm and down to the Common Room where he explained everything he had previously told to Ron, who received more than his share of glares from her.
"And I didn't want to tell you, either of you, because of the risks involved. You know now, so you must be extra careful. Don't trust anyone or anything, and don't speak of it outside the Tower. I'm not sure how safe things are, especially after the incident with those Slytherins, and no one is even sure how that happened, so be on your guard. I'd kill myself if anything happened to either of you because I've talked."
Hermione looked thoughtful at Harry's last sentence and Ron looked sulky. Harry wasn't sure how exactly they were handling the gravity of the situation. Ron didn't look half so dejected the first time he'd been through this, and Harry supposed it took awhile for it to sink in.
"But just remember, I have 'detention' every evening, and I'm still not sure what I'm currently capable of, so just watch out. Not only for trouble, but also, watch out for me."
"Harry, what do you mean? You aren't dangerous," Hermione said with certainty.
"Yeah, mate. I proved it to you." Having said this, Ron gave Harry another punch in the arm, at which he tried to slug the youngest Weasley male back. "Too slow for ya, Harry. As we said before, you're not a danger to us."
"Promise me you'll be wary though," Harry said, resigned to the fact that he could always get Ron back later. "Dumbledore himself said that the risks are great, and personally, I have no reason to doubt that he isn't joking in the least."
"Everything will be fine. You'll see."
"Ron's right, Harry. With Snape and Dumbledore both helping you, things should start looking up. I mean, you're already stronger, aren't you?"
"That's what Snape seemed to think," Harry said, omitting unnecessary details.
"Well that's good, isn't it?"
"The thing is, I don't know why my magic is suddenly stronger. It could be due to any number of reasons-"
"Not that you could just be progressing, eh?"
Harry gave Ron an annoyed look, and Ron merely grinned. "I don't know, Ron, but I'm not taking any chances."
"Don't worry, Harry. We're here for you, and you don't have to worry."
"Right. Let us worry about us, and you worry about you. You've got more than enough going on already, and you don't need extra to worry about. And is that a gray hair?" Ron plucked at Harry's hair, and Harry pulled him into a headlock, ruffling the fiery-red.
"This is for before!" Harry said with a vengeance, tickling while ruffling Ron's hair.
"St-o-op!!" Ron shouted out at Harry. "Herm-m MIONE!"
"Nope, I'll have nothing to do with this. We have a test to study for, and I will not waste time refereeing you two." She got up out of her chair, and tried to side-step the scuffle to get back to her dorm, but in a split second, both boys united against her, and she fell to a barrage of tickles.
"Gah!!"
"Take that Hermione!"
"I'll kill you both!!"
*******
After more time than they should have spent attacking each other, they collected themselves against the furniture in the Common Room and were very pleased that no one saw them behaving so 'childish' as Hermione termed it.
"As much fun as it is being with you boys, I believe it's time to buckle down and study." Ron groaned and threw himself upon the floor melodramatically. "Oh really, Ron. You of all people have no free time to waste." She didn't touch upon the subject of his detention with Snape, but she greatly wanted to get some school work done before she could return to her own research.
"I have all the time in the world," Ron lied.
"Well then, don't expect me to help you cheat tomorrow." She got up and proceeded to climb the stairs. Ron sat with his eyes closed as if he didn't care, and then suddenly sprang up after her as he realized that she wasn't going to come back and fetch him.
"Hermione! Wait! I'm sorry! I need you! Please!" His voice started to disappear up the stairs as he chased after her begging for help to study.
"Ron, I'll help you study!" Harry called up the stairs. He heard huffing and puffing before he actually saw Ron poke his head out of the stairwell.
"I couldn't catch her. By the time I made it up the steps, they weren't steps anymore." He huffed.
"That's okay. She'll be back. I'll study with you until we have our...detentions." Ron grinned and sat Harry down at a table with an armful of books. Harry immediately regretted taking on Hermione's job.
*******
Some hours past, Harry was making ready to go to Snape's dungeon for his training session. He was nervous, if anything, and hoped against hope that Snape would be able to figure out what was wrong with him, as well as a cure to whatever caused his strange visions. He didn't want anything to happen during classes, and he wasn't sure what he could do to stop them, or if he could even recognize them against reality.
"I suppose I could always ask..." he smiled at his own stupidity and hopped out of the Common Room in the direction of the hospital. He wanted to visit Draco before his 'detention', and he had plenty of time to do so before hand.
*********************************
Ummm...yeah, there you are. Short, I know, but it was either upload this now or have an even larger, scarier delay. Sorry I've been such a butt, guys. I have some of the most severe writer's blocks ever to hit anyone anywhere. I think I'm intimidated because I keep trying to get long chappies, and I end up getting scared 0.o But yeah, whatever. Sry again, and tell me what, if anything, you'd like to see. People...places...whatever...:)
~And to those who have been so graciously patient~
NO NAME, lol: Yeah, well, my titles include that of The Evil Demon Cliffhanger Queen, so yeah:) *Snape smacks you back* Geez, he's in a pissy mood today, isn't he? Well, you did bite him...and was that a threat?! Well, it got me goin':) Hope you enjoyed this chappie!
RAV: I hope you like the way I'm portraying them, or else I really suck:) Okay, here's your update then.
PhoenixPadfoot89: No no, it wasn't the Imperius, but good guess:) You're on the right track:) Yeah, I looked back over it afterwards and I really have no explanation for why it effed up. I always have to upload as text cuz I have a dinosaur e-machine from like '97 with Windows 98, so yeah...
Katani Petitedra: Points to you, then! *Snape gives you a get-out-of-detention-free card* Wow, he really is mood-swingy today...we betta watch out! Hope you liked this one!
ParanoiaIn2005: *laughs* Yeah, I was seriously considering putting in that they were getting wicked stoned or something. :) it was very tempting. Oh, Snape would never admit he's experimented before...and he wouldn't dare admit how much he was the life of the party ...*wraps arms around her Sevvy* Yes, I suppose some things are better left unsaid:) *Snape looks horrified once again, and a little confused*
Charmed-103: naughty naughty Slytherins! What would your Head of House say? *Snape looks at Slytherins with approval* Hey you! They ain't allowed to attack my reviewers! *Snape punishes Slythies* hee hee...there you are...
Anne: I think Harry may be just as kinky as that godfather of his (see my glory story for explanation of joke:)) Oh, I'll make their days alright...hehe heh heh...*suddenly sees Harry creepily watching her from behind couch* AHH! *Snape chases Harry* hee hee...always good to me:)
Arizosa: Maybe you could try anonymously giving reviews, but then again, the damn things keeps having proxy errors or whatever the hell that happens to them:) Glad to see you enjoyed Ron smackin' Harry. It just seemed like something he'd do. Well, Harry isn't exactly full-on wizard anymore, is he? but he's certainly not full dractnox either, so he sorta has to watch it. *huggles you back* You're so sweet! *Snape tries to escape from huggles* Get back here you!
Earth Angel: Ooh! Yay! Thankies! And sorry about that =^..^= I've had a few problems:)