Chapter 5 - Defence Against the Dark Arts
Hermione stood under the hot water of the shower and cursed for the hundredth time her lack of luck.
'Of course the shower in my dorm room had to act up today of all days. Darn it all to hell! I thought I told Dobby to fix the plumbing already….'
Hermione shook her head angry at herself for even blaming the little house elf. After all she had only just told him when she saw him in the kitchen's and it was her brilliant idea to take a bath in the prefects bathroom.
'Yes, another brilliant move Hermione. I just had to see what the prefects bathroom looked like and of course I had to run into Ronald Weasley on my little adventure didn't I?!'
Hermione jumped suddenly when she heard a loud banging on the wall beside her. She quickly grabbed the tap to stop herself from falling on the slippery titled floor of the shower.
"Don't take too long, we still gotta get your book remember."
Hermione heard Ron's voice echo through the empty bathroom. She shakily picked up the shampoo bottle she had dropped. She opened her mouth to speak but the long tresses of hair that fell across her face stopped her.
The potion had stopped working the instant she had stepped into the shower but she was too busy praising her luck at escaping Ron's piercing gaze to even take another batch of the potion Snape had given her.
Hermione heard Ron tapping once more on the wall that separated them and which suddenly seemed like a very thin barrier between her and Ron. She carefully padded her way across the wet tiles and rummaged through her bag.
"Hey, John you alright? You didn't slip and hit your head did you?"
Hermione almost jumped in triumph when she located the small vial of pearly blue liquid but instead she quickly drank its contents and squinted her eyes as the potion took effect.
"John? You okay mate?"
Hermione reached up and felt her hair had become short once more. She breathed a sigh of relief before attempting a reply.
"Yeah, fine. Why don't you just go back to the common room? I may take a while in the library."
Hermione heard Ron putting his clothes on and open the door of his cubicle.
"Well alright, I'll see you later then," Ron's spoke from the other side of the cubicle.
"'Kay, see ya," Hermione replied just before she heard Ron's footsteps disappearing into the distance and the door of the bathroom close.
She let out another sigh of relief and hurriedly changed and collected her belongings. The sooner this night was over the better.
"Right so just make sure you go through this revision table I gave you and you should do absolutely fine on the assignment," Ron explained for the third time as the first year student tailed behind him.
"But can't you just..." Ron stopped and turned to glare at the boy. The first year gulped nervously when he saw Ron's expression, "Right…t-thanks Mr Weasley."
"It's Ron, not Mr Weasley for merlin's sake," Ron's words echoed down the hall as the first year hastily made his retreat.
Ron straightened his shirt and yawned as he continued to his transfiguration class. Harry was busy training for the first Quidditch match of the school year and Neville had gone to visit his parents, so he didn't have his friends around him to fend off the students either wanting his exam notes or help with a last minute assignment that Snape had set them.
"That was nicely handled," John spoke from beside him and pulled him from his inner thoughts, "He's just a kid you know."
Ron rubbed his aching head as John quickly fell into step beside him, his arms laden with library books.
"That's the tenth bloody time he's come up and asked me about his charms essay," Ron explained despite the guilt he felt beginning to gnaw at him, "he might as well ask me to write it for him."
"Still he's just a first year," John said as he and Ron made their way to Transfiguration.
Ron let his eyes linger on his short companion. He looked almost as tired as Ron felt and his short brown hair was sticking up all over the place as though he had just woken up. But unlike Ron, John's robes were perfectly placed and shone as though they had just been bought at Diagon Alley. He looked down at his own clothes and blushed slightly at the ink and coffee stains on his shirt and tie and his much too short shirt.
"What's with all the books?" he questioned wanting to focus on anything other than the embarrassing state of his clothes.
"Extra credit," John answered dismissively, "So where are Harry and Neville?"
"Extra credit?" Ron laughed earning him a frown from John, "Neville has things to do and Harry's at quidditch practice I think…" Ron trailed off when he saw some kids approaching them.
"Oh, bloody hell," He moaned.
"Mr Weasley…"
Ron groaned but stopped to listen to the group.
"Is it true that you're selling your exam notes from last year? How much were you planning on – "
"Hang on," John said from beside him and Ron turned to see his friend glaring at him, "You're selling exam notes?!"
Ron raised his eyebrows and fixed John with an annoyed expression.
"And if I were?" Ron replied indignantly, he was too tired and frustrated at the moment to justify himself to John.
"T-that's completely…completely unethical!" John screamed and received a few startled looks from the students around them.
"Unethical?" Ron repeated before laughing.
This only seemed to anger John even more because the next moment he dumped his mountain of books onto the floor before pointing a finger at Ron and jabbing him in the chest.
"The point of schools is for students to learn and study! What do you think they are going to learn if you just give them your notes! Does Headmis – I mean Professor McGonnagal know about this? I bet she doesn't cause if she did do you know what she would tell you? She would say that you are being completely irresponsible and inconsiderate of the students learning process."
Ron stared wide-eyed at John and watched in horror when he realized that everyone in the hall had stopped what they were doing and stood staring at him being told off by John.
"I cannot believe this," John continued to scream at him, "first you charge them and now I hear that you don't even actually teach them anything at all you just give them notes to memorise, well if you think I'm just going to stand by and let you do this than you've got another thing coming! Do you know how lucky you are to be here and yet you waste your time with Quidditch and merlin knows what else – I really think – "
"Hey! Back off!" Ron finally screamed pushing John back.
John stumbled backwards and fell onto the floor toppling over his pile of books.
"I don't know what the hell you're bloody problem is," Ron stood staring down at John who looked half frightened that Ron would physically strike him, "but you don't know anything about my 'teaching methods' and you as sure hell don't know me! So don't stand there preaching to me about how bloodly lucky I am!" Ron felt his cheeks becoming heated with rage and embarrassment and instantly turned and stormed off towards the transfiguration classroom ploughing through the students who were still staring at him and John in shock.
Hermione watched Ron storm off down the hall and felt herself deflate.
'When will I learn to keep my stupid mouth shut!' Hermione screamed internally.
She slowly picked herself up only then noticing the crowd around her staring at her as though she had grown antlers. She groaned and picked the books up from the floor. Slowly the students around her dispersed and she was left wallowing in her own guilt and frustration.
Where had that outburst come from? Hermione wondered to herself as she ran the rest of the way to her Transfiguration classroom. She was normally so rational and level-headed, she never lost her cool not even when those nasty slytherin girls bullied her. So why was this time so different? What was it about Ron that made her so -- passionate?
'Is that what I feel towards Ron? Passion?' Hermione questioned herself as she breathlessly fell into her seat just as Professor McGonnagal began class. McGonnagal looked at her in disapproval before continuing the lesson.
It was only when she had collected her books and began copying notes that she realized that she had sat down beside Ron and he didn't look too happy about the situation. Not that she could blame him she had practically lectured to him about school morals with half the student body staring on. She was embarrassed but she couldn't even begin to comprehend how he felt. Hermione bit her lip nervously and wondered whether this would be one of those times where she could act like a guy and pretend nothing happened. She stole another glance at Ron and from the storm cloud that practically floated above him she decided against that approach. She sighed inwardly and instead focused on the lesson.
Once the lesson was over she prepared to apologise to Ron but when she had turned to look at him he was already out the door. Hermione felt her heart plummet to her stomach. She felt absolutely frustrated and guilty but at the same time she was angry at Ron. He had done the wrong thing, selling exam notes was completely unethical – Hermione felt herself deflate further as she trudged her way to the DADA classroom. Now that she thought back on it, perhaps she had gone a little overboard, after all Ron never actually admitted to selling his notes, he just didn't answer her question.
'This is all going horribly wrong, I need to just focus on studying, yes studying and if I have time making a few friends. Who has time to date anyway – I'm not even in a position to date even if I wanted to – I'm a guy for merlin's sake well at least pretending to be one.'
Hermione felt someone place their arm on her shoulder as she stepped into the classroom which thankfully hadn't started yet. Hermione's eyes lit up, perhaps Ron was going to talk to her after all, but hang on, Hermione's eyes locked onto Ron who was at that moment talking to Neville and Harry at the front of the classroom. Hermione brow furrowed and she turned around to see Draco Malfoy sneering down at her.
"Can't wait to practice some of my spells on you," Draco drawled causing Hermione to shiver involuntarily.
"Hurry up you two," a voice interrupted them, "Class is about to start."
Hermione looked up to see Professor Lupin smiling down at them.
"Yes, Professor," Draco replied giving Lupin an indignant look before stalking off to join his friends.
Hermione smiled gratefully at the Professor as he walked towards the front of the class. He nodded at her before he began the lesson.
"Right, you all know the drill, pair up and practice the Expeliarmus spells on each other," Remus voice faded off into the background as Hermione stared forlornly at Ron across the room. He had avoided looking at her the entire lesson and apart from curious glances from Neville and Harry, her new friends had completely ignored her.
Hermione jumped when her seat and table slid away from under her and piled themselves against the walls, she looked around and realized that everyone around her were already practicing their spells. She cringed when she saw Malfoy walk towards her menacingly obviously prepared to exact his revenge on her for embarrassing him on the Hogwarts Express.
"Ahh John, Ron doesn't have a partner I thought you could practice with him," Professor Lupin said as he stepped in front of her blocking Malfoy's path.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and whispered her thanks to Lupin before hurriedly making her way over to Ron.
It was only when she reached him and tapped him lightly on the shoulder that she remembered that he was still angry at her. He turned around and fixed her with a cold stare.
"Listen about before – "
But Ron had already turned around and walked a few meters ahead of her. He stopped and turned around to face her, his wand outstretched.
"Right, guess we should get started then…" Hermione trailed off her eyes falling to floor not able to bring herself to look at his cold expressionless eyes.
"Never look away from your opponent," Professor Lupin said walking over to her, "Focus," he said in a whisper while he pretended to fix her grip on her wand, "These boys don't know that you're a girl so they won't hold back."
With those words Professor Lupin walked off to check on the other student's progress.
Hermione straightened her shoulders and forced herself to look into Ron's eyes.
"Expeliarmus!" she screamed.
"Protego!" Ron said instantly and her spell rebounded off his magical shield.
Hermione's eyes widened just before she felt her feet lifted off the ground and the dull pain as she fell backwards.
Ron gaped when he saw John fly across the room and slam into the wall before sliding down to the floor.
"What happened?" Lupin said as he rushed over to John.
The entire class rushed over to look at John as well and a few passed him frightened looks.
Ron was finally able to get his feet to move and he shakily made his way over to John who was lying in a crumpled heap on the ground.
"Good one Weasley! Couldn't have done it better myself!" Malfoy laughed loudly, his slytherin classmates joining in.
"Is he alright?" Ron asked as he watched Lupin knell down next to John.
"He needs to be taken to the infirmary," Lupin replied, "Class dismissed."
"I'll take him," Ron said.
"No, you boys get to your next lesson," Lupin replied before he lifted John off the floor and hurried out the door.
"What the hell did you do? I mean I know you were mad but attacking him wasn't – "
"I didn't attack him Harry! I just did a basic shield charm and the next thing I knew he was flying across the room," Ron struggled to explain running his shaking hand through his hair.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Neville asked in concern as the rest of the class filed out of the room.
"Harry, give me your invisibility cloak," Ron said quickly.
"Ugh…" Hermione groaned as she sat up, before promptly falling back into the bed. Her eyes slowly focused and she stared up at the tall ceilings. Her eyes fell on the drawn curtains around her bed and the sterile smell of the room and realized she must have been taken to the infirmary. She felt something brush up against her before she saw Madame Pomfrey pulling open the curtain and hastily closing it again.
"What happened?" Hermione asked groggily drinking the potion that the nurse handed her.
"Hit by your own spell," Madame Pomfrey replied in a disapproving voice, "Professor Lupin was in quite a state when he arrived with you floating beside him, rambling on about how he was afraid you'd turn back into a girl while you were unconscious."
Hermione reached over and placed the cup on the table beside her but in her groggy state she must have missed and it toppled to the floor.
Madame Pomfrey lifted up the cup and placed it back onto the table.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Much better," Hermione realised that her voice had returned to its normal feminine tones and reached up to absently brush the hair away from her shoulders.
"Yes, I thought you might, eliminating other spells or in this case potions from you body should help your body heal itself," the nurse replied, "Now you just rest my dear, no one will bother you don't you worry about that."
With those words Madame Pomfrey left her alone once more. Hermione sat up in her bed and stretched.
"What a day," she sighed, "I wonder if Ron is still mad at me…"
Hermione trailed off when the image of Ron staring at with cold expressionless eyes sent a shiver through her. Hermione rubbed her eyes as she felt her eyes begin to sting. The tears slowly slid down her face and she hugged her legs to her chest.
"I'm such an idiot, why did I have to go off at him like that?"
Ron quickly threw the cloak over himself before running up the stairs to the infirmary. He slowly opened the door and checked to see if Madame Pomfrey was around but the nurse was no where in sight. He quickly stepped inside before closing the door behind him. He looked around the room and saw only one bed with its curtains drawn. He walked over and stepped inside.
John was still unconscious and Ron could see a large bruise had already formed on his neck and face. He heard John groan in pain and he reached over so that he could talk to him and apologise but he heard the curtain behind him rustle and he instantly backed away into the corner and as far away from Madame Pomfrey as possible.
"What happened?" John asked groggily drinking the potion that the Madame Pomfrey had given him.
"Hit by your own spell," Madame Pomfrey replied, "Professor Lupin was in quite a state when he arrived with you floating beside him, rambling on about how he was afraid you'd turn back into a girl while you were unconscious."
'Wait – WHAT!' Ron backed away from the nurse and accidentally bumped into the bedside table, causing a cup to fall to the ground.
Madame Pomfrey lifted up the cup and placed it back onto the table and Ron had to squeeze himself against the wall to avoid her.
"How are you feeling now?" the nurse questioned
"Much better."
Ron's eyes widened and he felt himself grow faint as he watched John's hair grow longer and his face change shape.
"Yes, I thought you might…." Ron didn't even hear the rest of Madame Pomfrey speech because his eyes were glued to the person who now sat in front of him.
'It can't be…it's her…the one I've been – b-but what...?!'
Ron jumped when he saw the girl with bushy hair sit up in her bed and he realized that the Madame Pomfrey had already left.
"I wonder if Ron is still mad at me…"
Ron gulped when he saw the girl begin to cry.
"I'm such an idiot, why did I have to go off at him like that?"
Ron slowly backed away from the crying girl before hastily leaving the infirmary. Only when he had reached the empty common room did he finally voice the thought that had been repeating in his head for the last few minutes.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE!"
A/B: ahaha this was a funny chapter to write and I hope it was just as fun to read