AN—Look another chapter! Yay me! Okay this one just did not want to be written but it's here anyway. Hope you guys like it! Review even if you don't…Thanks to all!
Also the characters are not mine duh….
Not One of Us
Chapter Six
Hermione let out another sigh as her reading light was interrupted by more spell light. Ever since they woke up this morning Harry had been so tight lipped and mad that he was starting to drive her insane. She glanced over the top of her book to see absolute destruction, huge stone statues that had once look like dragons of all types where now rubble with her best friend heaving with exertion in the middle. Closing her book she set it aside onto the small table next to her chair then proceeded to make her way through the shield that the room had provided for her. She stopped a few feet away from him as she could still tell that he hadn't quite worked out all of his issues but his temper was down enough for her to finally feel comfortable enough to come within wand ranger, though looking at the state of the dragons around them she wasn't too sure that he had a range. She primly rested her hands on her hips as she watched him straighten slightly.
"Feel better?" she asked. She gave him a small smile as he glanced over to her with a shrug. Hermione shook her head at him then stepped over a piece that she assumed was part of one of the dragon's eye to come around in front of him. She lifted herself up slightly to accommodate his recent growth spurt and pecked a kiss to his cheek, nearly brushing his lips. She chuckled at the wide eyed blink that he gave her before grabbing his hand and dragging him over to her little couch. She promptly shoved him so that he sat down with a thump at one end of the couch while she sat down next to him.
"Alright, what has you in this state? We've already discussed the plan for the Task and I can tell you know it like the back of your hand if the states of those statues are any bearing. Harry, talk to me, I haven't seen you this upset since that night Ronald decided to over step his bounds with me two weeks ago," Hermione stated as she turned to sit cross legged to face him. She watched him lean back and close his eyes. The silence stretched between them and she was beginning to wonder if he would answer.
"I just kept feeling this strange anger and flicks of magic interrupt my dreams last night. Another problem is just this school and everyone in it. I actually tried to be a good guy yesterday, Mi. I went up to tell Diggory about the dragons just in case he didn't know about them and his little entourage wouldn't let me through, kept going on about sabotage and wanting to kill him to keep the glory to myself. I don't know why I even tried…" Harry finally spoke up clenching his fists then leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees and running his hands through his hair. Hermione shook her head slowly as her own temper flared at this school but it faded as her heart ached for the position that her friend was in now. He was still trying to save someone even as he steadily fell farther into the dark, and her soul soared with cry of its own for him. That's when it hit her, she loved him. She scooted closer to him, ignoring his sweaty stench, and wrapping her arms around him.
"Don't worry about them, you have me and Remus and Sirius. If all the 'detentions' that you've had with Professor Snape are anything to go by then he is on your side as well. You don't need them," she stated to get him to lift his head up and look into her brown eyes. He gave her a small smirk then leaned back slightly, but the small expression faded as his mind went to the reason that he even attempted to warn the Hufflepuff. He had wanted to let Hermione know that he wasn't completely dark like everyone kept saying, how it looked when he continued to search the Dark Arts for more spells. He wanted to wipe away the lingering dot of doubt in her beautiful milk chocolate eyes about him. He brushed a lock of her hair from her face absently as his mind raced.
"I just wanted you to see that…to see that I was still me, that I'm not completely different." He muttered softly to watch a smile spread across Hermione's face.
"Oh, Harry, I know that already. I can see it when we're in our room, when you lovingly pay attention to Hedwig and Crookshanks. I'm thrilled that you tried to warn Diggory and don't worry I'll tell him. Don't listen to the others, or the little whispers in the back of your mind. I will always be with you, no matter what happens. You'll have me by your side, continuing to try and keep you out of too much trouble," she impishly grinned at him before pecking another kiss to his cheek coming just that much closer to his lips again. She was suddenly jumping to her feet, lifting the shell shocked champion to his own feet.
"Go get cleaned up, Harry, you really stink. I'll see you down in the Great Hall for lunch which is in a few minutes," she added with playful wave of her hand in front of her nose attempting to bat the stench away. She dodged Harry's attempt to catch her with a laugh then took off towards the door. She gave him one final smile before leaving their room.
She kept the smile on her face all the way until she reached the lower corridors where the masses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry normally resided. The noise was nearly deafening as they were all chattering about the First Task that was within a week. Hermione ignored the glances as she searched for the hoard of black and yellow that could routinely be found around the True Hogwarts Champion. A spark glittered in her eyes as she spotted the older boy laughing with his friends at their table once she entered the Great Hall. She pulled herself up to stand tall with her head up as the whispers began again as she made her way past the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, she would ignore them. She stopped to stand across from the Seventh Year, clearing her throat softly to get his attention, an eyebrow arched at the sight of the boy seated with his back to her jumping sky high and scrambling away from her. She turned her attention back to the champion with a slight shake of her head.
"If I may have a word with you please, Diggory?" she remained standing with a blank mask as everyone around them began to interject loudly.
"You can't be serious!"
"She's with Potter! You can't trust her, Ced!"
Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically before staring into Cedric gaze. Though she was slightly surprised when he stood up and motioned for her to lead the way, giving him a curt nod she quickly spun around and made her way back to the Entrance Hall. Of course, once she reached her destination she was stumped as to how she should even go about her little personal mission. With a curt nod to herself and huff of air being pushed from her lungs, she turned around to have to lift her head slightly to look the older student in the eyes. She took a step back giving a bit more self confidence.
"Right, I want to level the playing field as it were, Diggory; actually the one I am speaking for was the first to think of it. The First Task is a combination of fire and air…" Hermione blurted out causing Diggory to blink at her while his eyebrows rose up into his hairline.
"And that means?" Hermione rolled her eyes at the wizard in front of her.
"It means that you will be up against dragons, Diggory, we assume that you didn't know what you would be facing. We are leveling the field, you are the last to know," she stated, her inner self doing a dance and laughing at the gob smacked expression covering his face.
"Wait…are you serious? But…that's…you cheated?" he stammered finally as he looked around him franticly hoping not to find a professor around them before turning back to see a narrow eyed glare on the Fourth year witch.
"Of course, I'm serious and it's not cheating if I'm telling you so that the others don't have an advantage over you. I would suggest finding your Head of House to see if you can change your game plan to incorporate this new information. I have a supper to get on with, good day, Diggory," Hermione snapped as she bustled around him. The Seventh year turned around to watch the witch run up to Potter. Diggory blinked a few more times at the sight of the "dark wizard" smile at her and lift her hand to place a chaste to the witch's knuckles before draping his arm over her shoulders. Diggory was once again shocked at the sudden snap of Potter's gaze to lock with his and then give him a curt nod. The Hufflepuff shook his head absently as the two younger students aimlessly entered the Great Hall without another glance towards him. He let out a puff of air before going back into the hall and back over to his friends.
"Alright, Ced; she didn't lure you into a trap did she? We saw her come in with Potter…Ced?'
"What, sorry; bit distracted," Cedric muttered as he tore himself away from his muddled thoughts.
"She did! That little…it's alright, Ced. We'll get you to Madam Pomfrey and get you fixed up in no time," the boy to his left exclaimed instantly trying to pull him from his seat. Cedric swung his arm from the other's grasp with an annoyed look on his face.
"I'm fine; she just told me something that I wasn't expecting. Listen, I've got to have a word with Professor Sprout," he stated actually getting up on his own and starting to head towards the High Table, but paused to look back to the others.
"Leave Potter and Granger alone, guys. I owe them one," he stated plainly catching them all off guard.
ADMMSS
"That's odd; usually you don't see Ms. Granger without Mr. Potter. Whatever could she be up too?" McGonagall muttered as she looked up from her plate, watching Hermione walk past the Gryffindor Table as well as Ravenclaw's. The Transfiguration professor's eyes widened slightly as she watched her favorite student stop in front of Diggory, the Scottish witch rolled her eyes at the sight of the Hufflepuff boy nearly falling from his seat. She turned her head at the low drawl from her right.
"It would appear that they are evening the odds, Minerva. I've already seen Potter attempt to warn him only to turn away once his temper rose a little higher. I'm sure that if he hadn't he may have simply killed those Hufflepuffs for sport," Snape stated as he glanced up over his tea, watching the muggleborn leading Diggory back out into the Entrance Hall. His black orbs snapped from the closed doors to the Headmaster the instant the older wizard spoke.
"So there is still hope for the boy; that's good news at least. Though, the fact he knows what the task is, is disturbing. It is cheating after all,"
McGonagall stared at her boss with wide eyes, then tried to glance over at their Defense teacher's gravely chuckle and Potion Master's humph of a snort.
"Albus, that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say. Blaming the boy of cheating like it's a bad thing. I'd call it constant vigilance. He's making sure he stays alive, that what it is. The boy was merely good in my class before all this started and now he's top of it and making sure everyone knows it. He's finally starting to grow into that damn name everyone gave him," Moody stated with a thump of his fist on the table.
"Indeed I must admit to an improvement in my class as well since him and Weasley's rather volatile separation. Albus, if you constantly are looking for signs of him going dark than that is all you will see. For once, see the big picture you are always raving about," Snape added with a pointed stare at the currently ancient looking Headmaster. Dumbledore slumped his shoulders slightly as he nodded his head.
"Quite right, Severus, quite right; it appears Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger have finished their conversation. They seem happy even if they are alone," he muttered as the four professors watched the young couple sit at the end of the Gryffindor table.
McGonagall allowed a small smile to show as she watched he favorite students talk and laugh with each other. Her sharp gaze then saw Harry nod slightly to Neville and the Weasley Twins who gave one in return with cheeky winks. A small chuckle escaped as Hermione slapped the back of Harry's head to receive a mock wounded look from the boy that she had seen so often on his father at that age.
"They're not alone, Albus," she added softly. She sniffed slightly as her inner cat picked up a rather grotesque scent that had continued to annoy her since the year started. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced over to the Potions Master next to her.
"Severus, must you come to supper with the smell of your potions still on you?"
Snape arched an eyebrow at the formidable Scottish witch.
"I'll have you know that my potions are all simmering so I haven't been around them since lunch, and my First year Puffs and Claws did nothing more strenuous than a Boil Remover,"
"Then why is there a stench of sewer, decay, and general animal?" McGonagall fumed as she glared at the Head of Slytherin.
"Perhaps you need your nose checked?" Snape drawled.
"Enough, Diggory's coming this way; it seems he's not taken the news well," Moody snapped off, cutting the two adults' argument short.
"Professor Sprout, may I have a word with you?" Diggory managed through a tight throat. Sprout glanced over to her friend, giving a slight sigh of relief as McGonagall gave her a small nod.
"Of course, Mr. Diggory, perhaps my office will be acceptable," the gentle Herbologist stated to see her prized Badger give a quick nervous nod.
"Minerva, there's just a rat that's decided to come up food," Moody grumbled as the two Hufflepuffs left and he went back to eating while McGonagall glared at the smug smirk on the Potions Master's face.
"I wouldn't be so smug, Severus. You have given off worse scents when you have been working on one of your projects," the Transfiguration professor snapped only to receive an absent shrug of a black robed shoulder.
