Chapter 8 End of One and Two
Draco having come back from break was starting to become bolder. Cornering Gryffindors when they were alone to hex them. Harassing any half blood witches and wizards from the other houses was a game for him.
He went after Devin and learned this was a very bad idea.
The next day Malfoy had found a new target. "Oh Monica here you go." He hands her a note. "Read it when you are alone if you show anyone else you will be in trouble." Malfoy sneered and walked back to the Slytherin table.
"What does it say?" Ginny was leaning over trying to read it.
"None of your business he told me to read it alone." Ginny went back to her seat looking hurt.
"Come on Monica he attacks Devin yesterday and now he is doing this he can't be up to any good." Monica crumpled the note up and burned it. "He was apologizing alright?" No one believed her but prodding her for more information got hostile looks and remarks.
The rest of the day went as normal with another 1st year Gryffindor went to Madam Pomfrey after being cornered by Malfoy and his gang.
That night in the Common Room Monica acted strangely snapping at anyone who tried to talk to her. Going to bed everyone else just thought Malfoy had found something to hurt her. Ginny and Hermione were more worried for they knew something that would hurt her and if Malfoy knew it wouldn't be good for Monica.
That morning breakfast was soon ended with the news of an attack. The Daily Prophet arrived with reports on four muggle households whose children were at Hogwarts. Monica read this and started to cry mumbling as she left the table. "Monica where are you going?" Ginny started to get up but Monica pushed her away.
"What was that for?" Ginny sat down exhaling loudly upset by Monica's actions. "Devin any idea what's wrong with her?"
"I don't know Ginny she doesn't talk to me anymore." Devin commented going back to his food letting out a wave of sadness before controlling it. Finishing Breakfast the students went to classes discussing the recent attacks.
After classes and lunch Harry, Hermione, Devin, and Ginny were walking down the hall when they heard crying and yelling. Getting to the next hall they saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle cornering Monica against the wall.
Before Harry could say anything Devin had already drawn his wand. "Mekkio Slitis!" A black beam slammed into Goyle causing him to scream collapsing on the floor. "Mekkio Slitis!" Another black beam hit Crabbe causing him to scream and collapse. Malfoy was starting to back away as his friends lay before him seemingly dead except for the twitching of the bodies.
"Make the Barbarian stop or I will have a lot of fun later." He pointed at Monica. "Make him stop or things will get worse for you!" Devin started to raise his wand pointing it at Malfoy when Monica stepped between them.
"Stop Devin don't hurt him we were just talking I swear." Her eyes still red and puffy from crying showed she was lying.
"Good just remember your orders and everyone will be safe." Malfoy ran away leaving his friends on the floor.
"Monica are you alright?" Both Ginny and Devin ran over hugging her.
"It's all my fault if I had listened it wouldn't have happened."
"What's your fault? What are you talking about?" Monica just kept saying something was her fault and she had to fix it. They tried to get her to say more but she wouldn't.
Things were tense in the Gryffindor Common Room between Monica and the rest. Ginny and Devin kept trying to talk to her but all they got were shrugs and grunts.
Around 10pm the students started to go to bed except for Monica who left the Common Room. "She shouldn't do that what if she gets caught?" Hermione was biting her lower lip.
Devin came up to Harry. "Harry can I borrow your invisibility cloak?" Harry said yes before he realized something.
"Wait, how did he know I had one?" Hermione shrugged and saw the Common Room door open and close. "He must be following her to make sure she is safe." They waited for them to return for over an hour when the castle shook and a loud explosion was heard.
"Harry!" Hermione grabbed him hard crushing the air from his lungs. Coughing and sputtering he pulled Hermione off himself. "What was that? What happened! Monica and Devin are out there." Hermione went up to her room and came back with a heavy coat and her Prefect Badge. "We have to go see what happened Harry get your things!"
Harry ran up and found his things meeting her back down in the Common Room. "Come on Harry have your wand ready in case we are being attacked!" They ran out of the Common Room trying to find out what happened to their second home, to Harry's first real home.
Running down the hall in the general direction of the explosion they ran into other Prefects, and eventually ran into Professor McGonagall. "What are all you kids doing up and out in the halls!" Most flashed their badges. "Oh, Prefects. Well come on it appears to come from the Astronomy Tower." They followed her now having a real destination.
Getting into where the entrance would normally be they stepped outside… "What the bloody hell happened?" The students were surprised by McGonagall's language but many were thinking the same thing. Where a tower should be was nothing but rubble. Looking around Harry saw a leg.
"Mione come here." She ran to him and saw the leg sticking out from beneath half a table and some rocks.
"Help me lift those Harry." Harry stopped her.
"Are you a muggle or a witch?"
"Oh." She gets her wand out. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The table and rocks flew off showing a girl's broken body. "Monica!" The table flew over the way as Hermione ran over to find a breathing Monica bleeding. "Professor McGonagall its Monica! Get Madam Pomfrey!" She hadn't need say it as Madam Pomfrey came out of the hole where the tower use to be.
"Oh my she is in bad shape. We need to stop the bleeding the bones should heal. We need…" She went on when someone else started yelling.
"It's Draco! He's still breathing I think." Looking over Harry saw a broken bleeding Malfoy. Part of his right arm was missing up to his elbow and one eye missing.
"My god Hermione. I hate him. I hate him almost as badly as the Dursley's but he doesn't deserve this." A second later it dawns on Harry what happened. "Devin did this." Harry looked at the damage as Hermione looked at him.
"What do you mean Devin did this? Oh no EVERYONE LOOK FOR ANOTHER BODY!" They searched until dawn not finding another body.
In the Great Hall the next morning Dumbledore saw many tired students. The Prefects had stayed up all night looking for Devin's body. No one knew where he was now. He was not in the dorm or in the rubble.
Harry and Hermione were starting to think he had killed himself when he destroyed the tower.
Dumbledore stood up to the podium. "As you all know by now there was a terrible explosion last night. Two of our students were found very much alive if not in their best conditions. This was not an attack by Death Eaters or Voldemort. This was not an attack by any dark forces so please calm yourselves. Another student is missing if anyone knows where they are please come to me or another Professor. Madam Pomfrey is only allowing family members to visit those who were injured so please do not try to see them unless you are family. I am sorry this had to happen with all the recent attacks on families outside of school but this was not one of them. Please if you could do not worry you are safer here than anywhere else in all of Europe." Dumbledore sat down letting everyone have a chance to eat or gossip some more.
When everyone was done eating Dumbledore stood up again. "I see several of you are quiet tired. Professor McGonagall has told me many of you helped search for bodies and clean up the mess. Those of you who have are free to take the day off. Do not worry about your classes today will be a review day for all of the rest." Harry let out a sigh having been awake for over 24 hours he needed a nap.
"Mione care to join me in a nap?" She nodded.
Waking up with Hermione in his arms his stomach grumbled since they missed lunch. "Mione wake up." He shook her a little.
"Leave me alone Harry I'm still tired" Harry laughed making her wake up.
"Come on Hermione I think we missed lunch but I'm hungry." Tickling her she started laughing trying to get away from his hands. Running out of breath she gave up and got out of bed.
"Thanks Harry I needed that."
"No problems Mione I needed it too." He sat down on his trunk try to keep from yawning when Hermione shoved him off of it opening it. "What the hell was that for Mione?"
"Your cloak! That's why we couldn't find him! He could still be out there. He could have bled to death under your cloak!" She goes through the trunk and finds what she was looking for, the Marauders Map. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The map activated showing that the Astronomy tower was gone. "I can't find him Harry does a person show up if they are dead?" Harry nodded.
"Of course it does, you can see Nick and Peeves right?" She shrugged.
"But this is different they are ghosts and he might not be." She looked over it again not seeing Devin in the area of the Astronomy Tower. "Harry he has to be here Monica won't live if he dies." She started looking over other parts of the map looking for Devin frantically. Most people were in their Common Rooms or Dorms with only the teachers in the rest of Hogwarts.
Harry grabbed the map and with his wand said a spell Hermione couldn't here. Immediately his wand point went to a spot on the map.
"Here he is Mione and what's this? Luna seems to have found him. Let's go." Harry got up not waiting for Hermione to respond.
Hermione chasing after Harry they went closer and closer to the Ravenclaw Common Room entrance. "Harry where is he? He can't be sitting in the Ravenclaw Common Room someone would have told a professor."
Harry didn't respond just kept going to where the map said Devin was. Passing the entrance to Ravenclaw, Hermione became even more confused. "How did he get this far Harry? Tell me something!" Harry still said nothing stopping next to a statue.
"He's behind here Mione. There must be something to do to this statue to make it open." He started poking and pulling different parts of the statue when the door opened.
"Oh you two I'm sorry I have to go." Harry grabbed Luna by the shoulders not letting her go.
"No we are going in there." Dragging Luna with him Hermione followed down the secret hallway finding Devin curled up into a ball at the end of it. "Now Luna please explain to me why you haven't told a professor about this." Luna started playing with her earrings not wanting to talk.
"Come on Luna don't make me take points off of Ravenclaw. I'm not mad or anything I just want to hear your reason for not taking him to Madam Pomfrey when it is obvious he is hurt."
"I'm Not Hurt!" Harry and Hermione were knocked back by the force coming off of Devin.
"Damn it Devin we need to get you to Madam Pomfrey you could be bleeding on the inside. Come on I'll help you up." As Harry stuck his hand out Hermione screamed at him to pull away. Before he could he felt burning in his fingers as the skin turned black as though he had just stuck it in a fire.
"Stay away. I can't go out there. I killed him. I killed her. I killed them both. Luna says I didn't but I did I know I did. I killed my own sister." Harry letting Hermione cast a healing charm on his fingers went back to Devin.
"No you didn't Devin. You hurt them but they are both alive."
"LIES!" Again Harry and Hermione were knocked back falling down.
"Stop that Devin they are telling the truth." Luna went over and hugged Devin. "It's ok Devin they are ok you didn't kill anyone."
Harry didn't know what to do. He couldn't get close to Devin and he didn't believe that Monica and Malfoy were alive. "Devin don't make me do this. I don't want to do this, but if you don't come with me I will have to." Devin laughed the dark evil laugh he had when he killed the Boggart. "Alright Devin you leave me no choice, Stupefy!" The spell bounced off of Devin and hit the ceiling. "Ok that didn't work." Harry had run out of ideas when Luna grabbed Devin by the back of the neck.
"Come on Devin they told you she is alive and I told you she is alive. Now come with us please. I am tired of bringing you food and water." Devin stood up with Luna's hand still on the back of his neck showing his clothes torn and burnt in several areas.
"What are you doing to him?!" Harry couldn't believe Luna could just do that without being hurt.
"I'm different, I try to be normal but I can't be normal." She walked Devin out of the tunnel this time having Harry and Hermione follow.
Getting to the hospital ward without anyone seeing them was a miracle in Harry's eyes. When they went through the door they saw Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Krats, and Lucius Malfoy. "Ah, is this the boy who attacked my son? We met before haven't we? Yes I remember you at the Yule Ball. Quite a pity it is."
"I didn't attack him you bastard!" He pushed Luna off walking towards Lucius Malfoy. "Your son was trying to force my sister into doing things with him to keep the others safe! He said it was her fault the Muggles were killed if she had done what he told her to in the first place they wouldn't have been attacked!" He points a hand at Lucius. "He told her to meet him in the Astronomy Tower to do what he wanted if she didn't want anyone else killed!" Hermione pulled Harry back going on about a "Pitch Black Mass" around Devin as things started to shake around him. "In fact now that I know he isn't dead I get the joy of doing it with my bare hands!" He shot a blast of energy out knocking Lucius Malfoy down and went towards Draco Malfoy.
"Protego Psychi!" Professor Krats put the shield up around Devin like she had in the Great Hall. Devin hit it punching it until it broke.
"Sorry Mother but that bastard was going to hurt Monica he is going to die!" This time Dumbledore raised his wand.
"Imma Toru" Devin stopped being frozen where he stood in mid step.
"Very good Dumbledore allow me to call the Minister and we can have this criminal carted away before he hurts anyone else." Lucius Malfoy had gotten up brushing himself off.
"I see you are willing to call the Minister to have your own son taken to Azkaban?" Lucius stopped in the middle of a Malfoy Sneer.
"What? Why would my son go to Azkaban? He was the one attacked!" Dumbledore pointed his wand at Lucius.
"Don't even think about it Lucius. You forget I am one of the greatest mind readers. I already knew what happened when we first brought them here. I also know what you have done Lucius and if I get my way you will also be spending time in Azkaban." Lucius Malfoy's face was starting to turn red.
"Me in Azkaban you old fool?! I own the Ministry thus the Dark Lord owns the Ministry! I will break out before they even get me their now that the Dementors have returned to the Dark Lord!" Raising his sleeve he showed the Dark Mark to Dumbledore with no fear.
Lucius never saw them come in, Cornelius Fudge the Prime Minister of Magic had walked in when Lucius shouted this statement. Behind him were two Aurors and four goblins carrying magical cuffs. "Well then Malfoy thank you for the confession." The two Aurors added their wands in the pointing at Lucius Malfoy so Dumbledore could lower his. "As for the boy, Devin I think, is he coming with us Dumbledore or is the other Malfoy?" Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Right now Minister neither, Draco Malfoy is injured and Devin did nothing wrong. He protected his sister from a vile act by a Death Eater." Malfoy's eyes drained of life, his skin of color, he was trapped with no escape.
"But Minister when have I done anything to harm your great administration? I was just ranting I didn't mean any of it…"
"Shut up Lucius, you were easily played by me and Dumbledore you know that? One of You-Know-Who's top men fooled by an old man and little ol' me. Dumbledore may be the greatest mind reader but I too can do that. It helped me on my rise to Minister knowing what my political foes were planning. I have played you like a violin. Well, a trombone since I can't play a violin."
Lucius reached for his wand being struck down by the two Aurors before it even left his belt. "I guess he won't know about his house until he wakes up. All those dark artifacts and books and all the records he kept of his and the other Death Eater activities. Dozens of Death Eaters are being arrested as we speak."
Harry tired of being ignored coughed to let the adults know he and Hermione with Luna were their. "Oh Potter my dear boy I didn't even notice! Come to see your friend? You came at an awkward time I'm afraid but we can't change that now can we?" Harry shook his head.
"No Sir We were bringing Devin here so Madam Pomfrey could make sure he wasn't hurt."
"You found him? The Ministry was planning on a search party if we didn't find him soon. Good job Potter." Fudge shook his hand. "I see you brought some of your friends along. You probably needed to keep him in check from what I hear. He really did a number to the castle." Luna stepped forward now.
"No we didn't need to keep him in check. He was furious at Draco and could have destroyed the whole school but he controlled himself. He fled to a hiding spot where I found him. I brought him food and water so he wouldn't die. He was afraid he had killed them both and was going to Azkaban. Now if you want to punish him I think Dumbledore can release him and we will see how much luck you have." Luna was blunt with the Prime Minister making Professor Krats nervous about what Devin might do when Dumbledore did release him from the spell.
Dumbledore released the spell as Devin tumbled forward. "Damn it Old Man what was that for! You said it yourself you know what he was going to do. He doesn't deserve to live. In America he would be dead already no longer a stain on humanity."
Things again started to shake but Devin was keeping himself in control. "Please stay calm I don't want you getting hurt. You're strong Devin but there are many wizards in here a lot stronger." Professor Krats wrings her hands together nervous about what Devin would do next.
"Listen Devin the Ministry will take Draco to Azkaban when he has healed. Do not worry that the Dementors are gone they were not the only ones to guard Azkaban. Many Wards and Charms make it almost impossible to escape." Fudge looked at Harry. "Your God Father so far has been the only one to find a way to get out of the prison and off of the Island. I have been talking with Dumbledore and he may soon be free now that we have proof that Peter Pettigrew is alive."
Harry couldn't hide his feelings hugging Hermione causing Fudge to raise an eyebrow. "I see you are happy by this news it may not happen for awhile though." Hermione kissed Harry. "I also see that she appears to be more than a friend Harry." They both blushed not thinking about what they had just done. "Oh come off it kids you are teenagers. I remember when I was your age oh it seems so long ago." His face went blank as he started to remember the time he…
"Minister we have a prisoner to take back sometime tonight if we could Sir." Fudge snapped out of it.
"Oh yes lets leave before he wakes. Dumbledore when the other Malfoy is healed could you please send him to Azkaban?" Dumbledore nodded. "Good then we are done here." The Prime Minister left with the Aurors and Lucius Malfoy in cuffs carried by the goblins.
Harry felt something flow over him that felt like every time he was with Hermione or like the time he saw the photo album of his parents, love. He looked over and saw Devin crying over his sister. "Mione what is the color of his aura?"
"Purple with some blue around it, he is sad but his love for his sister is more then he can handle."
Dumbledore escorted them back to the Gryffindor Common Room seeing that Harry and Hermione were being affected. "Professor Dumbledore I was wondering how Luna was able to touch him Harry tried and his fingers were burnt black. When he got angry Harry and I were knocked down but Luna wasn't affected, how?" Dumbledore chuckled at being called Professor.
"First Miss Granger it is just Dumbledore and second she is special. Her emotions are like Devin's but she is able to control them since her soul is still intact." Hermione's jaw dropped hearing this.
"What? Her soul is intact that doesn't make sense was Devin kissed by a Dementor?"
"No Miss Granger please allow me to explain the best I can. Luna is like how Devin was a couple years ago but something happened and as Devin was controlling his emotions he was overwhelmed. His soul couldn't handle the emotions and was 'broken'. Since then he has been in a constant struggle to control his emotions without the help of his soul. He is not like someone kissed by a Dementor for it didn't leave him it was broken. He is like the opposite of a ghost he has a body but no soul." Harry and Hermione couldn't believe what they were hearing it couldn't be possible to live without a soul.
After trying to think of a nicer way to put Harry gave up. "How can he live without his soul Dumbledore?"
"His emotions fuel him which is why he has to keep them in control. If he were to let go of them he could die. If something happened and he let his emotions out leaving none inside he may die as though he were hit with the Killing Curse." Getting to the Common Room Dumbledore gave the password to let the two inside.
Sitting down on the couch they had to much energy too sleep fueled by curiosity and the need to know. "Mione is that possible? Is it possible to lose your soul and still live like that? I know a victim of the kiss is still alive but they can't do anything." Hermione didn't know either.
"Luna is the same way Harry yet I have never heard of her meditating or her doing things like Devin does to keep calm."
"Yes she does Mione, Devin reads to lose himself in fantasy I think Luna reads the Quibbler to do the same thing. This explains why she always looks and acts like she does. She doesn't try to let things get to her so she doesn't have to control her feelings."
"I guess that makes sense Harry I never would have thought about Luna like that. She does show her emotions though Harry. Ginny told me why Luna was so desperate to go to the Yule Ball with someone. She wants to be normal and she hates people calling her 'Loony Lovegood'. The place we found Devin must be where Luna goes to get away from everyone. Ginny said Luna has a place she goes when she needs to cry without hurting anyone. I didn't know what she meant at the time but that must be it Harry, it must be."
"I can't believe Draco is going to Azkaban?" Hermione lifted a finger to his lips.
"Shut up Harry I don't want to talk anymore. Hold me so I can sleep. I'm still tired and our nap wasn't long enough" Harry did as he was told. "I can't believe how hard it was to sleep without you that first night everyone was back. I need you to protect me." She snuggled up against him falling asleep listening to his breathing and heart beat.
The next morning the announcement was made that Devin was ok and the Monica had woken up but wouldn't be leaving the hospital wing until she made a complete recovery. Applause came from everyone except of course Slytherin.
Harry wondered what happened to his cloak and was waiting for Devin to come back from the hospital to find out where it was. No mention was made of Lucius Malfoy or Draco Malfoy and Azkaban. One Slytherin, Harry recognized as Mariah, seemed upset over Draco and left the Great Hall crying.
That day classes were normal, Snape was his normal hateful self, Slytherin still hated Gryffindor, and everything was going back to normal.
Harry and Hermione held hands happy as could be going to classes they had together or meeting each other after classes they didn't have together like Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Harry used Pavarti's Divination book to try and catch up not knowing where his was after he threw it away.
The Daily Prophet reported no more attacks since Malfoy was arrested, life was perfect.
Harry was tossing and turning in his sleep trying to help the girl in the cave. The dreams were now coming more often than before and became harder to get away from. Why did she keep calling him brother and how did she keep getting into his head? This and other thoughts was going through his head when he woke up. He let out a yelp of pain when his scar started to burn. "Damn it Voldemort it's you isn't it? You are trying to trick me you are playing with my head." He rubbed the scar trying to make the burning go away. Laying in bed Harry stared at the ceiling when he saw sunlight coming in through the window.
Half an Hour later Harry met Hermione in the Common Room. "Get enough sleep?" She answers with a yawn. "I woke up extra early so I guess I did."
"Lucky." Hermione yawns again. They walked hand in hand down to the Great Hall seeing a red head not belonging to the Twins or Ginny.
"No he can't be back Harry." Hermione trembled against Harry holding on to him for support as her knees became weak.
"I think he is back Mione. Don't be scared. He didn't mean to hurt you did he? He is our friend." They slowly walked towards the Gryffindor table getting closer to their best friend. To the first friend Harry ever had. "Ron?" The red head turned around showing them a mouth full of food. He quickly swallowed the food so he could speak.
"Hi Mate, hi Hermione…" He winched pulling back waiting for the punch, the smack, the hate.
"Hi Ron." Harry answered while Hermione gripped his arm even more.
"Can we go somewhere to talk? I need to say so many things to you two. It's ok Hermione I won't hurt you." Ron reached a hand out to Hermione who backed away still holding onto Harry.
"We can talk Ron back at the Gryffindor Common Room." Harry took Hermione with him nearly carrying her while Ron followed.
In the Common Room Harry and Hermione sat in one chair, Harry holding Hermione who was shaking. Harry tried to comfort her the entire walk back but failed.
Ron sat across from them holding his head in his hands. "I'm sorry for the way I reacted, I'm sorry for what I did Harry. I tried to kill myself…" He showed his right arm wrapped in bandages. "Thankfully I didn't." Harry wanted to say some thing but let him continue. "I can't believe I acted like that Harry I didn't mean to hurt you. You are my best friend, you are the only one I consider a true brother. I would never hurt you like that except I did." Harry shook his head.
"You attacked both of us."
"I know. I don't know what I was thinking. I really thought Hermione was a Death Eater. I tried thinking of ways it could happen. Spells, potions, even an imposter. What if she had been taken? Replaced with some one using a polyjuice potion? But the imposter would have had to make more during the summer when they were at your house." Ron shakes his head. "I'd understand if you didn't want me as a friend."
"You know you're still our friend. You're my first friend and my best friend."
"You're right Mate." Ron looks at Hermione who seemed to be relaxing. "Hermione please don't hate me. You should after what I did but please don't. I don't know what I was thinking. Bloody hell I wasn't. I thought you were a Death Eater and were going to hurt Harry. Which is crazy." He stuck his hand out hoping Hermione would shake it. Hermione laughs. "Ok Hermione I get it."
"No you idiot." Hermione goes and hugs Ron. "I'm glad you're better. I'm sorry I didn't hug you as soon as I saw you." She pulls away.
"Thank you Hermione. I, I need to do some thing." Ron gets up and goes to the boys' dorm room.
Harry follows Ron hoping to talk to him alone.
Getting into his room he saw Ron talking into a mirror. "It's ok. Part of it didn't work but he doesn't hate me so I should be able…" He looked up seeing Harry. "Oh hi Harry, I was, I was talking to my counselor. I was supposed to tell him how you reacted, how she reacted. He helped me get here quicker with him I was able to be home last week." He laid down on his old bed. "I miss this place, this bed, the smell, and the people. I have to stay in the Teacher Faculty room for now but I will be here soon. I won't have to be stuck with Snape for long." He tried to laugh at the Snape joke.
"It's ok Ron take as long as you need, it's good to have you back." Ron broke down crying when Harry said that. "Ron what happened? Are you alright?" He was grabbing his right arm.
"I think I pulled it to much, they said I cut some muscles when I did it. I am lucky to have use of my right hand." Harry noticed his scar was staring to ache but wasn't extreme pain like the times Voldemort is killing someone. Why was it acting like this now?
"I am sorry myself Ron, I didn't tell you in front of Hermione but I am sorry. I was thinking about telling you about us by Owl but Hermione wanted to tell you face to face. We took you into the tunnel so you could yell all you wanted without anyone seeing you." The pain in his scar went away. "She doesn't blame you either."
"I never thought you'd keep some thing like that from me. Why would you?"
"I didn't know how you would react. You seemed to have a crush on her last year. It was some thing bigger than a letter from an owl."
"If you had told me in the Common Room I would have been stopped." Ron winces and rubs his injured arm. "Maybe I'm not ready to come back." Ron curled up into a ball resting his chin on his knees rocking back and forth quietly humming.
Seeing that Ron wasn't going to hurt himself Harry went back down to Hermione. "Is he ok?"
"He was talking to his counselor through some mirror. Are you ok?"
She nods. "He isn't alone. Other wizards had the same thing happen to them. I tell myself that but I still see him with his wand trying to hurt us when I close my eyes."
"But he won't hurt us again." Harry hugs Hermione.
Everyone but Slytherin had welcomed Ron back when he first came in the Great Hall even if some of it wasn't a warm greeting.
Sitting in class Hermione sat at the table keeping Harry between her and Ron.
Professor Krats went into new shield charms far more powerful than the "Protego" shield. "Now with Protego the wand moves like this." She showed the wand movement. "But with 'Sholo Willo' the movement is like this." She did it and a pure white wall formed in front of her. "Now this spell unlike Protego can block more than one Stupefy or Expelliarmus. Try it now." Everyone stood up and tried. Only Harry could make it.
Professor Krats steps around her first spell. "Ok class now the beauty of this spell is if you add an extra wand flick like this," She showed them a new wand movement, "You can be surrounded by the wall. Perfect for more than one attacker or for protecting you and others close to you. Who here takes Arithmancy?" Professor Krats looked around the room knowing only one did and was trying to get her to talk. Her best student had not been able to get the shield up which a first time that Hermione had failed at anything that she knew of.
Hermione raised her hand slowly very much unlike her. "Good Miss Granger then you know that this shield can be made more powerful when more force and power are added to it. Care to explain this to everyone or should I?" Hermione surprised everyone when she shook her head no. "Alright then Miss Granger, so unlike you. Here is how it works. I can cast a shield with the power to block several normal Stupefy spells. Your Headmaster Dumbledore can cast this same spell and block an infinite amount of Stupefy spells. His power and abilities reflect onto the spell so something weak like Stupefy will never harm him. Something more powerful like Reducto may be able to get through if the shield is hit enough times but very unlikely. Mr. Potter Come here please."
Harry walked to the front of the class. "Now please concentrate all your energy on a shield. Force your power and emotions into it. Now cast it when you are ready." He raised his wand.
"Sholo Willo!" The shield came up in a brighter white and seemed rather like a fog was in front of him.
"Very good Potter please step out from behind it now." Harry did as he was told watching Professor Krats point her wand at his shield. "Reducto!" The spell slammed into the shield but did no damage. "Ok everyone now point your wands at the shield and try a Reducto to break it do not worry about anything behind it. Not you Harry." Harry was raising his wand and put it back down.
"Reducto!" Almost twenty Reducto spells hit it causing little harm to it.
"As you can see a Protego would have fallen after one hit from Reducto but this shield is still standing strong. Very good Potter 5 points to Gryffindor." The shield stayed up while others continued trying to make one. Harry rubbed his scar noticing it was still burning and had never stopped since that morning when he woke up after the dream had come to him again. When he was distracted or busy with something he didn't feel it but now he was sitting watching everyone else try to put up a shield and this gave him time to feel the pain from his scar.
Ron and Neville were the next ones to get a shield up followed by Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin and then Hermione. By the end of the class everyone but Crabbe and Goyle had the spell working.
"Very good class, now let me get rid of this wall." She pointed her wand at Harry's shield he had made in the front of the room. "Finite Incantatem." Nothinghappened. "Ok this could be a problem it seems Potter did too well of a shield charm. 5 more points to Gryffindor and could I ask you Potter if I could leave this up? It is a very good example of the spell and I have some 6th year students who should be ashamed of themselves." The Gryffindors laughed, even Hermione, while the Slytherin students just scowled.
"Alright Professor Krats I guess I'll leave it up since I don't know how to get it down." The class laughed some more leaving for lunch.
Hermione couldn't believe she had so much trouble with the shield. "I've never had a problem like that before."
"Maybe you are putting the emphasis on the wrong syllable." Ron laughs at his joke.
"This isn't like Wingardium Leviosa. I'm just distracted I guess." Hermione starts rubbing her ring but doesn't realize it. He won't hurt me or Harry.
Harry rubs his ring and talks back to her. No he won't.
Hermione realizes she was rubbing her ring and stops.
After Lunch class seemed to breeze by quickly since most of it was review in case Ron had fallen behind.
OWLs were starting to become a real threat as Harry saw them the closer they came to the testing week. He was sure he would pass everything with flying colors with all the extra reading and work he had done. Hermione had helped him greatly in the summer and during the year. He had read more books that year than all the other years combined and then some.
Hermione had advanced books that not even 7th year would go over and he was glad as his DADA class picked up.
That night Ron sat and watched in the Quidditch Stands as he taught the class the Shield Charm that Professor Krats had taught earlier so the 4th and several 3rd year students could do it. "Now I know only me and Mione say Voldemort." Everyone but Harry and Hermione flinched. "Dumbledore told you that sooner or later you would have to say his name in front of everyone and I am going to help you with it."
Hermione starts talking. "First why do you fear a damn name? What happens when you say it? Nothing! I say it, Dumbledore says it, and Harry says it, Voldemort hasn't done anything because of it has he? You can't fear a name and expect to do something if the real deal appears."
Harry takes control again. "I have seen Voldemort several times now and I beat him when I was still in diapers! How strong can he be?" The other students were still flinching when he said Voldemort. "Come on people you can't leave until you say his name! Mione put a charm on the field so only those who say Voldemort can leave. I know it was underhanded but you will say it tonight and tomorrow at breakfast got that?" Some nodded, some were nervous, and others moved to the front.
Harry saw Devin push others out of his way and stood in front of Harry. "Well hell Harry in America Voldemort is nothing compared to some of the wizards we have. They eat babies and do horrible things to little boys. Voldemort." Devin walked away.
"Well then you just heard Devin use uh, his way of talking. He still said it though so he was able to leave, who is next?" Luna raised her hand. "Alright Luna go ahead." She cleared her throat.
"Voldemort." Next hand came up, Harry was surprised to see it was Neville. Neville had changed during the year and was becoming quite a wizard.
"Voldemort." Others started saying the name leaving only a few left. Mainly 2nd and 3rd year students had not said the name along with one Ravenclaw student, Cho.
"Well Cho? I've heard you say it before why not now?" She shook her head looking at her feet. "Come on Cho you will be stuck here all night if you don't say Voldemort. Not that I don't mind a night on the Quidditch Field but that would be during a game."
"But I can't Harry, I swear I can't, I can't tell you why." Harry walked over to her.
"Come on Cho say it!" She shook her head. "Fine it looks like you are staying here for the night. Anyone else want to stay here?" The others shook their head no and started to say the name. Harry was proud of all of them able to break the "curse" that Voldemort held over them.
He started leaving the Quidditch Field when Harry saw that Ron was still in the stands. "Come on Ron we are leaving." Ron shook his head no. "What? Come on Ron curfew is in ten minutes."
"I can't I didn't say his name." Harry almost laughed stopping himself when he saw the look on Ron's face.
"Come on Ron just say it unless you want to stay the night with Cho." Harry looks over at her. "Hey, that's not a bad idea Ron go ahead and stay." Harry walked back to Hermione smiling as they left Ron and Cho on the Quidditch field and stands.
That morning Harry saw that Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had lost 50 points. "I wonder what they got caught doing that cost them 50 points." Harry laughed to himself walking over to the Gryffindor table with Hermione.
"Hey Mate, Professor McGonagall had to break the charm Hermione used to keep us there last night." He had a broad smile on his face. When Harry sat down Ron leaned over. "Thanks Mate, the 50 points were well worth it." Harry laughed with Ron.
Breakfast was soon interrupted as several students walked towards the Staff table. Several more followed afterwards seeing that they were fellow Harry Potter DADA members.
Dumbledore stood up after talking with the group that had formed around the table. "It seems we have our first group ready to complete the assignment I handed out at the beginning of the year. If you kids like you can say it alone or all at once."
The students now talked amongst themselves finally turning around facing the other students all yelling "Voldemort!". Many screams were heard as non-Harry Potter DADA members flinched or even fell out of their seats.
"Very good and may I ask why you decided to be the first ones to complete the assignment?" Ginny turned around and told Dumbledore. "I see it seems we have Harry Potter and Hermione Granger to thank for this. I have heard they were teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts recently for those who wished to learn even more than what was taught in class. Very good you may go to your seats. 50 points for Gryffindor and 10 points for Ravenclaw." Harry was amused that the points Ron had lost were now made up and that Luna herself earned 10 points for her house while the dozen or so Gryffindor students had earned 50 points altogether. "Now remember everyone you have until the end of the year to say it." Dumbledore sat down letting breakfast continue.
Hermione went through the motions of being Miss Know It All raising her hand and answering questions almost before they were asked. Harry knew there was still some thing wrong and kept a close eye on her.
When class ended Harry took Hermione with him down to the lake and sat her down under a tree. The lake was still frozen but no snow had fallen for several days. "It's ok Mione you will be alright." He rested her head on his shoulder whispering to her trying to make her better. They had been sitting there for almost an hour when someone came to them scaring both.
"Sorry about that Mate just wondering where you were." Ron sat down next to Harry letting Harry be the barrier between him and Hermione. "Awfully cold to be sitting out here isn't it? Don't need you catching a cold or something. Come inside where we can play some chess." Ron stood up sticking his hand out for Harry to grab onto.
"Sorry Ron I want to be with Hermione for now maybe in a few minutes." Ron put his hand in his pocket.
"Alright Harry no problems just don't snog too long dinner will be here in a couple of hours." Laughing at his joke Ron walked away.
"He ignored me."
"He probably knows there is some thing wrong. You say you forgave him but you are acting differently." She leans against Harry.
"I know. I keep telling myself it wasn't his fault but my dreams don't listen."
"It will be ok." Harry starts to move realizing just how cold he was. "We should be going back."
"I guess." The two stand up. "I should talk to Ron."
"We can when we get back."
"No, alone. Show him I trust him." The two hold hands as they walk back to the school.
In the Hospital room Monica was reading bored out of her skull. Being stuck in the hospital had been screwing her sleep cycles up since she didn't do anything to make herself tired.
Draco was surprisingly quiet that night not sounding like a choking horse while he slept. When she heard the door open she hoped it was Dumbledore or Madam Pomfrey coming to take her back to the Gryffindor Tower where she belonged. When no one said anything she went back to her book wondering what was going on.
Suddenly she heard screaming coming from Draco. Looking up she saw someone was standing over his bed with a wand to his head. "What should I do? Who are they? I should pretend I'm sleeping the bastard deserves it!" She put the book on her chest and closed her eyes pretending to sleep while the screams continued. When they ended she opened an eye looking to see what was going on.
"There you go Snuggle Bunny you will feel a lot better in the morning." The figure leaned down and kissed a sweaty pale Draco on the forehead before leaving.
In the morning Draco was awake and looking better than ever even though part of his right arm was missing his eye was back and his skull seemed to have filled it out. Madam Pomfrey went to get Dumbledore when she saw him. This left Monica and Draco alone. "So uh, Malfoy who healed you?"
"Madam Pomfrey you stupid Yank!" He refused to look at Monica.
"Not from what I saw last night someone missed their 'Snuggle Bunny' enough to heal you. That was some incredible magic though probably a Death Eater if they didn't have feelings."
"Shut up!" This time he used his left arm to throw a cup of water at her.
"What Malfoy? They know about you and you know it! You are going to Azkaban for what you did! You bastard…" Malfoy this time did look at her.
"What? What did I do? I don't even remember being here. I was in my dorm room when I heard a noise then I hear you talking about someone healing me and calling me 'Snuggle Bunny'." Monica couldn't believe Malfoy was trying to deny what he had done.
"You bastard you told me I had to do things with you or people would be killed and I said no. That night people died. You told me to meet you in the Astronomy Tower so you could prove your point or more people would die. This time I did as you told me but my Brother saved me from you!" Malfoy's eyes went wide hearing this.
"What? What attacks? How long have I been out? Where's my dad?" She looked over at him smugly.
"He's in Azkaban warming a cell for you." Draco's jaw fell to the floor as his eyes became as wide as dinner plates.
"No he isn't, you're lying you stupid Yank! My dad would never get caught…" Monica started to laugh making Draco furious, some Yank was laughing at him!
"Sorry Malfoy but he was rather careless from what I heard from Dumbledore. Exposed himself as a Loyal Death Eater right in front of Fudge and all. Although you should be glad Dumbledore was there Devin was going to kill you and your father. Instead you get to rot away in Azkaban for life. Maybe you weren't so lucky Dumbledore was there." She smiled sweetly at him letting the sarcasm drip off of her words. The door opened for Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore.
Malfoy seeing them started screaming. "That stupid Yank said my father is in Azkaban! Where is my arm, what happened, why the fuck am I here? What is going on!" Dumbledore let Draco rant for a few minutes cutting him off.
"First Mr. Malfoy you will be quiet. Second you are here for your actions towards another student. Third you should calm down before you hurt yourself." Malfoy shut up at this. "Now yes your Death Eater Father is in Azkaban along with your Mother and several of their friends. Veritaserum worked very well on him allowing us to find them. You on the other hand are still here due to injuries which seem to have healed themselves quite well. Explain to me what you were thinking and I may be able to get you a shorter sentence Mr. Malfoy." Draco shook his head.
"What are you talking about? What did I do? I was in my dorm room one minute and the next one here. Why am I going to Azkaban?" The last sentence came out as a squeak.
"You are serious aren't you Mr. Malfoy? You really don't know what has happened?" Dumbledore closed his eyes for a few seconds before speaking again. "Interesting, last time I searched your thoughts it was evil, pure hatred, something even Voldemort would be proud of. This time however something is different. You seem to have been hexed with something worse than Imperius. I know you were initiated by Voldemort even though your Dark Mark was on the part of your arm that was destroyed. You did it against your will. You consider Voldemort weak for losing to Mr. Potter and your Father weak for following him." Draco nodded slowly. "Well then what happened?" Monica raised her hand getting Dumbledore's attention.
"I saw what happened last night Dumbledore. Someone came in and put their wand to his head. He screamed for a little bit and then stopped. When she, I think it was a she, was done she called him 'Snuggle Bunny' and kissed him on the forehead." Draco raised an eyebrow.
"You were serious about that? You weren't making fun of me? Who was it?" No one in the room knew who it was exactly but one had a very good idea.
"The same one who put the Obedience Charm on you." Dumbledore stood and motioned to Madam Pomfrey. "We will investigate farther in to this. There is a Death Eater in our school and I intend to find out who it is. Draco will remain here for his own protection."
"What about me?"
"You seem well enough. Poppy will look you over and if she agrees you will be allowed back to your Common Room.
Harry woke up that morning after having a strange dream. Voldemort had been there talking to Harry as though they were friends. During it he started talking about Hermione. How cute she was and how her intelligence would be a great asset to him. Harry yelled at him after that comment bringing him back to the waking world. Harry got dressed ready to go running in the Great Hall before lunch. Looking over he saw Ron sleeping on the bed wondering if he should go or not. "Ron wake up." He walked over and shook Ron.
"What now? I already took my medicine leave me alone." He rolled over.
"No Ron it's me Harry get up please." Ron rolled back over opening his eyes.
"Oh sorry Mate." Swinging his legs over the side of the bed Ron sat up trying to wake up.
"I'm sorry about waking you up Ron but I wanted to let you know whatever you are planning I will help. Is it Ginny's birthday party? I know it is coming up soon." Ron shook his head.
"Planning? What?"
"I heard you last night, you said you were planning something and that your counselor should trust you to do it when they had the date for it." Ron's eyes went wide with shock.
"That's not exactly it Mate. I have to do something to prove that I am ready for school that I don't need to take any more medicine." Ron stopped seemingly trying to think of what to say. "It's like uh, an initiation. I am waiting for my counselor to give me the date and by that day I have to do uh, something. Don't worry about it Harry I don't need your help, I might want it but I can't ask you to do this." Harry's next words were interrupted by a pillow hitting him.
"Damn you Harry I am trying to sleep, so is everyone else, shut the hell up before I throw something heavier then a pillow damn it."
"Sorry Devin." Harry elaborated with "It is time to go running so get up and get dressed and get down to the Common Room when you are ready."
Harry went downstairs to meet Hermione and the others and told them to wait for Ron and Devin. Hermione grabbed Harry by his arm and dragged him away from the others. "Ron? He never ran with us before Harry." Harry sees the look on her face.
"I know Mione." Harry kisses her on the lips lightly.
"Awww." Harry pushes away from Hermione annoyed by the others.
"No Snogging until after classes are over you two! Some Prefects you are." Ron smiled laughing with everyone else.
"See Mione, Ron is fine with us." Hermione nodded and went over to Ron.
"I'm sorry Ron I do forgive you." She hugged Ron who immediately blushed.
"You saw her Mate she threw herself at me!" This time Harry laughed and hugged him to.
"Glad to have you back Ron, glad to have my brother back." His scar exploded in pain making Harry wince but no scream came out
"Ouch Mate let go." Ron pushed Harry off and grabbed his right arm.
"I must have hugged to hard my muscles still haven't healed."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to hug you that hard."
As the group leaves the Common Room Harry thought to himself. "Glad to have you back Brother, glad to have my Brother back."
After running and eating with the newly returned Monica, Harry and Ron had Divination while Hermione had Ancient Runes. Back in the Divination room with Harry, Ron was having fun predicting Harry's death. Usually being trampled by a herd of Field Mice or eaten by flobber worms.
Harry takes Ron's book. "Ok Ron my turn. According to your star charts you will be attacked by midget vampire bunnies with sharp pointy bunny teeth at noon on the day of the, uh what's a vague term, day of the pixies. Is that tragic enough for you Ron or do I need more?" They both laughed turning in the work laughing the whole time.
They turn in their work "Ron you have no idea how much this class sucked without you. Hell I threw my Divination book and notes away after you had been taken away." Harry realized he had mentioned Ron being taken to St. Mungo's and was going to apologize.
"Don't worry about it Harry I know I was taken away and why. I can't act like it didn't happen." Professor Trelawney stood up walking over to Harry and Ron.
"I was looking over your star charts and I saw nothing of the sorts that you wrote down. I know you hadn't been doing well Harry with all the stress of death coming after you and Ron you were away but how could you get this all so wrong?" Harry's mind was blank but Ron though had the quick excuse ready.
"Well look, doesn't that collection of stars look like a herd of mice? What else would they be doing if not killing him?" Ron pointed at random stars trying to make it seem plausible. Professor Trelawney shook her head.
"That's not how these work. You don't see what the stars look like you take the positions they are in to each other and see how they influence the lives of the person born under them. It's ok dear you were gone for awhile and I will be happy to tutor you. How would you like to meet tomorrow night for some extra credit and tutoring? Have to wait for night though so I will write you a note so you don't get in trouble for being out to late." She patted Ron on the head and left them.
"Oh great more Divination the kooky old bat will probably spend the whole time telling me how star A with Star B means you will die a painful death by Death Eaters or something. Actually that would probably be the closest she ever comes to being right. Er, sorry Mate I didn't mean it like that." This time Harry was the one to ease the tension.
"It's ok Ron you might be right except it wouldn't be Death Eaters but Voldemort." Ron shuddered hearing the name.
"He'll have to get through me and Hermione and Dumbledore not to mention Sirius, Remus, and whoever else." Harry nodded and they started talking about Quidditch to pass the time.
After class ended they met up with Hermione and Cho going to lunch. "If you don't mind I am going to eat with Cho." Ron waved as he walked hand in hand with Cho.
"I can't believe they are dating already. Cedric died just last year how did she get over him?" Harry looked at Hermione strangely.
"What? Is she supposed to mourn forever never being happy again?" Hermione looked down.
"I guess that makes sense. But Ron? You told me they stayed in the Quidditch Field after our DADA meeting they just seem to be moving fast." Harry laughed so only she could hear.
"They seem to make each other happy. Who cares if they're moving fast." Hermione looked at him with a stern glare.
"He has only been back a few weeks. He just got out of the teacher's dorm a few days ago. And she was in the hospital after being under the Imperius Curse. They should be thinking more about school and stuff."
"Is that all you think about? School?"
"Well no but I haven't been in St. Mungo's or the infirmary." Harry gives her a look. "Lately."
"I've spent a lot of time in the infirmary. I still think about more than school." He touches her arm lightly. "Like you."
"I guess." The two continue talking.
That night before bed Ron appeared more annoyed than anything after his first tutor session with Professor Trelawney.
Harry tried to cheer him up. "Well at least she didn't spend two hours predicting your death."
"No just two hours of predicting your death. 'When the traitor is exposed to Harold James Potter many deaths will come.' What a kooky old bat trying to act like she knows somethinga even did it in a different voice." Harry laughed and told Hermione what happened.
"Well that does seem like a waste of time." Ron reached into his sack.
"Not completely since I was too awake to sleep I went down to the kitchen and grabbed some cookies from the House Elves."
"Well thanks Ron but we already ate."
Hermione nudges Harry in the side with her elbow. "Don't argue with free cookies Harry." Harry and Hermione ate their cookies..
After breakfast the next day Trio were headed to class when they saw a very happy Peeves flying towards them. "The Blonde and the Red Head oh my!" Malfoy and Ginny? Devin and Ginny? Who else had blonde hair and red hair?
"Peeves you get back here right now!" Monica was chasing after Peeves.
"Oh look fellow students to share the wonderful news! The Red Head and the Blonde were snogging like you wouldn't believe! Oh the scandal!" Peeves turned around sticking his tongue out at Monica who finally caught up with Peeves.
"You think that's funny don't you Peeves? That because you are a ghost that I can't do anything to stop you? Well guess what?" She reached an arm out and wrapped her hand around Peeves neck. "If you tell anyone about what you saw I will hurt you. I know you are thinking that hey you're a ghost you can't feel pain. But trust me Peeves I can hurt you. Just to show a little bit of my power…" She raised Peeves into the air with one hand wrapped around his neck. Suddenly lightning seemed to come out of her hands into Peeves making him scream in pain.
This caught the attention of several students who all stared wide eyed and open mouthed at what they saw. A ghost, being choked, tortured, screaming in pain because of a student. "Just so you know Peeves everyone fears my brother. I think even Dumbledore is afraid of Devin and his powers nut my brother fears me. Guess which one of us is the truly dangerous one." With this she threw Peeves through a wall and walked away.
"Mione am I still dreaming? Maybe Ron put drugs or something in our cookies since we are seeing things that are not possible." Hermione nodded in agreement not knowing what had just happened.
Later that week Peeves was back to no good. He made sure Monica was never around when he did them but he did them just the same.
Opening windows when it was raining or lifting chairs and putting them in the rafters before lunch. One time he even chased after Mrs. Norris through the Great Hall during breakfast causing the cat to jump on the tables running through everyone's food. Except Gryffindor where Monica was at.
After letting in several dark creatures Filch and several teachers were starting to call for Peeves to be forced from the castle. Peeves was on the defense though saying it wasn't him and that only a teacher could have gotten the creatures is.
Hermione told Harry that this time Peeves did have a point. "The Lithon can't have been brought in by Peeves. I read about them and they feed off of souls like Dementors without the effect of sucking up happy thoughts. Since a ghost is little more than a soul a Lithon would have attacked him." Harry took Hermione's word for it not knowing what a Lithon was.
"So it is a teacher I told you Snape would be doing this." Hermione punched him in the arm.
"Stop blaming Snape you have blamed him every year and yet were always wrong! We had this discussion before didn't we?" Harry nodded.
"Alright then besides Snape who else could it be?" Hermione shrugged. "Exactly! Who do we know is on the staff that is a Death Eater?"
"He works for Dumbledore now. He's a good person." Harry figured it would be better to listen to Hermione than argue although he did start to act differently in Potions. He staid quiet when Professor Snape asked a question. He still focused and made his potions. Some times even better than Hermione. But he did his best to ignore Professor Snape.
Harry was getting tired of people watching him and Hermione wherever he went. With homework, studying for OWLs, and the Gryffindor versus the Hufflepuff game coming up he had to train.
One day in Divination he felt extremely cold and several people said they felt scared. Lavender Brown even passed out screaming about some attack. Harry felt like it was a Dementor attack but there were none. This was Hogwarts, and so there just couldn't be any Dementors.
Leaving the Divination classroom made him feel ten times better and with the increase of happiness he had an idea for getting Hermione alone away from prying eyes. "Ron, could you go on by yourself? I need to talk to Mione alone." Ron waved him off going over to find Cho before lunch.
"What is it Harry?" Harry pulled her into an empty classroom.
"We aren't snogging at least not until after classes. I am hungry and would like to get to lunch." Harry chuckled.
"No Mione I wanted to take you on a date tonight." She raised an eyebrow. "The Room of Requirements would be perfect wouldn't it? From past experience with it I know it will have whatever I require. Tonight, instead of going to dinner let me take you to the Room of Requirements for the perfect date." She threw her arms around his neck.
"Any date with you is the perfect date Harry." Snogging him hard they both forgot about lunch.
Ron sees Harry and Hermione after classes. "Hey I grabbed more cookies." Ron was already eating some. "Want the rest?"
"Uh, sure." Harry and Hermione take the cookies.
Harry and Hermione sneak off before dinner telling Ron to tell anyone else that they were going to the library to study for OWLs. Getting to the Room of Requirements Harry had one thought in his head. "Perfect date, dinner, time alone, perfect date." The door appeared and they went in.
Both gasped as they saw a tuxedo and a dress that would have cost a fortune. "I guess we should get changed." Two changing booths popped up so the two could dress in private.
When dressed they went through the next door and saw a single table with two candles and plates already full of food. "That's impossible."
Harry turns to Hermione. "Why?"
"There are certain rules of magic. One of them states you can't make food with magic."
"So how did this get here?"
They hear a loud cracking noise. "I was notified food would be needed."
"Uh, thank you Dobby." Dobby disappears.
Harry pulled the seat out for Hermione before going to his own. "What do you want to drink?" Before she could answer two glasses appeared filled with a purplish pink liquid.
"Have you ever had wine before Harry? My parents let me have it on the holidays it is pretty good." Taking a glass each they raised them and drank.
"Wow, really does taste good." Hermione set hers down. "My parents usually go with some good wine but this stuff tastes like something only the Prime Minister or the Pope could afford."
Harry had very few experiences with alcohol and didn't know how it would affect him. He took a few sips and enjoyed the flavor but sat the glass down.
Eating dinner Harry watched as Hermione ate slowly making quiet noises when she bit into the steak the first time. "Oh god Harry nothing could make a steak taste like this, this is perfect." Harry hearing those words went to his dinner savoring the flavors.
Finishing dinner Harry and Hermione had time to talk, alone, together. "Mione I am so glad this worked. I missed being alone with you. Being able to talk with you alone and being able to see you as the beautiful woman you are." He reached out and grabbed her hand hearing a noise when he did. Both looked to the right and saw a door had appeared.
"I guess we should go through it." Standing up together the chairs and table disappeared walking hand in hand through the door.
They were outside with a vast sky full of stars. The air was warmer than the real outside would be with no wind. In the middle of the "field" was a large bed and nothing more. "Gee Harry wonder what the Room has on its mind." She laughed running over to the bed. Harry had no idea what was on the Room's mind but knew what was on his.
"Mione I don't know about this, this is amazing and all but this could lead to more than we are ready for." Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the bed.
"Shut up Harry and kiss me." She pulled him down to her mouth kissing him hard. Harry felt her tongue against his teeth and opened to let her tongue dance with his. Rolling over Hermione was on top of him. "Come on Harry, I love you, let us do more tonight. You thought of this you deserve this."
"Wait Mione." He sat up with Hermione sitting on his lap. "We can't do this now."
"Why not? Don't you love me?"
Harry is worried as Hermione's voice seemed to change. "Hermione stop!"
"No!" She grabs him by the wrists and pins him to the bed.
"Dobby!"
Crack "Harry Potter do you need any thing else?"
"Get her off of me."
"Yes Sir." Dobby uses his powers and knocks Hermione off of the bed.
Harry gets off of the bed and gets his wand out. "Hermione there is some thing wrong with you."
"I don't know." Hermione tears at the dress. "You wanted the perfect date." She continues trying to get the dress off.
"Hermione stop that. Dobby make her stop."
"Yes Harry Potter." Dobby freezes Hermione in place.
"This isn't what I wanted." The starry night sky turns black. "Dobby can you get her out of here?"
"Of course." Dobby uses his magic to lift the frozen Hermione up and through the door.
Harry follows after the two. "Hermione are you ok now?"
"I don't know. I still feel funny in the head. I, I want to do some thing to you but I don't know what." She pulls her wand out. "Go away Dobby."
"No, stay." Harry slowly reaches for his wand.
"I owe a great debt to Harry Potter he is a great wizard. I will do as he asks."
"Don't touch your wand Harry."
"Why did you unfreeze her?"
"I did not. The Room of Requirements must be affecting my powers."
"It isn't the room. No, it is the room. It is the room!" Hermione drops her wand and grabs at her hand. "Leave me alone! All of you!"
"No Hermione there is some thing wrong with you."
"It is your fault! It has to be! You did this to me! This is what you wanted wasn't it?! Now you get it!" She starts charging Harry.
"Stupefy!" Harry hits Hermione in the chest knocking her down. "Dobby what is going on? Is it the room?"
"No Harry Potter the Room of Requirements does not work like that." Dobby goes to Hermione. "Miss Granger is not hurt."
"What is it then? Her voice changed and she almost attacked me."
"I do not know Harry Potter." Dobby pokes Hermione in the arm.
"I have to get her to the Common Room. No, Madam Pomfrey." Harry notices the dress was ripped in several places. "How do I explain this?" He kneels down next to her. "Hermione please be," Her eyes open.
"You attacked me!"
"Hermione I had to! You were going to attack me first."
"No, I, what happened?" She looks down at the dress. "What did you do to me?"
"I didn't do any thing! You started trying to tear the dress off."
"Why would I do that? I, this, some thing is wrong." She sees Dobby. "When did you come back?"
"He stopped you from attacking me in the other room."
"I didn't attack you. We, we had dinner and then, my mind is all fuzzy."
Harry reaches to help her up. "We should go to," Hermione smacks his hand away.
"Leave me alone."
"But Hermione, Mione, we need to get back."
"I'll go back when I'm ready." Harry doesn't move. "Leave me alone now!"
Harry stands up. "Fine but I'll be waiting for you." He leaves the Room of Requirements.
Harry sits in the Common Room waiting for Hermione. When the entrance way finally opens she ignores him and goes straight to the girls' dormitory. "Mione please be ok." He gets off of the couch and goes to his room.
A/N I keep having to make all of these changes and then try and remember what I changed. But it makes the story better I think. Just have to remember what I changed so there aren't weird plot holes and stuff. Well, hope you read, enjoy, and if you have the time review!