Chapter 4 The Birthday Exposure
The next morning Hermione, Harry, and Devin ran the same length that Harry and Devin ran the day before and ended with stretches. Harry watched Hermione stretch, her beautiful body moving and bending in ways that made Harry forget that Devin was there. "Harry, if you two want to be alone I can go back now." Harry snapped back into reality.
"No Devin, it's ok for you to stay. We haven't really told anyone about us and sometimes it's hard not to notice her." Devin nodded looking at Hermione. "What about you Devin?" He shakes his head.
"You are lucky Harry, being normal enough to have a girlfriend, to show emotions like that." Harry and Hermione felt the wave of sadness come off Devin but unlike before Harry didn't feel empty or suicidal, just sad.
"It's alright Devin," said Hermione "Dumbledore is the smartest wizard of our time, if he can't think of something it would be a first." Harry laughed.
"And if he can't I'm sure Hermione can after all the things she did last year to help me." They got into discussing the Triwizard tournament last year and how Harry had tied with the late Cedric.
Having gone through the rest of the first week everyone was glad to have the break even if it was just two days. Harry and the others, now including Ginny, Monica, and Dean, continued running around the track.
Ginny and Dean were nearly as pathetic as Harry had been first starting out. Monica seemed to have no problem. On Sunday they were running for a crowd as people began to gather in the stands. Harry didn't mind at first but soon it got to be troublesome.
Several 5th year and 6th year girls were in the stands eyeing him like a piece of meat. His muscles and new hair cut with no glasses seemed to draw the women just like co-worker Michael had said it would. He couldn't blame them since as far as they knew he was single. Less then half a dozen knew about him and Hermione.
Then several boys showed up to stare at Monica as she ran. Rather well endowed Monica ran in a tank top that must have been bought when she was ten for it was far too small, in Harry's opinion, not that he was looking at her for Hermione to notice. The guys started cat calls and wolf whistles when she ran by making her laugh but causing Devin to get angry.
Harry fell back from the pack to meet up with Devin. "Don't think about it Devin, yes she is your sister but she can take care of herself, can't she?" Devin nodded calming down as he thought about it, she was powerful, sometimes more powerful then Devin dared to imagine or could ever be.
That night everyone stayed up later then normal not having to deal with school work energy levels were up. The board mentioned Gryffindor tryouts for keeper the next day and a one hour practice after trials.
No one seemed to care though as Ginny and Dean were snogging in one chair while Seamus and Lavender Brown were snogging in another. George with Alicia Spinnet and Fred with Katie Bell, passion and teenage hormones filled the room with sexual tension.
Harry and Hermione were having a hard time not joining in on the fun so Hermione got an idea. "Harry, I use to take Muggle Studies and I know that there is a fake house built into the classroom. One of the rooms has a bed and would be perfect for what I want to do to you right now, get your cloak and meet me outside of the Common Room." Harry didn't have time to say no, or yes, as Hermione left trying not to be seen.
Harry ran into his dorm room and dug his cloak out from his trunk. As he was walking down he saw Monica standing on the stairs to the boy's dormitories. Wondering what she was doing he threw his cloak on and watched her as he edged closer. She was talking to someone, but no one was there. But apparently someone was because she laughed at something and kept talking as though someone was there. Harry not wanting to touch her moved as far as he could against the wall behind her and walked carefully trying not to make a sound. He made it past and got out of the Common Room with no further delay.
Hermione got under the cloak with him and lead him towards the Muggle Studies room. Holding his hand she brought him into the room which was one of the largest classrooms Harry had seen. Inside was a two story muggle house not unlike the Dursley's.
Hermione lead him into it and up the stairs into a large bedroom with a bed so big it could have fit every Gryffindor 5th year boy and still have room. "Wow Hermione, I've never seen a bed this large before, it's enormous." Hermione pushed him onto the bed and jumped on top of him pinning his arms above his head.
"Mine, all mine to do with as I please."
Harry was enjoying the kissing but realized they had been gone for awhile. "Hermione, stop…"
"Why?"
"What time is it?"
Her eyes go wide as she realizes as Harry had that they had spent a bit too much time kissing. "We should get going."
"Hopefully no one notices we've been gone for so long." They get under the cloak and sneak out of the classroom.
They were halfway down the hall when Filch ran past them into the Muggle Studies room carrying a mop. "I caught you now didn't I? Where you go? Don't think you can hide from me and Mrs. Norris, we will get you!" Harry had to keep himself from laughing as Filch tore the house apart in vain. Running down the halls and stairs they got into the Common Room.
Harry kisses Hermione good night and heads upstairs to his room. Every one looked to be asleep but Ron turned over in his bed. "Where did the two of you go?"
"Uh, she, the Muggle Studies room."
"Why?"
"She wanted to practice a new spell and that classroom is huge. I never knew how big it was but it has a whole house inside of it."
"Magic is amazing isn't it? I've been a wizard for all my life so it shouldn't surprise me any more but it still does." Ron turns back over in his bed. "Good night Harry."
"Good night Ron."
Harry and Devin were the first ones to wake up in their dorm room. "Hey Devin ready for running today?"
"So Harry, you and Hermione enjoy yourselves?" He snickered throwing Harry his running shoes. Devin got out of bed already dressed for running. "Don't worry Harry, I won't tell anyone about you two. But you should be more careful next time. A lot of people noticed you disappeared." He didn't mention that the few who hadn't noticed was because they were all busy with their snogging partners.
"I guess we'll try and be more careful next time." The two leave meeting Hermione and Monica in the Common Room. "Ready?"
"Ready!" Monica almost bounces as she walks.
"How is she always so happy and hyper?" Every one ignores Harry's question as they leave for the Quidditch field.
Harry was warming up like Devin did giving Hermione a chance to talk to him. "Harry, about last night…"
"People noticed. We should," She interrupted him this time.
"I know. We were so stupid."
"You and stupid do not go together."
Hermione laughs a little. "Thanks but we were stupid last night. Monica knows about us but the others don't."
"What did they say when you woke up this morning?" She smiled.
"They thanked me for letting them get a good night sleep." Hermione sighs. "I didn't have a nightmare last night." She smiles. "I guess some one helped me keep them away. What did your roommates say?" Harry smiles back.
"They were all asleep but Ron when I got back. I told him you were practicing a new spell."
"Oh, good thinking."
"Devin told me that every one noticed we were missing."
She raised an eyebrow at Devin. He notices her stare. "Don't worry Hermione, I won't say anything. But be more careful next time you two sneak off some of us weren't busy snogging and noticed."
"Thanks Devin." Hermione smiles at Devin feeling sorry for him. Whatever was wrong with him made him dangerous but he was a good person.
"It's ok really." Devin smiles weakly. "I'm just glad that someone around me can be normal, have a girlfriend, and not have to deal with what I do." Getting up they ran for the rest of the morning.
Being an early Sunday morning the group had no audience until later when the Quidditch team would be out there for trials and practice. Getting in six kilometers that day they stopped for their stretches and other warm down exercises.
Harry who could barely touch his toes to begin with could now grab his foot as Devin had. He still wasn't able to touch his knee to his forehead, and was surpassed more by Devin even more who was putting his head on the ground next to his knee. "So Harry, I hear you are the Seeker for your team." Devin said in between stretches "Do you have any a preference for whom makes Keeper? Or does it not matter?" Harry thought about it for a moment.
"Not really, if they get the job done and are Gryffindor they can play with the rest of us." Devin sat up stretching his muscles in a new way Harry had never seen before. He bends his waist to the side in a way that made Harry grimace.
"You don't care if it's a guy or a girl? Or if they are a friend or someone you've never met before?" Harry nodded.
"Why should I? Everyone on the team has to make a start somehow and no point in putting people down for stupid reasons like gender or how well I know them. Why are you asking me anyways? Thinking about trying out for the team?" Harry was horrified by the thought of dead students on the ground because one of their teammates had scored a goal. "I didn't know you flew a broom."
"No Harry not me. I never did like flying. I'm terrified of heights and if I get even a little bit scared my abilities, well, you know. It's not me though." He dropped the conversation with that and ran back towards the school.
Quidditch Trials were packed with people. Almost every second and third year student had come for the try out. Harry was surprised when he saw Monica with a strange looking broom. "What is that?" Harry pointed to her broom.
"It's a Lexington Gold model. It's about equal to the Nimbus 2001 you British have." She was wearing her running clothes and drew quite a crowd. Finally The Twins spoke up starting the try outs.
"Alright, we are your Team Captains and have to figure out a way to see who the best Keeper out of this lot. What we have devised is a system. Each one of you has to stop five goals. They will be at random from our three Chasers. Whoever gets the most blocks win, and in case of a tie sudden death rules apply."
They went through the Keeper Try Outs cleaning out the Second and Third years quickly. Some of the Fourth years did well enough but when Monica and Ron got five blocks the fourth years were eliminated. None of the sixth or Seven years were able to block all five shots and so it was down to Ron and Monica. Harry looked around for Devin hoping he wasn't present.
"If Monica lost to Ron, Devin couldn't be stopped until Ron was nothing more than a pile of broken bones." Remembering what had happened to Draco who had since left them alone. Monica blocked, Ron blocked, going back and forth for twelve rounds. "But if she wins then Ron will be mad. It won't be good no matter what happens."
It was close for a few more rounds but Ron was getting tired. He had not been running with the others while Monica still seemed energetic.
It was the thirteenth round and Monica had to stop the Quaffle. Katie Bell flew hard toward the center goal but threw to the right. Monica went over and caught it just barely.
Ron was next also having to block Katie Bell. She did the same thing but this time shot to the center as Ron went to the right.
Fred and George clap. "Well then looks like we have ourselves a new Keeper." Monica flew done and hugged The Twins and then went over to Harry.
"I did it Harry I did it! I wasn't going to try out but Devin said you wanted me to try out!" Monica hugged Harry hard jumping up and down at the same time. Ron walked over seeing this.
"Traitor." And walked away.
"Sorry Harry." Monica said as Ron stormed off.
"Don't worry Monica, you won fair and square." She smiled "I'll talk with him later. He'll calm down." She hugs him again and then her brother when he walked over.
It was Wednesday and Ron was still mad at Harry. Harry had to do something soon or his and Hermione's plan would fail. During lunch Harry tried talking to Ron but Ron wouldn't listen. Harry decided to pull a Monica and wait for Ron to leave lunch and pull him into the classroom Monica had.
He left five minutes before everyone else and waited. He saw the students and realized his plan was flawed because if Ron walked on the other side Harry would not be able to grab him. He saw Ron coming around the corner; Harry waited until the last possible second snatching Ron by the back of his rode and dragged him into the classroom. "Ron we need to talk, please sit and listen to me alright?" Ron tried to leave but Harry blocked his way.
"Fine say what you have to traitor." Harry decided to start off with the real reason for his mission, to get Ron alone in the tunnel.
"Look, Hermione's birthday is tomorrow and I have a great present for her but I need your help with it alright?" Ron nodded. "Go to the third Hogsmeade tunnel, the one with the cave in after dinner tomorrow, and wait. I'll bring the present down and then Hermione should show up ten minutes later. You need to be down there or it won't work alright Ron?" Ron nodded again adding.
"This doesn't make me hate you any less Harry. But I don't want you alone with her." Harry went pale, did Ron know and was just playing dumb? He decided to find out.
"Why Ron? She's our friend why wouldn't it be ok?" Ron grabbed Harry by the shoulders making him sit down.
"Because she's a Death Eater." Harry watches Ron's face thinking he was kidding but Ron was being dead serious.
Harry was amazed. What was Ron going on about? Harry knew Hermione and she was definitely not a Death Eater. "What? How do you know? She can't be a Death Eater." Ron pointed to his own right arm.
"Hermione never shows her right arm, where the Dark Mark would be. I tried to get Ginny to spy for me but she thought I had other motives." He winced remembering the pain his sister caused him with her knee. "So now we can get her alone and make her tells us why she betrayed us."
"The Dark Mark goes on the left arm."
"Exactly! But what if they started placing it in other places? The Ministry only checked the left arm when people came in. Wouldn't You-Know-Who be smarter than that? They could place the Dark Mark any where!"
"She's a muggle born."
"So? She's close to you and that's what they would care about. Maybe they grabbed her when she was attacked? What if they did some spell and made her join?"
"Then she isn't a Death Eater but under the Imperius Curse."
"Maybe. I don't know. I spent a lot of time at the Ministry this summer and I noticed people acting weird."
"Voldemort is back it would make any one act differently."
"No but they have no problem showing their left arm but I would notice they'd cover up their neck or other parts. What if they started placing the Dark Mark in other places?"
"Even if they did Hermione would not be a Death Eater." Harry goes to the door. "Just make sure you're in the tunnel ok?"
Harry goes to Hermione and tells her what happened. "I can't believe Ron thinks I'm a Death Eater."
"I can't either."
"His idea about the Death Eaters moving the Dark Mark isn't a bad idea though. We should tell Dumbledore so the Ministry knows to start looking for the Dark Mark."
"Later. We have to get to class." The two go to their next class.
It was Thursday night and Ron was already waiting in the tunnel as Harry and Hermione walked down it. When they got to the last turn before where Ron was waiting they held hands and walked forward. "Hi Harry, Hi Hermione. Wait you were supposed to come down later." Ron's eyes got wide and he nearly attacked Hermione when he dived between Harry and Hermione. "Hands off Harry you mud blooded traitor!" Hermione was shocked to hear Ron say that word and shouted back.
"What was that Ron?" She shoved Ron back into Harry who wrapped his arms around Ron keeping him from attacking Hermione.
"NO! You have Harry under the Imperius Curse. I should have seen this coming, no!" Ron struggled but Harry was too strong for him. "I don't want to die, please don't kill me, we're friends!" Ron kept struggling knowing it was a lost cause begging them not to kill him if Hermione really was a Death Eater.
"We're not going to kill you Ron we just want to talk. Harry will let you go if you promise to calm down and listen. So please calm down so we can talk." Ron nodded in agreement so Harry let him go.
"Ron, Hermione is not a Death Eater, if anything she is the farthest thing from it." Harry tried to tell Ron but Ron was still panicky.
"No Harry, fight the curse! You did last year for Professor Moody do it now!" Ron's heart was beating out of control. He was tired from struggling with Harry and he fell back against the wall too tired to stand.
"Much better. Ron, I am not a Death Eater, the reason I haven't shown anyone my arm is this." She lifted her sleeve exposing the bracelet.
"What? Did you get a gift from You-Know-Who for your betrayal of Harry?" He sneered at Hermione.
"No Ron, it's a gift from my boyfriend." She looked at Harry but Ron still didn't get it. "My boyfriend." Hermione motions to Harry but Ron still doesn't understand what is going on between Hermione and Harry. His mind was still in fight or flee mode.
"Krum? What's the big deal? Everyone saw you snogging why would you hide that?" Harry was fed up with Ron's ignorance.
"I'm Hermione's boyfriend you Immature Brainless Git!" Ron's reaction was one neither had expected, laughter.
After laughing until he couldn't breath Ron stopped. "What? You two aren't dating. You would have told me."
"We are, now, really Ron."
"No way Hermione. Harry would have told me." He draws his wand out. "You're using the Imperius Curse on him."
"I'm not. Ron put your wand down."
"Do you really think I would fall for this? Harry would have told me. You would have told me. You must be under some curse."
"I'm not! Put your wand down!"
"No! You're under some curse and so is Harry!" He casts a spell at Hermione but Harry leaps in front of it.
He falls to the ground writhing in pain.
Hermione casts a spell back at Ron but misses.
Ron and Hermione cast spells back and forth. Spells hit the walls and ceiling sending debris down to the floor.
Harry feels the pain start to disappear and rolls over to his side. He grabs his wand and aims for Ron. "Expelliarmus!" He hits Ron in the back.
"No!" Ron scrambles for his wand and picks it up. "Stupefy!" He hits Harry in the chest.
"Stop!" Hermione points at Ron. "Stop it right now Ron!"
"No! I won't let you use Harry any more!" Ron aims at Hermione and fires hitting her before she can cast another spell. "I should have known!" He goes over and grabs her wrist looking at the bracelet. "A basilisk? Is this the new Dark Mark You-Know-Who is using? He controlled one before."
He points his want between Hermione's eyes. "It probably wasn't your fault. They must have gotten you with a spell and used this to control you." Ron gets the bracelet off of Hermione. "I'll save you and Harry. I won't let them hurt you." He starts laughing.
Ron's breath is sharp and he continues laughing. "I won't let Death Eaters hurt my friends. The spell is broken right? Right?"
"There is no spell." Hermione hits Ron with the leg lock curse. "Your paranoia has gotten to you. You think I'm a Death Eater. Do you know how insane that is?"
"I'm not crazy! I know the Death Eaters have infiltrated the Ministry. I know they got to you as well! But it wasn't your fault was it? I got the bracelet off!" Ron falls forward on to the floor because of the leg lock curse. "You're free Hermione."
"I'm not a Death Eater or under a curse."
"Not any more." Ron starts laughing more. "I did it! I did it Hermione! Harry! I did it." Ron can't control his laughing and starts losing his breath.
"Stupefy!" Hermione hits him with the spell knocking him out. "Harry?" He doesn't respond.
Hermione tries getting up but her legs didn't want to cooperate. She crawls over to Harry. "Harry? Are you ok?"
He gives a weak moan in response. "Wake up Harry. Ron cast a spell and my legs won't work. You have to go and get help."
"Her, her, Mione..." Harry feels a pain in his back. When he landed he had hit some of the fallen ceiling and had a deep cut. "I'll get help."
"Hurry." Hermione turns back to Ron. "I don't want to have to use another spell on him." She raises her wand. "Hurry."
Harry runs through the tunnel and sees Professor Snape. "Professor Snape I need help."
"Yes you do. But until you start studying harder I can not help you."
"No, Ron, he snapped. He attacked Hermione and me down in a tunnel."
"A tunnel?"
"A secret one. Please follow me Professor Snape she needs help." Harry leads Snape to the tunnels.
Ron is starting to wake up when Harry and Professor Snape make it down. "Stop!" Professor Snape casts a spell binding Ron's arms and legs with a magical rope.
"You're a Death Eater too! Harry don't let what ever spell they're using control you! They're all Death Eaters!" Ron struggles against the rope but can't break it.
"Thank you Professor Snape." Snape ignores Harry as he uses his wand to levitate Ron off of the floor.
Hermione and Harry were taken to Madam Pomfrey. She checks them over and undoes the spell Ron had cast on Hermione. "I hate to pry but while I am used to seeing Harry here I am unsettled by seeing you here Hermione."
"Ron attacked us. He thought we were Death Eaters."
"Ah, I see. Another wizard gone mad. He isn't the only one you know. St. Mungo's has been having their beds filled with many wizards and witches who could not handle the stress of having You-Know-Who back." She looks up when a door opens and Dumbledore comes in.
"Are they alright Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes Headmaster. A bit shaken by the attack but the other one, Ronald Weasley, seems to have suffered the same fate many wizards are today."
"Make sure St. Mungo's knows they have another patient coming while I contact his family."
"Dumbledore, wait." Hermione gets up. "He won't be in trouble will he?"
"No. I have known many wizards much older and wiser than young Ron who have suffered the same way. You may not understand now but know Ron did not do this."
"I know. He, he is our friend he would never attack us. He really thought I was a Death Eater."
"I am glad you do not blame him for this. Neither should you Harry."
"I don't. We should have just told him. I didn't think he would handle it well but we just made his paranoia worse."
"Did not tell him what Harry?"
"I, Hermione and I are dating. We started over the summer and wanted to wait to tell him in person."
"I see. You two take care of each other and I'll make sure Ron is taken care of." Dumbledore leaves while Madam Pomfrey checks on Harry and Hermione making sure they were well enough to go back to class.
That night Dumbledore makes a special announcement. "As some of you may have heard there was an attack inside our very school. Two of our students were attacked by a friend who under the pressure of Voldemort's return had thought everyone was a Death Eater. Many wizards and witches have had the same reaction. Many much older than a student. He is currently being taken care of at St. Mungo's where we all hope he will make a speedy recovery. His victims have forgiven him."
People turn and look at Harry and Hermione. "Please make them stop looking." Hermione tries to slump down in her seat to make herself as small as possible.
Dumbledore continues talking. "I also would like to thank a member of our staff for his help in stopping the situation. Professor Snape." There are a few claps from students. "Thank you students you can stop." The students stop clapping. "You are all being so gracious to your fellow schoolmates and to Professor Snape. I am glad to see actions can break House loyalty and competition." Dumbledore smiles as the students start to talk amongst themselves. "It is getting late; I think we all could use a good night's rest after a meal like that." Dumbledore clapped his hands and the Great Hall doors opened for the students to leave.
In the Common Room the other Gryffindors kept asking Harry and Hermione what happened. They tried ignoring every one but it started to annoy both.
Finally Harry stands up and shouts. "Ron didn't attack us! He thought we were Death Eaters. He thought every one was. Like Dumbledore said other wizards and witches have done the same. Please stop talking about it."
"Why were you in the tunnel? How did you know about it?"
"Because, I, we, Hermione and I are dating and we were trying to sneak out to Hogsmeade for her birthday with Ron. We ran in to a cave in and Ron thought it was a trap. It could have been any thing that set him off. It just happened then and there." Harry sits back down next to Hermione and kisses her.
Every one stopped bothering them and went back to their homework, wizard chess, and other activities.
All except for a little red head witch who hated them. Ginny was mad at what she saw before her. Harry and Hermione kissing, happy, they put her brother in the hospital! She knew about them weeks ago but couldn't stand seeing them happy now. "Damn them, they put my brother in the hospital and they are happy about it! How can they do that after what just happened?." Dean looked at Ginny who didn't know she had said it out loud.
"Babe are you alright? You just said that you…" Ginny cuts him off by kissing him a bit more aggressively than normal.
Monday came and Potions class took on new meaning. Harry trying his best to keep the thought that a chair was empty. A chair that should have had his best friend in it. "Potter I am quite impressed with your work. You have actually gotten the color right on this. Look at the fumes, perfect swirls, maybe getting rid of that Weasly boy was what you needed." Harry hated Snape but respected him at the same time. Snape kept making sure everyone knew who had attacked him and Hermione. But Snape had helped them then. Harry just had to keep the words of anger to himself.
"Thank you Sir for the compliment. Although it isn't well deserved since the texture is suppose to be more like oil then water. I know my mother and you took potions together and you were the best next to her. I am trying to be more like my mother to make her proud of me even if she isn't able to show it." Snape flinched at the mention of Lily and retreated to his office stunning the class who continued working.
Hermione beamed at him. He could have said some thing that got him in trouble but didn't.
Neville is trying to make the potion but can't get it right. "Hermione I can't get the leaves right." He shows her how he had been cutting it.
"No Neville, stretch it out then cut, if you have any slack in it you will add too much." Hermione helps him with the leaves.
She had to focus on schoolwork during the day. She had been terrified when Ron attacked her. If Harry hadn't hit him with the disarming charm she didn't know what would have happened.
She had nightmares every night. Harry started to hold her and fall asleep on the Common Room couch so her roommates could sleep without her screams. One night was difficult when Hermione woke from a nightmare not knowing it was over and attacked Harry. "I'm so sorry Harry, I didn't know." She started to cry, Harry holding her was bleeding a little as he rocked her back and forth shushing her, trying to help her sleep again.
"It's alright Honey, you didn't know, it wasn't your fault." But whose fault was it? If he hadn't bought that damn bracelet Ron never would have thought she was a Death Eater.
They should have just told Ron they were dating. What was he so afraid of? Ron was his best friend. Ron was right to be suspicious. He thought Harry and Hermione would have told him. So if they hid it then some thing must have been up. How could Harry have known Ron was so paranoid about Death Eaters?
Harry spent the summer in the muggle world. So did Hermione. But Ron was in the wizarding world. Going to the Ministry every week. He must have heard more, seen more, than Harry or Hermione ever could have in the muggle world.
Now his best friend was in the hospital. Harry continued to rock Hermione back and forth as he mentally yelled at himself for being so stupid.
The weeks passed and the first Quidditch game was coming up on the day before the first Hogsmeade weekend. Hermione and Harry kept running with the others every morning.
Harry practicing for the game, and all the homework being given out to help prepare them for OWLs kept them busy and they were looking forward to a weekend off.
It was becoming known that Hermione and Harry were dating and that that they slept on the couch every night so no one would here her screams through out the school which most accepted.
Except for one witch who felt betrayed by losing the love Harry now had for Hermione. Harry with thoughts of seeing Hermione when he got back was clueless to another witch waiting for him.
Harry never saw it coming. Coming back from Quidditch practice hoping to see Hermione before he went to bed the attack surprised him and that did more to him then the actual attack. Not that the witch who attacked him had much strength from lack of eating, lack of living. "Cho, what are you trying to do? You're a Prefect and so am I! Stop it!" Harry shrugged her off barely feeling the weight.
"You bastard, I thought you were in love with me and here it is you're with that Granger girl! I've been waiting for you to ask me out but no, you were busy with ther!" She pushed Harry which ended up with her falling backwards instead.
"What are you going on about Cho? I barely know you how could I be in love with you?" She got back up.
"You asked me to the Yule Ball last year didn't you? You were obsessed with me when I was with Cedric. Is that it? Now that I am a free woman you don't want me!" She smacked him not doing much. Harry let her yell some more smacking him a couple more times before he spoke.
"You're right Cho; I did ask you to the Yule Ball, last year. I was obsessed with you, last year. I wanted to be with you, last year. I wished with all my heart that you would say yes when I asked you, last year. I did like you Cho. Really I did, last year. The keywords Cho, being last year. You are a really nice person but I found someone else who loved me for me, who wanted to be with me and I loved her back. You have let yourself go Cho, you can't even hurt me when you try you are so frail. You better start eating or you'll be nothing." Harry is thinking about the smacks that took all her energy and still didn't hurt. "Tomorrow is our Quidditch match and you look like you might get hurt if you fly too fast." Harry backed away towards the door quietly when Cho went into another rage breaking things in the room at random. He got out and shut the door so no one else would see or hear her.
Walking down the hall Harry saw Ginny. "Hey Ginny I need to talk to you." Harry jogged over glad to see the red head witch who he hadn't talked to for awhile. "I was wondering if maybe…" Ginny interrupts him.
"What the hell do you want you son of a bitch!" Ginny drew her wand and pointed it at him.
"Wait Ginny put your wand away please!" Harry was panicked, what was Ginny thinking!
"Why should I Potter? You going to send me to my brother!? You were supposed to be his friend, I liked you, and so you go and betray us! You were considered part of the family!" She ran at Harry ready to fight him fist to fist in her anger.
"Ginny stop please I didn't mean to do that to Ron, he snapped when me and Hermione told him." Dodging the attack Harry backed away drawing his wand.
"Shut up Harry! You were our friend! You were his best friend!" She swings at Harry again. Harry decids he would have to hurt another Weasly. "Stupefy!" A red light shot out and hit Ginny straight in the chest.
"Sorry." He went and got Professor Flitwick who was the closest at the time to take Ginny to Madam Pomfrey. Professor Flitwick asked what had happened but didn't press thinking Harry was upset that his friend was just attacked by "someone".
Harry was in a foul mood from last night. First attacked by Cho and then by Ginny. Why were the women he knew acting like this? He didn't get to see Hermione, he had to deal with Cho today during the match, and Professor Trelawney had just assigned homework for the weekend. "I won't do it, I don't care if I fail her class anymore, without Ron it isn't fun." Harry took his Divination book and threw it away along with all his notes and work from the past month. He was sitting down to read his Transfiguration book when he found the picture he had stuck in there at the beginning of the summer.
"I wondered where that picture went." Harry looked up to a smiling Hermione. "I was practicing developing photos so they would move and I had a couple of pictures left on the roll and I took some pretty stupid pictures." Harry started to hand it to Hermione but she pushed it away. "Go ahead and keep it Harry." She went around the chair and sat in his lap setting the Transfiguration book on her lap reading it with Harry. Soon they are interrupted as Ginny and Dean came down from the boy's dormitory yelling at each other.
"Why would I want to do that with you anyways Dean? You're fun for snogging but if I wanted something like that I would find a 1st year!" Ginny turned around and went into the girl's dormitory.
"Fine Ginny, if that's how you want to do this you tease!" Dean obviously wasn't alright as he headed back to his dorm.
"Wow, I wonder what he tried to do." Harry was still looking at the dorm room entrances when he felt a hand on his lap.
"What do you think they were doing Harry?" Hearing about Ginny makes Harry remember what had happened. Harry tells Hermione what happened the night before.
Hermione was shocked to hear it but comforted Harry. "It's ok Harry; she is young and just lost her brother. She will calm down and be back to normal. I wouldn't walk around alone anymore until she does though." She snuggled up closer to him as he ran his hand through her hand.
"I hope so honey. With Ginny mad enough to do that how are the other Weasley's? Think I'm allowed back to the Burrow ever? Or the wedding. It's next summer and if Ron isn't better I guess we won't be invited." Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know Harry. Ron should come back this year when he gets better." Harry nodded thinking about how it would feel with Ron back at Hogwarts.
"Did they say when he would be better?" Hermione shook her head.
"I don't know Harry since none of the Weasly's will talk to me either. I'm going to miss them. I like them, like a second family." She started to feel bad and didn't want to so she thought of a way to make her happy.
She started kissing Harry but was stopped by Fred and George. "Harry what do you think you are doing!?" Harry pulls away from Hermione.
"What?"
"You should know not to do that before a match! All athletes know that you don't do anything to get your blood going until you get to the match." George added. "It makes you more aggressive in the match.
"Also it might take your focus off the game." He looked over at Alicia "Very distracting thinking about what's under those robes when you are suppose to be hitting Bludgers at the other team." George left them to go talk to Alicia. Hermione took heed to the tip and got off of Harry's lap.
"Harry did you see that? They aren't mad at you, at least not like Ginny is." Harry nodded.
"I guess maybe not all of the Weasly's want me dead. I wonder about his mom though and his dad. After all they did for me I send their son to St. Mungo's Hospital." Having a quiet afternoon before the match was what Harry needed to keep his mind off of everything going on. It was hard but Hermione distracted him with a game of Wizard Chess trying not to talk about the Weasly's.
"This is it, our first match!" The Gryffindor Quidditch team cheers. "We've been practicing for the match. Are we ready?"
"Yes!" They all cheer.
"Good! Here's what we need to do! Harry catch the Snitch, ladies score with the Quaffle, my brother and I will beat those Bludgers!" They go out onto the field ready to face the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
The match had just started and things were not going well for Ravenclaw. Not being able to score while Gryffindor racked up the points made things harder for them as Cho just lazily flew around. Harry knew Cho wouldn't be at her best but this was just pathetic. Gryffindor had scored again when he decided he would check on Cho. "Hey, are you awake?" Harry waved his hand in front of her face.
"Yes, and if you don't leave me alone I will be more than awake." Harry figured he had tried and flew off towards his end of the field. Gryffindor was up 110 to 50 when he saw the glint of gold.
"Hermione?" He didn't think about the Snitch which was feet away from him but his head was full of Hermione as it flew off. "Damn it." Harry took off after it chasing it past Monica who was guarding the goal posts quite well. "She had to see it but she isn't chasing after it." Harry noticed as Cho just sat on her broom making his job easier. He was on the Snitch, no way could it get away, it was just inches away. He had it! But the feeling of glory left when he heard screams behind him.
"Chang! She just fell, get Madam Pomfrey!" More screams came as Cho began to convulse, vomit coming out of her mouth making a sickening sound as it came out. "Cho Chang has fallen off of her broom!"
"Out of the way people, move out of the way." A hurried Madam Pomfrey came running down from the castle wand out ready to help Cho back to the castle. "Don't worry everyone I'll heal her, I've never failed to do so." Using a levitation charm on Cho Madam Pomfrey took her back to the castle. In all the chaos no one had cared that Gryffindor had just won by a total blowout 260 to 70.
Hogsmeade helped everyone forget what had happened. Forgetting that Ron was gone, forgetting what had just happened to Cho the night before, and forgetting Voldemort was back. People had a good time drinking butter beer and eating sweets they had just bought at Zonkos. Harry and Hermione walked around hand in hand looking at all the things around them in a new light.
They were near the Shrieking Shack when they heard someone talking and saw it was Monica, and just Monica. "What is she doing?" Harry wondered as Monica appeared to be talking to several people at once but no one else was there.
"I've seen her do this before in the library and down in the Potions Dungeon. Everywhere else really. I'ts really strange." Hermione told Harry as Monica continued to talk. "This is really strange Harry. Is it someone with an Invisibility Cloak? Have you seen Monica doing this?" Harry nods
"Yes." Remembering the time he had gone off to the Muggle Studies classroom with Hermione it makes him wonder just what Monica was doing.
"Didn't Ron say when he went to apologize to her she ignored him and pretended to talk to someone else? Maybe she wasn't pretending…" They watched for a few minutes fascinated by what appeared to be a one-sided conversation. Monica started to say good bye to whatever she was talking to making Harry and Hermione walk away quickly.
Hermione saw a new bookstore and nearly dragged Harry into it. She went around going through different books while Harry went over a Defense Against the Dark Arts book. It detailed different curses, how to learn them and teach them, the counter curses and the same. He was deeply involved with the book when he heard Hermione start to yell at the clerk. "How can you charge that much for a damn book!" She huffed tossing the book back to the clerk. "Not like I wanted it anyways." She grabbed the books she had already bought and left. Harry took the book he was reading to the counter.
"Uh sir, could I ask about that book?" The man grunted.
"Its 350 Galleons. If you want it you have to pay the price. Bloody girl wanted to haggle with me, like a book's value decreases if you buy others." Harry bought his book and started to leave.
"Wait, she wants that book or she wouldn't have asked about it." He turned around. "Alright sir, but could you hold it until Christmas?" Grabbing the money out of the bag Hermione had made bottomless the man took the book out.
"I guess, going to cost extra though, want a card with it?" Harry nodded "Alright boy what should it say?" Harry thought about it, he didn't want it to be mushy or corny and decided a short letter would work best.
"I guess 'Hope you enjoy' and 'From Harry' if you could." The man set it aside putting the money in the register.
"I can boy now get out of here. Kids like you should be at the funny store or the sweet shop not here." Harry left catching up with Hermione smiling to himself about what would happen at Christmas.
They went down the street back to the Three Broomsticks enjoying more butter beer. Sitting and talking made Harry happy. Harry did miss Ron but Hermione was still here. She was alright, she was healthy. Things were getting better. He felt her foot move up his leg higher and higher causing him to laugh a little as it tickled. "What book did you get Harry?" Hermione pointed to his book.
"It's called 'Defense and Offense, Teach Yourself and Others' should be a good read." Hermione looked through it quickly getting ideas for later since she was currently busy playing footsie with Harry.
The door opened as Monica walked in with a box going straight for Harry and Hermione. Hermione was upset with being interrupted but Harry was glad for the company and the break. "What do you have there Monica?" She shrugged.
"I don't know. He told me to give to you and tell you to put it to good use." She gave it to Harry who opened it right there. When he got it out he saw it was a pouch that felt rather light. Looking inside of it Harry saw gold, hundreds of Galleons, and a ring, no, two rings. He kept looking inside it lost in the sea of gold inside the Bottomless Pouch, just like Hermione's, just like the pack he had. Be careful of gifts from those unkown. He shakes his head ignoring the voice.
"Harry what is it let me see." Hermione snatched it out of his hand and looked inside also amazed by the gold, but saw something else, a book.
"Honey I was looking at that." Harry looked at Hermione who had shoved her arm into the pouch pulling out the book.
"Necronomicon? I've heard of this book. It's said the Egyptians had a book of the dead, or the Necronomicon." Hermione opened it looking at the pages. "They seem to have been translated already. I wonder who knew enough Egyptian to do that."
Hermione kept going over the book ignoring Harry and Monica. "Uh, Monica who told you to give me this? We saw you earlier by the Shrieking Shack talking to someone, well, talking anyways." Monica nodded and replied.
"Yes I was talking to someone, Salazar something or other. He told me where the box was and how to get it. He was really nice, he said he wasn't always like that but death had changed him." Hermione looked up at that.
"Death? Someone named Salazar who is dead told you to get this and give it to Harry? How do you know you could trust him?" Hermione stared at Monica wanting to say something else but not here.
"Because I can, it's not like he was a Shade." Monica hugged Harry, said bye to Hermione, and left.
"Harry, we might want to take this to Dumbledore or maybe Professor McGonagall. It could be dangerous. It could be cursed Harry" Harry shook his head and put the book back in the pouch.
"You heard Monica, its safe Honey." He leaned over to kiss her before getting up holding her hand. "We should trust her." Walking back to Hogwarts Hermione continued with her concerns but Harry wasn't worried, Monica said it was safe. Who the hell was she talking to? What the hell was she talking to? "Hermione, what's a shade? Besides the ones we have right now." He pointed to theirs.
"I'm not too sure Harry, when we get back I can look it up in the library." Holding hands they walked the three kilometers back to Hogwarts in silence.
Getting back to Hogwarts, Harry decided he should at least make up with Cho to be on friendly terms. It wasn't her fault she was depressed. It was his for bringing Cedric with him to Voldemort. It wasn't her fault she thought Harry still had a crush on her; he kept his relationship with Hermione a secret making him lose Ron. "I better do this now." Harry turns to Hermione. "Hermione I'm going to see Cho.
"What?" She didn't seem to like the idea of Harry going in to see Cho. He did have a crush on her last year.
"I'm going to check on Cho." Harry leaves Hermione and heads to the Infirmary to check on Cho.
Hermione waits a minute and then follows.
Harry makes it to the infirmary not noticing he was being followed. "Cho?" Harry felt strange as he walked in to the Infirmary. He had been here less then a week ago after Ron had… Done what he had done. He stopped himself from thinking about it. This was for Cho Chang. A great Seeker and someone he liked, even respected for her abilities, if not as much as before.
He saw her awake if not exactly healthy. "Harry, what are you doing here? Come to finish the job?" She coughed hard but lay back down. "Go ahead and kill me Potter, part of me already is." Harry was hurt at Cho thinking he wanted to hurt her.
"No Cho I came to see if you were alright and to apologize. It's my fault you are like this. I wanted Cedric to win with me. If I had grabbed the trophy without him I would have won and he would have lived."
Cho coughed some more letting out a groan as she heard Cedric's name. "And now you are like this, I'm so sorry Cho. If things were different, if Hermione hadn't been attacked she never would have been at my house for the summer. We never would have started dating and I might have asked you out so this didn't happen." Harry grabbed her hand "Please forgive me Cho, I didn't want this to happen to you. I still like you, as a friend, and as a fellow Quidditch player." She coughs again. "I'm sorry about Cedric." He had to say something more, something McGonagall told him. "Remember as long as there is life there is hope." She coughed again before replying.
"Look Harry it wasn't your fault, it was that bastard Voldemort." Harry was surprised to hear her say Voldemort. "Yes Harry, Voldemort. He killed my boyfriend and he killed a part of me. Cedric was my first, I had never done those kinds of things before but I loved him." Harry felt her hand go deathly cold, freezing to the touch and nearly called for Madam Pomfrey. "Its his fault."
"Yes it is." Harry tries to comfort Cho but she started to cry. She started to shake violently, her head snapped up and looked at him in pure hatred, her voice deeper, unnatural. "Stay away from those you love Potter. You sent one friend to St Mungo's. She's here because of you. Your parents died because of you. You are a plague on this planet that needs to be destroyed before you kill all you love." Her head snapped again and she went back to herself telling Harry to go away still crying.
He left with that voice in his head, the voice from Cho sounded like the one he had heard the past few weeks. What was it? Should he tell Hermione about it?
"Strange," It reminded Harry of the warning Professor Trelawney gave him. "But it is right." Harry sighs. "Everything is my fault. Everyone I loved; everyone I get close to is dead or worse." He brushed his fingers through his hair messing it up.
He goes back to the Common Room and sees Hermione. "Hey."
"So how did it go?" Hermione was a little bit jealous of Cho not that she was going to let Harry see it.
"Alright I think, she doesn't blame me for what happened to Cedric, but now she is crying and that is my fault." Hermione rubbed his back as they walked to a couch.
"It's ok Harry. I looked in on you as you talked. She didn't have a red mass, or a black one. She had a blue one though, but no anger or hatred." Harry listened to Hermione talk about the mass around Cho half heartedly seeing as how he still didn't really understand what she meant.
A/N Another chapter fixed! With some MAJOR changes. I don't know what I was thinking the last time I wrote/posted this chapter. Did I really think that was good? Did I really think what I typed was good? Now I can rest a little easier knowing I fixed some stuff that's been bugging me for a while.