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A/N: Thanks for your reveiws, I love you! Sorry for the lack of updates, mock exams have gone, and our big end of year exams are extremely close, but I'll try to update A.S.A.P.
xxoo
Nik.
Chapter 5: When You Find What Your Looking For, There's Always a Surprise
Snow was hurtling against the windows of the castle. The corridors were so cold that during morning classes the stone floors were slippery and icy. Dragon Hide gloves were a new trend, keeping your hands warm, and many girls had charmed theirs to look better with colours, patterns and accessories. Hermione, however, braved the cold everyday, with no reach out to the trend, and she froze until late at night in the library. Harry was always there, he walked her to classes, no matter how late he ended up being, except for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Ron and Cho were heading to Divination, and Harry was walking Hermione to her Arithimancy class.
"I just HATE her so much!" exclaimed Cho, stamping her foot.
"I know you do Cho, why don't you do something about it" Ron replied, looking out the frozen window, and sighing. He also missed his best friend.
"Oh, Ron your a genius!" she shreiked, and threw her arms around Ron.
"God" he muttered, as she let go.
"I should make her cheat on him" she said, glancing around with an evil look.
"Cho, are you in love with Harry?" Ron asked , so upfront that Cho blushed
"Well, Ron, I don't know! I've known his since primary school, and his cousin Dudley and his friends used to beat him up, and I knew when I saw his scar that he was Harry Potter, and I made friends with him. But back then, I only made friends with him because he was famous, I've never Michael Corner, Seamus, Dean, or any of the other better looking guys. He has potential, since he's famous and all, but he never wanted to be the cool guy. He looks at people for their inside, not the out, sure it hacks me off, but he's still Harry." She said, sounding mildly frustrated.
"Cho?" he asked, looking at her as she looked at her open hands on her lap.
"Yeah?" she replied quietly, and looked up at him.
"You're really shallow" he said simply, stood up, and shivering, he walked off towards the divination classroom.
"Oh, Harry. Please, everything's gone wrong." she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, and as she took out her hot pink and purple polka dotted Dragon Hide gloves and pulled them onto her frozen fingers.
"Hermione!" Marietta was yelling as she wrestled her way through the packed corridor. Hermione's brown bushy head was bobbing along the corridor, as she hurried along. She heard her name, stopped, and turned.
"What Marietta?" she said, slightly snobbishly, and she glared at the taller, older girl.
"Is it true?" Marietta said excitedly, jumping up and down slightly
"What's true?" Hermione asked, pretending to be confused, It's about Harry. she thought to herself, and tried to keep her face straight.
"That you're going out with Harry Potter!" exclaimed Marietta grinning. "It was on the list in the bathroom!"
"Oh, Yeah, well I am" Hermione said, and turned around to walk away. I wasn't supposed to tell, but I was the one who wanted to keep it a secret, but oh well, Marietta's face was worth it! Hermione thought, and she smiled.
"Hermione!" called Marietta again and Hermione spun around again "well, sit with us at dinner, okay?" Marietta smiled, and with a wave of her lime green gloves, she continued down the corridor. Hermione shrugged to herself.
"Hello" said Hermione quietly, as she sat down tentatively at the Ravenclaw table, next to Marietta
"Hi Hermione" said Marietta, and looked back at her friends.
"Is it true? your going out with Harry Potter?" asked a girl opposite her. Hermione nodded. "I'm Tam" the girl introduced herself. "That's Kelly" she pointed to the straight red-headed girl next to her, and continued "Indi" pointing to a curly blonde "and Shan" indicating to the girl on the other side of Marietta, with long black hair similar to Cho's except longer. Hermione looked at each person, who smiled at her, and a girl nudged her in her waist, on the other side of her.
"Hermione, that lot are not good" said the small indian girl, Padma, who was making herself comfortable in her seat, rearranging her long dark brown plait.
"Why?" Hermione asked with interest, not usually one to gossip, but oh well.
"They're sluts all of them. Marietta slept with Micheal Corner the other night, and he has an un-named girlfriend" said Padma wisely, but keeping her voice low so that she wouldn't be heard.
"Patil. Shut up." said Marietta, who had heard.
"No, Marietta, you." said Hermione, and she threw a very dangerous look at Marietta.
"Hermione, would you like to come to the Gryffindor table with me? I'm going to see Parvati" Padma said, and she stood up. Hermione followed, smiling at the girl.
"Did she really have sex with Micheal?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I saw them, sadly, in an empty classroom next to the portrait hole" Padma nodded, and looked revolted. Parvati was between Harry and Cho, and Ron was opposite them, and he kept throwing icy glares at Cho. Hermione couldn't help but smile, she didn't really beleive in Karma, but Cho had it coming to her. Hermione walked along next to Padma, and as Padma sat next to Ron, across from her twin. Hermione squeezed in between Harry and Parvati.
"Heya Harry" said Hermione, looking up at him.
"Hi Babe" he replied, and leaned down so their lips met, and Harry stroked her hair, and broke off. Many people were staring at them, some in awe, soem with jealousy, and a few, like Cho, with anger. Hermione grinned, and he kissed her cheek again. "I missed you" he whispered in her ear, and she blushed and smiled.
"What's up with Cho and Ron" said Hermione, as she took a french fry off his plate and popped it in her mouth.
"Fighting like a pack of wolves" muttured Harry and the two of them laughed.
"Did you hear that Micheal Corner slept with Marietta? And he's apparently got a girlfriend!" said Hermione, and Harry looked at her
"And since when did my 'Mione start gossiping?" he asked, slightly entertained.
"He slept with Marietta!?" asked Ginny, who next to Ron, looking angry and upset.
"Yeah" mummured Hermione, surveying Ginny with interest. She looked extremely upset. She stood up and looked over at teh Ravenclaw table, before walking quickly out of the Great Hall. Hermione raised her eyebrows at Harry, who shrugged.
"Want to go?" he said, and she nodded. they stood, said goodbye to Ron, and with their hands tightly intwined, they left the Great Hall together.
"Do you want to go to the library?" he asked her, as they walked through the corridors.
"No. I want to go in here, with you" she whispered huskily, pulling him through the door by the front of his robes. She kissed him, her body pressed hard up against him. He responded, deepening the kiss, pushing his tongue into her mouth. He pushed his hands down her body, and her fingers were threading through his hair. His hands were stroking her stomach under her school blouse, and she moaned in his mouth excitedly. she leaned up agaisnt the desk behind her, and as she broke the kiss, she lay back on the desk, and nodded at his raised eyebrows, answering his silent question. His fingers were stroking further up her body, towards her breasts. She spread her legs and pulled him closer.
"please Harry" she mummured, excitement pulsing through her veins and her heart pumping with adrenaline. His fingers were at her bra, and she rubbed her breasts, and her nipples perked up, he sighed, and he leaned across her and their lips met gently, and he left kisses on her cheeks, nibbling at her earlobe, and kissed down her neck, suckling at the soft flesh on her neck, her back arched towards him, and he smiled down at her. Her hands scrambled at his belt, loosening it so she could get her hand down there.
"Harry, I've never done this before, but I'll try" she whispered, panicked.
"It's okay baby, neither have I" he replied, and he gasped as her hand went down into his pants, and suddenly, beyond his control, his manhood stood in all glory. her hand lightly stroked it, squeezing at it's base and using her thumb to stroke the end while she squeezed her way up.
"Excuse me!" someone said sternly from behind them. Her hands flew from his pants, he stopped stroking and guiltily they turned to see Professor McGonagall glaring at them from the doorway. "Mr Potter, Miss Granger, I would have expected better from the two of you" she said, her voice rising with her anger. Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Sorry Professor" they both said, bowing their heads in shame.
"Well, Normally a detention would do it, but it seems that Professor Dumbledore would like to see you Potter. You better come too Miss Granger" the professor continued, and the couple nodded. Harry's hand was wrapped protectively around his girlfriend's waist, and they followed McGonagall to the Stone gargoyle that gaurded the Headmaster's office. McGonagall knocked on the headmaster's door.
"Come in" said a tired, exhausted voice from within the office. Harry and Hermione shared a look of alarm at his voice. The door opened, and the trio entered the room.
"Minerva, to what do I owe this pleasure?" said Dumbledore, looking at the students behind her with interest. "Ah, Harry!" he said loudly, beckoning the student towards him. Harry stepped forward and dragged Hermione with him "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?" Dumbledore looked amused,
"Oh, sir, this is Hermione Granger, she's my girlfriend" Harry said nervously, and Hermione smiled reassuringly at him.
"These two were in an empty classroom on the first floor, they were pretty, um, ah, close" Professor McGonagall said, uncomfortably. Hermione and Harry blushed, and Dumbledore merely chuckled.
"Well, it seems that they were, how do I put this, getting to know each other" Dumbledore said, and McGonagall frowned. "I wish to talk to Harry alone" he continued, and he sat up straighter in his chair. Harry squeezed Hermione's hand.
"You can say it to 'Mione too, sir, I'm only going to tell her later" said Harry, and Hermione beamed.
"Really?" she whispered excitedly, looking at him, when he nodded, she threw her arms around his neck. Harry hugged her back and blushed.
"Okay" said Dumbledore "Please have a seat" McGonagall glared around the room before she exited, slamming the door heavily behind her. "She doesn't seem to be in the best mood" he mummured, and Harry laughed.
"Well, Harry, Miss Granger," Dumbledore tapped his desk with his fingers.
"Call me Hermione, sir" said Hermione quietly, and nervously.
"Okay Hermione," he said and she smiled in recognition. "I suppose you know of Harry's dreams, what he has been witnessing over the last few years, of Voldemort's activity" she shook her head, and Dumbledore looked surprised at this.
"I haven't told her sir, because it hasn't happened since last year." Harry said, and he shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, 'Mione, I should have told you" he looked into her eyes, pleading,
"It's okay," she whispered, and squeezed the hand she was still holding, which he lifted, and kissed her hand. She smiled, and Dumbledore also smiled.
"Well, it seems Harry that you shall have to learn Occulmency." Dumbledore announced. Hermione gasped, and Harry looked confused.
"Occu-what?" said Harry,
"Occulmency You-Know-Who is very accomplished at Legilmens, that's like mind-reading, and that must be what he's doing to you, putting dreams into mind using Legilmens. Occulmency stops this from happening, like a barrier. It means that every night, or whenever else you sleep, you'll have to clear your mind of all thoughts before you go to sleep, as well as your emotions. It's very difficult Harry, you'll have to work very hard, and it's extremely tiring." Hermione said, and the headmaster, who was listening deeply, nodded.
"who's going to teach me?" he asked, after smiling broadly at Hermione.
" Me." announced Dumbledore, "Professor Snape volunteered, but I know how much you, ah, despise him, so I thought I'd do it, if that's okay Harry" he continued, and Harry nodded.
"Well, professor, When do I start?" he asked, he was kind of excited. He was looking forward to Occulmency.
"Next Monday, 8 o'clock, right here." Dumbledore smiled, he could tell Harry was enthusiastic.
"Well, I suppose you two should be heading back to your common rooms. Good evening. Use the Cloak Harry" Dumbledore dismissed the two.
"Goodnight Professor" they both said quietly, and exited the office. Hermione was shaking, and Harry, thinking she was cold, put his arm gently around her.
"Occulmency Harry! That'll be amazing!" Hermione said to him, as she leaned into him. He took his Invisibility Cloak out of his pocket and threw it over them. She looked up at him as he did it, and he grinned playfully. He pulled her closer to him, and he kissed her, starting softly, bet gaining pace as the time wore on. It was only a matter of seconds.
"Harry. We'll get caught!" Hermione whispered urgently, as she broke from his lips. She giggled, and she pulled his hand as she tried to walk back to her dormitory. Her head was swimming with thoughts, from Harrys visions to the fact that he didn't tell her. She also thought of all the undone homework she had ignored while she hung out with Harry. They'd been going out for a while, and he was keeping secrets from her. She bet that even Cho would know more about Harry than him. The thought of Cho made her angry, and irritated. "We're prefects Harry, we don't need the cloak, we're allowed out." She tugged the Cloak off her and started to walk down the corridor. "You don't have to walk me to my Dorm Harry. I'll see you tomorrow." She kissed his lips lightly, and flashing him a final smile, she disappeared around the corner. Harry stood there, confused, and after standing there for a minute or so, he turned and headed back to the Gryffindor Tower.
Cho was around the corner. She'd been hiding in the shadows as Hermione had walked past. Cho pulled her wand out of her robes, and pointed it at Hermione's shoulder blades.
"Stupefy" she whispered, and Hermione dropped to the ground abruptly. Cho tore at Hermione's robes, using her wand to make little cuts all over her body. After kicking Hermione in the stomach, Cho turned and ran.
"Mr Potter!" Someone was shouting at Harry, shaking him awake. As he opened his eyes, all he could see was a smudge of colour. Groping his bedside cabinet for his glasses he put them on, and found that his bed, with him in it, was surrounded by Professor McGonagall, Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville.
"Follow me Potter." Was all the professor said, and without getting his robe, Harry followed his head of house out of his Dormitory.
"What's happened?" Harry asked as the twosome manoeuvred the halls of the school.
"Miss Granger was attacked." The professor stated bluntly. Harry froze.
"Hermione? What happened?" Harry said, not moving. McGonagall spun around, angry.
"Hurry up! She was attacked, it seems" she replied, and Harry followed once more.
"This isn't the way to the Hospital Wing! I want to see her!" Harry stopped again, also getting angry.
"She doesn't want to see you. She doesn't want to see her attacker. We're going to the headmaster's office." Her voice was stern.
"I didn't attack her! I love her!" He yelled, and then suddenly as he went to keep talking, found he wasn't able to. The transfiguration professor had cast a non-verbal silencing spell on him.
"Now Potter, if you don't come quickly, I will have to levitate you" Harry followed once more, and within minutes, they were outside the door to the Headmaster's office. McGonagall knocked, and entered. Dumbledore looked grave as he stared intently at Harry, whom was looking extremely nervous.
"Sit down please Mr Potter" Dumbledore said, gesturing to the chair. Harry had flinched at the use of his surname, and he nervously sat in front of the headmaster.
"Well?" Dumbledore said, looking at Harry, irritated somewhat by Harry's lack of response. He continued to glare at Harry, who looked up at McGonagall pleadingly, and she suddenly jerked.
"Sorry! I put Harry under a silencing spell, he making a ruckus in the corridor, and I forgot." McGonagall blushed slightly, and stepped forward to non-verbally remove the spell.
"It wasn't me I swear! We left here, and I threw the Cloak over us, and we were kissing" he blushed before continuing, "And then she pushed me off, and said goodnight, and walked away. I don't know why she got stroppy with me! Maybe it was because of the dreams? I don't know!" Harry was shouting, tears were forming in his eyes. "Is she okay?" he said quieter. He looked into Dumbledore's blue eyes, and he saw the Headmaster staring back at him.
"She's okay now. She was stunned, and was bleeding from several cuts over her body, and her robes were torn. She thinks it was you." Dumbledore looked at him seriously. "I believe you Harry, but I don't know how to convince her."
"Please sir, can I see her?" Harry asked eagerly.
"You can try, I'm not sure if she will want you there." The headmaster nodded sadly "I shall take you there now." He held the door open for Harry, who refused to go before the Headmaster, who smiled and exited in front of Harry.
The hospital wing had one occupant. Hermione Granger was pretending to be asleep. She was confused. She wanted to know why Harry had attacked her. She didn't even see him, but who else would have done it? The door opened, and Hermione closed her eyes.
"'Mione?" Harry whispered, leaning close to her, and kissing her forehead. Hermione's eyes opened quickly, and with anger flaring up inside her, she turned to him, even though it was extremely painful.
"Get Out! How dare you attack me! Why? I thought you loved me! I gave you my everything and you go and attack me! Leave! It's Over Harry!" she shouted, and even Dumbledore flinched.
"Hermione! Please believe me! It wasn't me I promise. I love you! I do! I would never do that to you" he was saying it quietly, urgently, and tears were running down his cheeks
"Are you crying?!" she said, as if it was the stupidest thing ever. "What kind of sick person are you?" she was still shouting. Dumbledore stepped forward, and put a hand on Harry's shaking shoulder.
"Harry, I think you should leave." Dumbledore said this sternly, and Harry nodded.
"I Love you Hermione. Goodnight, Hermione, Professor" Harry turned and walked away, and Harry could hear Dumbledore sit down.
In the common room, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville had got the girls up, and they were all waiting for Harry to come back. Professor McGonagall hadn't told them what was up, but they figured it had to be important, since she had got Harry up at this hour. The Portrait opened, and Harry appeared. Every eye in the common room went to him.
"Harry! What happened?" Cho ran to him and hugged him, and he shook her off.
"Hermione." Was all Harry could say, and he was shaking in shock.
"Oh Harry, what happened?" Cho sounded worried, and she looked worried, but deep inside she was excited.
"She was attacked. She thought it was me." Harry wiped away his tears, and walked past them, up to his dormitory.
"Harry?" people were calling after him but he didn't turn, but carried on