Chapter 14, Planning for War

"speech" – speech
^speech^ - parseltongue

speech – non-verbal speech

'words' – written/emphasis/title

Harry looked up at Hermione curiously. As far as he was concerned their almost friendship had been broken the second Hermione had stop speaking to him. He had been saddened by the split but unsurprised, after all who would want to be friends with the real him? Even Ron had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with either of them and the bond between them had been welded shut. So why was Hermione looking down at him guiltily like that?

"I-I'm sorry I got mad at you earlier. I was acting immaturely," she whispered softly, "Can you forgive me?"

Harry couldn't be more confused. Hadn't she herself been upset by something he had done? Why was she apologising?

"I thought you were angry of my lack of concern for your well-being?"

He was sitting in soft chair in the common room, his Herbology book open in front of him, there was no one close enough to hear his hard words. Though the prefect was shooting the first years concerned looks every few seconds.

Hermione must have caught him glancing at her because she spoke up, "I was until Penelope found me on the fourth floor. She had a long talk with me and I realised I have no right to expect either you or Ron to share every one of beliefs. I'm your friend because I want to be your friend not to turn you into a carbon copy of myself."

Harry was stunned. This girl was basically telling him that while she didn't like his beliefs she still wanted to be friends with him. Did she have ulterior motives? Was she crazy?

"So are we okay?"

The girl's voice was laced with worry but Harry's brain was stuck. He simply couldn't comprehend what was happening.

"Harry?"

He blinked and quickly put up a smile, "Of course. I'm sorry we don't agree but I'm glad we are friends again."

He saw the girl frown slightly but she nodded anyway.

"Are you going over Herbology? It's first up tomorrow morning. Can I join you?"

When Ron came down for dinner he was shocked to see Hermione and Harry laughing across their meals. He quickly fell into a seat beside them and replicated Hermione's entire meal on his own plate.

"Hey guys. What's so funny," he said relieved that he didn't need his plan any longer.

"Hi Ron. And it wasn't funny it was really, really mean what Harry just said," Hermione scolded though her laugh stole all bite from the words.

"What did you say?" he asked warily.

Harry grinned, "I just made the casual comment that Crabbe's patronus is obviously a steak and fries."

Ron burst out laughing and looked over at the boy in question. True enough the Slytherin had at least four steaks on his plate and was shovelling fistfuls of chips into his large mouth. His housemates looked very put out by this and even Goyle seemed disgusted.

Ron waited until he could speak without sniggering before saying, "That's cruel Harry, but oh so true."

The three fell into an easy silence that would have lasted until desert if Harry hadn't whispered.

"Ron, Hermione, they're looking at us again."

Ron looked to the teacher's table and sure enough Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore were all whispering and glancing their way.

"I think we should start with the occlumency research tonight," he suggested uneasily.

Harry quickly agreed as Hermione nodded solemnly. The teachers' spying had to stop and now it was a battle for privacy.

They decided to go to the library rather than their common room simply because the library had an index. It didn't take long for them to find three solid texts on occlumency and legilimency. They took two back to the common room (one was unable to be borrowed out).

"Harry!" Lisa called out and ran to him as they walked into the common room.

"Good evening Lisa," Harry greeted politely with a fake smile.

Lisa beamed at him, "Good evening. I was wondering if you had thought about the debate. Terry, Morag and I are going to be a team and we wanted you to join us."

For a few seconds Harry toyed with the idea of joining their team but decided against it the spat from earlier that day was still rather fresh and he didn't want to lose his association with Hermione or Ron.

"I'm so sorry Lisa but I already agreed to team up with Hermione and maybe Ron if we can get him on our side," he shot a grin at Ron, "I'd happily be on you team another week though."

Lisa looked disappointed but smirked at the last part, "I'll hold you to that Harry. Have a nice night."

Harry said his good byes and watched her bounce across the room to her team.

As they ascended the stairs Hermione mentally asked, Why are you so nice to her? She's only using you.

Harry smirked inwardly, I'm only using her so it works out in the end, besides she is rich and fairy smart not bad qualities.

That's awful though. Even if it's mutual people shouldn't manipulate each other. They should show each other respect.

Harry snorted, People should earn respect. Besides I'm just treating people as they treat me, I'm not in the wrong.

Hermione seemed like she wanted to press the issue but Ron interrupted her.

We really need to get to this occlumency thing guys.

The three of them sank into the puffy chairs surrounding what Harry had already dubbed as 'their table'

Two hours later curfew was in place and the 'Gryffindor Ravens' as Hermione and Ron called them had already gone to bed. The trio had learnt a lot about how to start learning occlumens, namely meditation and various exercises before bed, but both books said that a mentor was vital. After much debate they decided to try the exercises and finish the books and deal with the mentor issue when it arose later.

Sleeping was restless now, the feeling of Hermione and Ron's mind was constricting rather than comforting and Harry was starting to long for the true solitude he was used to. It was midnight before he finally managed to dream.

Severus scowled at Minerva.

"Really they seemed normal to you? They were anything but in my class. They made three perfect potions in some contorted three way process, I still don't know who actually did what. While all three had wands on their desks Potter and Granger despaired over the need to stir their concoctions with them and Weasley used a second wand that he had hidden in a holster to do so for all three potions. I have never seen such co-operation from students, particularly newly met first years in all my days as a teacher," by the end of his rant Severus was glaring at Minerva as if asking her to tell him that all that was normal, "Not to mention the fact that they keep looking over at us like they know what we are doing."

Albus was quiet, playing with some trinket off of his desk. Severus wanted nothing more than to snatch that golden- thing out of his hands and yell at him to listen properly.

Minerva bristled, "Severus I'll admit that seems strange but nothing I've seen myself alarms me. Potter and his friends acted like normal children when confronted me as a cat and as a teacher. Potter and Granger in particular I've seen laughing together before and after whatever small tiff they engaged in this afternoon. Ron Weasley is the only one that bothers me and his behaviour has not deviated from what his parents informed me of at the start of the year."

Severus didn't bother to continue arguing with the Gryffindor Head and instead turned to the Headmaster and waited calmly for the man to drop the device before speaking.

"Albus, they know. We've all seen them stare at us. They can clearly see what is happening. The brats are probably laughing at our attempts," he sneered the last part.

Albus looked at him through his golden speckles mollifying him somewhat.

"My boy, we have no idea what it wrong with those children, if indeed anything," he added at Minerva's glare, "But the fact that we can't read their minds is worrisome and it is far more likely to be an external factor rather than the children themselves."

Severus did realise that was most likely the case but he couldn't help but feel that the whole thing was an elaborate scheme that the Potter brat started. That would be so like him, taking his mother's talents and using them in such crude Potter ways like his father.

"We should just continue watching them," Minerva's voice finally broke through his inner monologue, "There are no definite signs that they are in any danger or going to cause any. We need more time. It has only been a day."

Albus nodded, "Keep close eyes on them and try to figure out what's going on and aside from that we have no other options."

Severus sighed but agreed, he would be watching Potter like a hawk.

Yet another chapter!

Things will hopefully move much quicker from now on.

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