The bat within me 12
During that time, Harry had been wandering in his newly charmed costume. It was actually his evening dress robes that he had transfigured into his night's escapade costume.
He laughed to himself, he couldn't picture himself sewing.
He had watched with great admiration, Hermione knitting the socks for the House elf when she had her SPEW phase.
His costume actually looked like a bat, at first he wanted an animal that would honour his father but he could hardy imagine himself walking around as a hart. Than he thought he should difference and assert himself.
He thought of the bat because to Chinese people such as Quya-ming,the bat symbolized good fortune and great happiness. They also maintained that the bat flies head downwards because of the weight of its brains.
The bat is a symbol of the challenge to let go of the old and create the new - death and rebirth. To many this is distressing, thus so much negativity around it. They symbolize the facing of fears - entering the dark on the way to the light.
And that's basically how he felt. 'entering the dark on the way to the light', that was his goal. It was his life, now thinking about it.
He tried to find as much as information as he could on the whole event. He went to sneakers, the one he knew the order was consulting, to know if there was anything more to this case, than what the press had been telling. He was of course hiding in the dark the whole time.
"Any list of the stolen components ?"
"No, they probably weren't declared, thus illegal." replied R.M.
"Thank you anyway."
He left and went back to the crime scene, hoping to find clues, when suddenly a glimpse of silver hair got his attention.
"Stupid pig" muttered Lucius Malfoy when he saw what had happened to his supplier very well sponsored shop.
"He could have seen what was happening had he not been snoring his head off." He said scornfully.
Harry saw there was someone hooded beside him, but he could not see who it was.
It was indeed very dark and but Harry could still make out the expression of pure annoyance on Malfoy senior's face.
"How will I get this Pegasus' blood now ?"
Hmm of COURSE it would be illegal ! thought Harry. WAIT a minute …He remembered Hermione saying something about it, while they were studying for potion.
"It is used in immortality rituals, of course it has to be mixed with several other rare and/ or illegal ingredients, that are very dangerous to manipulate, also the wizard who will be drinking it must have a very strong will and mind, otherwise he will be controlled by the potion and destroyed within after suffering a great deal."
He was glad he had listened to her now.
'A wizard with a strong will and mind… OH MY GOD !' he left, his cape flying behind him.
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He left his dorm for breakfast and he heard two familiar voices talking.
"I must have fell asleep reading."said Hermione.
Harry widened his eyes.
"But I saw you go to bed yesterday." He retorted wondering why she was now sitting on the couch looking half awake.
"I woke up around midnight because I couldn't sleep, I think this has to do with Ginny, I started to read and well here I am I suppose." she said sleepily.
She stirred and said :
"I'll go get ready."
She went up the girls' dorm.
10 minutes later she was back looking better, and they all headed to Breakfast.
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Hermione was surprised most of the slytherins had made it to breakfast, they were looking like hell but they could have gotten like that just from a bad hangover.
Nothing out of the ordinary seemed to have happened.
'hmm…just you wait …'
"Herm ? Are you alright ? You've been staring at the Slytherin table for a while now." Asked Ron who actually noticed something very subtle for once.
"Oh no, don't worry it's fine, I was just thinking about the classes ahead of us, and the fact that their wasn't many classes with slytherin this year." she said quickly, Harry noticed the urgency in her answer.
He eyed her carefully.
She did look tired, Ginny's attack must have really affected her. They hadn't found who had done it yet, and Ginny was still asleep, recovering.
Harry's blood was suddenly boiling, thinking of Ginny lying in bed after having suffered such a violent act. She was so innocent, so pure.
She had been punished for associating with him, he was sure of it, when his glare came across Malfoy's, an ugly frown appeared on his face.
Though Malfoy looked king of strange, he seemed, lost in thoughts, as if he had no idea who he was.
Snape came behind him and his goons, whispering something to them, Malfoy's eyes became wide.
They all stood up, and left.
Hermione smiled.
'Part one completed.'
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By lunch everyone had noticed Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini's absence.
And the Gossip was gaining momentum.
"Apparently they found out about him being a death eater and having taken a major part in the attack of Hogwarts." Said Seamus.
"No, that's not what Dean told me, apparently he has had some sort of problem with the abroad mob that has robbed Krempe's shop." Said Neville.
"No you're wrong, people are saying, well anyway Lavendar is, that he had an affair with Ginny, and that Pansy learned about it and that's why Ginny's lying on a Hospital bed right now." Said Parvati.
"WHAT ?!" exclaim Ron." Where is Lavendar, I'm gonna Chop her head off for spreading such dreadful rumour!" said Ron, standing up.
Harry held his forearm forcing him to sit down.
"Ron this is not the solution, you know that if you get angry they'll say something stupid like 'only the truth hurts', or something. This is Lavendar's way of existing, let her be." Say Harry calmly.
Hermione was quite surprised too, this whole situation must have been affecting him severly too, she couldn't not recognize him.
She remembered that they were still technically together, as no one had said it was over.
Did she want to stay with him after all that she had experienced?
Did it matter, all of this, compared to what she had with Harry?
Was her revenge more important than their relationship?
He had been quiet silent too, those last days, was he hiding something from her?
Ron stood up and left all the same.
"I'm suffocating here, I'll meet you later, I need to take a walk."
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"Hermione, could we go somewhere private, I'd like to talk to you before classes start." Said Harry not daring to look at her in the eyes.
"Sure." She said standing up.
In the empty corridor, Hermione was the first to talk.
"What is it Harry?" that's it he's gonna say it, he'll say we're over…she thought.
"I wanted to say, I was sorry for last time. But I want you to understand my feelings, I was so scared of loosing you and you just were too forward, and that's not how you usually are so I guess, I was scared we'll do something you'll regret." He said those last words looking at his feet.
"Of course I understand Harry, thank you so much for that, what you did was fair, and right, so … so like you. Thank you, you were right, I didn't know what I was doing." She said smiling at him and taking his hands in her own.
He sighed.
"And I also hope that you understand that too. The battle is getting close, and on the night of the attack I realized that I would never survive if anything happened to you."he said this time looking straight at her in the eyes.
"DON'T YOU DARE GO THERE !" she shouted letting go of his hands and turning her back to him, her arms crossed over her chest.
He touched her shoulders gently.
"You have to understand, 'mione, it's just momentarily, when the war is over, we'll get back together." He said putting his chin on her shoulder.
She turned around.
"And if the war doesn't end as we planned? Will you be able to face yourself, knowing that we haven't spent time with each other with the status we want to have? If you die, Harry, how will I cope ? Will I treasure the great moment of love we had together ? No because we won't have had any real thing. I know what it feels to be with you, I mean truly with you and I don't think, I will be able to fight if you are not really by my sides."she said tears spilling down her cheeks. It killed him to do that.
"You won't have to fight this is my battle, you'll be safe somewhere, while I handle this. Plus I'll always be by your side, Herm, just not the way we are now. Not when you will be the first target." He explained firmly.
"You don't think I'm able to defend myself ?" she said turning around to face him. "I want to fight too, I want to defend what is precious to me, I'm not going to sit down and wait for you to come back, and you know that very well." She shouted.
There was 2 minutes silence, then Harry exploded.
"I'VE LOST EVERYONE, SIRIUS, MY DAD, MY MOM, I NEARLY LOST YOU AND GINNY! I'M JUST STARTING TO REBUILD MY LIFE I DON'T WANT IT BURNED TO ASHES AGAIN!" Hermione could not recall when she had last seen him so angry.
"If something happens to you because you are in need of assistance while I am not here I'll never forgive myself. You are just doubting, it's normal Harry, you are our leader, it's normal to have doubts, but please don't do this to us, I need you, we'll get through this together." She said hugging him as he held her close.
She kissed him, but not like the night she had came back, it was more of 'I'm right here don't worry' kiss.
"I'm sorry Hermione." He said looking in her eyes. But she knew exactly what he meant by this : I'm not changing my mind.
She pushed him away.
"Go to hell."she said "you can't keep me locked up until the war is over. I'm not a prisoner, I will be the only one responsible for the choices I'll be making. You want to play the hero or what, you want to fulfil your martyr part ? You enjoy this don't you? Being pitied by everyone ? Well guess what? Without me or Ron you'll be dead by now Harry, and if we're not on the field than you'll die, for real, this time." she said.
"This is not about Ron." He said not wanting to bring him up in the conversation.
"What do you mea-" Then she understood. "OH he's going isn't he ? He's going fight with you then? Tell me, what motivated your decision? The fact that he is a pureblood, or a guy or perhaps both ?" she started leaving, but he stopped her by the arm.
She shook him off.
"Don't touch me, don't talk to me, I'm going to have very much trouble seeing your face in the next few weeks, I'll go and lock myself up in my room just like a defenceless, mudblood, damsel in distress would do at times such as these." She ran up.
Harry slapped his forehead silly.
'Well if she's angry with me at least she won't be targeted.'
He sighed, he already was missing her.
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"What an idiot." shouted Hermione to no one.
When suddenly she overheard a very interesting conversation:
"You have to understand Mister Malfoy that you are risking expulsion, all of you. But considering that there was no money under your bed, that could be seen as a foolish attempt of saving your head." Said Macgonagall.
"Please Minerva, there is no proof that the boys have put this money under there bed. Someone might have done it on purpose to get them in trouble." Said Dumbledore.
Wise man …thought Hermione.
"But there is no proof of the contrary Albus, this money definitely comes from Krempe's robbery. The authorities said that it had been perpetuated by four or fiver person." Replied Snape.
"Until the contrary is proven they are innocent. They already spent the whole day being interrogated. You may go now." Said Dumbledore finally.
She hid quickly in a corner.
'Can't believe old Albus had his door opened. That man is way too trustful.'
"I'm sure the Parkinson bitch is responsible for this."said Goyle gritting his teeth.
"No, how could she have gotten the money from Krempe's shop? She is not as half clever. Plus Draco has got a lot of enemies."said Blaise.
"She must have accomplices, who stole the money and then during the party yesterday, Pansy stuffed the money under our beds except mine, knowing I would be the first targeted, and satisfying her need of revenge after the humiliation I inflicted on her yesterday." Said Malfoy.
Hermione blinked a few times, well I never suspected it, Malfoy has a brain …
"Yeah but the robbery took place before the diner scene." Said Blaise then.
"Well then I don't know but I'm sure Pansy's mixed with it somehow."Malfoy said thoughtful.
They all left.
Well it is time for a little escapade…
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Around one a.m, Draco went to the balcony and lit up his cigarette, only wearing his boxer.
"What did the Headmaster wanted with you?" asked a low voice.
Malfoy jumped.
"Father ? What are you doing here ? I thought no one could apparate in Hogwarts." He said surprised.
" The attack was only a cover, in fact we managed to hide some warded apparition point, all around here, we'll be ready for the next attack which should be around Halloween or so." He explained. "So what did he want ?"he asked getting eager.
Draco told the whole story.
"Hmm, accomplices you say? We are also trying to figure out who it is but contrary to the press, we don't think they were many of them. Probably two or three, well keep your eyes open."
Wrong again thought Hermione who had decided to pay a little visit to Malfoy as well.
"Well I have some business to attend to." He said leaving.
"Ah going to see Persephone are you ?"asked Malfoy.
"You know me too well son."said Lucius smiling.
Persephone huh ?
"Well I'll suppose I'll see you later."said Draco
"Believe me you will."
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A/N: Yeah sorry it's over that chap tell me did you enjoy it or what ??
Well I did enjoy writing it I was into one of those mood where you could write all night long, but now I'm a bit tired (I had a rough day) so until next chapter !!
Jeanselina