Chapter 24
A Bit Odd Lately

After Muggle Studies, Hermione caught up with Ron in the corridor and pulled him aside. "What's the matter?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. Hermione looked over her shoulder and then pulled Ron into a corner of the hallway so no one could see them.

"Has Harry been acting a bit--oddly today?" Hermione whispered.

"How do you mean?"

"He seems so--I don't know--distant. He did thank us for saving him but the passion was missing."

Ron snorted. "Come on, Hermione. You KNOW he of all people appreciated that we went all the way to Siberia just to save him. I'm sure he has a lot on his mind right now, especiallly since he's not inflicted with two chronic muggle illnesses. That's got to be tough on a guy to take in."

Hermione nodded. "I suppose you're right, Ron." She shuddered. "He looks better than he did this summer, but there is something not quite right. You know what I mean?"

"I think so."

"Hello!"

"AHHHHHHH!" Hermione threw her backpack into the air and the intruder caught it. Lavender stood staring at the two of them, her hands on her hips and a rather indifferent expression on her face.

"Lavender--it wasn't what it looked like--honestly," Ron insisted. "Hermione just pulled me aside to ask me something."

"He's right," Hermione promised quickly.

"Right. What's going on?" Lavender asked as Ron and Hermione came out into the corridor again and started walking to their next class--Double Potions with Professor Snape in the dungeons. Hermione never looked forward to this class--Snape always found a way to humiliate a Gryffindor student, and he particuarily loved to torment her, because she was so smart and was always raising her hand to answer questions. When they first met Hermione, Ron and Harry thought that she was the most annoying girl on the planet until they had saved her from a mountain troll who had trapped her in the girls' lavatory during their first year.

"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "Remember how we made that pact the other day and made Harry swear he'd tell us what was going on?"

Lavender nodded. "Uh huh. What about it?"

"I don't think he's following through with it. He seems so distant right now."

"Distant?" Lavender looked at Ron, who shrugged. "How so?"

"Well for one thing he was in such a hurry to escape from the Great Hall and get to his first class this morning. How often do you see Harry Potter of all people do something like that? And he forgot to take me with him so I had to shout 'wait up' so he wouldn't forget to say goodbye to me!"

Lavender sniggered. "That IS strange. Well--maybe it's nothing."

"I told her he probably has a lot on his mind," Ron suggested as they entered the dungeons. Professor Snape looked up and gave them a very nasty look as they joined Harry in the middle section.

"Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up." Professor Snape scowled as he stood up and walked in front of his class. "Late to your first Potions Lesson. What does that tell us?"

Hermione swallowed nervously as Snape stared straight into her eyes and she could feel her cheeks burning. "I'm sorry, sir." She apologized quietly. Harry looked at Hermione with a sympathetic smile and she smiled back.

"NO SMILING WILL BE TOLERATED." Snape snapped, jolting the two of them so that they were paying attention. "Miss Granger--you will sit over here next to Mr. Malfoy. I won't have you and Mr. Potter acting lovey-dovey in my class."

The Slytherin students sniggered as Hermione, on the verge of tears already, picked up her books and moved to sit next to Draco, who was grinning slyly at Harry.

This scolding set the tone for the rest of the lesson. Professor Snape collected their summer essays, smirking as he glanced over Harry's and Ron's and showing Malfoys as an example of a well-done piece of work. Then they were going to begin making sleeping potions, which were supposedly very simple and that if anyone screwed up they would not last in the course for the rest of the term. It was such a miserable experience that Hermione burst into tears the moment she was far enough away from the classroom not to be heard. Harry hurried over to her and pulled her into a hug. "He's worse this year than he's ever been," Ron snarled. "We ought to report him to Dumbledore."

"Shhhhh--it's all right, Hermione." Harry whispered, rubbing her back as her shoulder shook. "No, Ron, we won't report him. He's ALWAYS like this to students who aren't in his house. You know that." This made Hermione cry even harder.

Malfoy approached them moments later, sneering. "Hullo, Potter. I see you've got yourself a girlfriend."

"Get out of here, Malfoy," Harry warned.

"A pure blood dating a filthy mudblood. Honesty, Scarhead, wouldn't you have even the least bit of decency?"

That did it. Harry gave Hermione over to Ron and slugged Malfoy right in the nose, knocking the boy to the ground. Hermione's mouth fell open. "HARRY!" She cried as Harry then dove on Malfoy and the two got into a wrestling match. Harry ignored the fact that his chest was starting to tighten. How dare Malfoy insult Hermione that way--he wouldn't tolerate it. Hermione meant too much to him. "Stop it! Please stop it! Ron--go and get help!" Hermione screamed at her friend. Just in time, Professor Lupin was on his way down the hallway and saw the fight between the two boys and immediately pulled Harry off of Draco. Each of them had a black eye and Malfoy's nose was bleeding.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lupin asked in shock. Harry was now feeling very lightheaded and was having a bit of trouble drawing a decent breath without pain seering through his lungs. "Harry--do you have your inhaler with you?" Professor Lupin asked, noticing the difference in the boy straight away. Harry was hardly able to speak but he pointed to his bag and Hermione hurried and dug through it, pulling out the small gray-coloured tube. Malfoy snorted.

"I don't know WHY you're so urgent to defend a Mudblood, Potter." Malfoy growled. "They're a disgrace to our kind anyway."

"That was uncalled for, Mr. Malfoy. Ten points from Slytherin and I'll report this incident to Professor Snape."

With one more scowl, Malfoy turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving Harry to sink to the floor, exhaustion taking over. Hermione sat down to cradle her boyfriend in her arms, and let him lean against her chest. He was heaving rather heavily, and she fanned his face with her hand.

"Do you need to go to the nurse, Harry?" He asked with concern.

Harry shook his head, coughing a bit. "I'm fine, Professor. Thank you."

"Can you stand?" Hermione asked. "Lean on me. We have the next class together anyway--" Harry leaned on Hermione as she helped him up and then she let him wrap his arm around her until he could walk on his own without stumbling. "Your first official asthma attack at school," Ron shuddered.

"Yeah." coughed Harry. "And right in front of Malfoy of all people."

Hermione kissed him. "I love you so much--you're so great." She giggled.

Harry kissed her back. "I couldn't let him insult my girlfriend like that." He winked. Ron the had to break off and go to Muggle Studies and Hermione and Harry headed towards Professor Binn's classroom for History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs. The old ghost was certainly NOT Professor Snape, but he was far from exciting. He had a droning voice and spent all of his classes lecturing. He greeted Harry and Hermione with a respectful nod when they entered and pointed to the empty table towards the back of the room.

"Your assignments please." He asked and Harry and Hermoine turned in their essays. (Harry spent most of his last two weeks of summer making up his homework for his classes so he would be prepared when the term started) Whenever Hermione saw that Harry was starting to nod off, she would nudge him with her arm and point to his notebook. Professor Binns didnt waste anytime and gave them their first major essay that would be due in two classes--a report on the difference between Mage's and Wizards and the background that caused their dislike for each other.

"For heaven's sake--what does this have to do with midevil magic?" Hermione asked as she and Harry headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.

Harry smiled. "Not sure--I guess it has something to do with the foundation of--"

"Hiya, Harry!" A familiar voice interrupted him and Harry was soon blinded by the flash of an enormous camera.

"Colin--hullo," Harry greeted once his eyes adjusted.

"I've heard you don't have a scar anymore," Colin panted. "Can I see?"

Harry looked at Hermione who shrugged, and he brushed his bangs away from his forehead.

CLICK. "Whoa." gasped Colin. "Are you happy it's gone? I sure would be."

Harry chuckled. "I don't know--it still hasn't quite sunk in that it's gone yet."

"I heard you were sick all summer too. Feeling better?"

"Yes, Colin. I am." Harry insisted. "I don't mean to be rude, but can you give Hermione and I some privacy for a bit?"

Colin nodded. "Sure. I'll see ya later, Harry." Colin hurried off to the Gryffindor table and Harry pulled Hermione away from the entrance into a corner of the hallway. No words were exchanged, but he lowered his lips to hers and they began to kiss. Soon Hermone had her arms around him and the two had to steady themselves against the wall so that they wouldn't fall on top of each other to the floor.

"I needed that," Harry said when they parted. "God you're so beautiful." He touched her cheek.

Hermione smiled. "You were worrying me for a little bit there." She admitted.

"How?" asked Harry, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I don't know. I was probably just imagining things." She kissed him again. "Come on, love--let's go and grab some food so we can pay attention the rest of the afternoon."

Harry stopped her from leaving. "One more." He promised, kissing her and she laughed.

"You scamp. Come on, Harry." She took his hand and pulled him into the Great Hall.