Harry pushed open the door to the Headmaster's office and saw him sitting behind his desk, looking down at a rather weird object. Harry couldn't wander what it was with all the things flying around his head. He was just there to talk to Dumbledore, not worry what an object was. He reached the other side of the desk and put his hands on them. Dumbledore looked up and knew suddenly something was up. He stood up and walked around to Harry and Hermione. Hermione looked at Harry, giving him the look that meant for him to talk. Dumbledore pushed his glasses up his nose, to get a full look of Harry.
"What is it my boy" Dumbledore asked, with a caring tone
Harry didn't answer as he felt his throat get really dry, which in Harry's case made it unable for him to talk. Harry nudged Hermione in the hip and she jerked up.
"Harry overheard Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zaniabi talking about Draco. They were talking about how Blaise had seen Draco in the castle the other night and Harry is terrified that something else will happen and to be honest Professor, Harry does not feel safe anymore" Hermione explained
Dumbledore listened to the rest of the story that Hermione had to tell him, looking more and more worried as she went on. After she had finished he walked back around to his chair and sat down. He threw his head into his hands and then looked back up at the two students. He wanted to say something that would make Harry feel safer but knew actions speak louder then words.
"Mr Potter I promise you that you are safe in these castle walls but just to make you feel better myself and every teacher will cast a protective shield around the school that will not let Mr Malfoy within these grounds" Dumbledore sighed, hoping this did the job of making Harry feel safer
Hermione could of sworn that she saw Harry smile but knew that was not in his nature, with the condition he was in. She just held his hand into his and then looked at him, then back at Dumbledore.
"Thank you Professor" Harry said quietly, but loud enough for Dumbledore to hear him
Dumbledore just smiled and pointed to the door. Harry and Hermione both got what they were being inditacted to do. They left the office, Harry feeling a little bit better. At least Draco would not be able to get into the castle.
The enchanted ceiling was filled with grey clouds and the bright night moon filling the fake sky. Underneath it all the Hogwarts students were eating their supper and chatting away about anything that came to mind.
Harry was sat away from all the other Griffyindor students, wanting to spend some time on his own. He played with his food, not really wanting to eat but knowing he had to have something in his stomach to last him until the morning. He spooned up a forkful of meatballs and ate them, not liking the taste of them. He looked down the table and saw both his good friends looking up at him. Ron smiled up at him, wanting him to know he was there for Harry. Harry returned the smile and then went back to staring at the table. He suddenly fell into a very vivid daydream.
Harry walked through the courtyard outside Dumbledore's office. It was empty and the winter wind was blowing all the pile of leaves around the courtyard. The fog had rolled down from the hills and was now covering everything around him. He could only see a few yards in front of him. He fought his way through it, feeling drawn to the end of it. He suddenly heard someone breathing and not someone he wanted to. He cringed just at the sound of it but still going nearer and nearer to it. When he walked a few steps in front of him, He saw the thing he was dreading more then anything. The face of Draco Malfoy was standing in front of him smirking wickedly. Harry grabbed his wand out of his robe pocket and pointed it at him. Draco just stood there and chuckled deeply and then looked to the left of him. Harry did the same, wondering what Draco was looking at and then he found out. Cedric Diggory walked to Draco and kissed him passionately. Harry felt sick to the stomach and also more hurt then he had ever been. He turned around, wanting Draco to feel like he had won but then he swifted back around the Draco and threw a curse at him. Harry didn't know which one it was as as soon as he had thrown the curse, He was dragged back to reality.
Harry heard screams all around him and shouts of fright. He wandered what everyone was screaming at and then he noticed, Harry was standing over Dumbledore, with his wand in his hand and pointing directly at the Headmaster's chest. Harry then saw a scorch mark on Dumbledore's robes and his burnt skin. Harry dropped his wand to the floor and ran out of the Great hall in shock and not wanting to look back
Harry ran through the corridor, not worrying about who saw him or what they said. Tears were streaming down his face and dropping onto the floor under him. He heard someone behind him shouting his name but didn't want to talk to the person. He just kept running, looking for somewhere he could be on his own and without any disturbance, he just didn't know where that place was. How could he face anyone after what he had just done, something he regretted as soon as he had done it. Now everyone in the castle knew his secret and he knew he would be tormented for him, making him feel even worse and there was no changing that. The person behind him kept running, trying to grab his attention but not succeeding in that. They were getting out of breath but knew they had to keep going. They ran around the corner and saw it was empty but saw a portrait swing shut. They went up to it and whispered the password, not knowing why they whispered it as it wasn't like anyone was around. The portrait swung open and they walked in, seeing Harry on the floor, resting his head in his hands, supported by his knees.
"Just leave me alone Pansy" Harry screamed at her.
Pansy just sighed and walked nearer to Harry, sitting down next to him. She brushed her hair out of the way and sighed once more. She didn't know what to say, as her and Harry never got on and had never said one word to each other in the four years they had known each other.
She didn't know why she had the urge to help Harry but knew she had to. Maybe it was because she wanted to correct all the horrible things she had said and done to him in the past. Maybe she wanted him to see she wasn't the person he thought she was. There were hundreds of ideas running around her head, none of them sticking and making sense. She really did want to help him and talk to him but what did she say to someone that was going through the horrible thing he was. Under all that tough shell, Pansy was not what everyone thought she was. She put her arm around Harry's shoulders and rested her head on his shoulder.
Harry wondered what the hell she was doing but in some way he didn't care as it felt good to have someone he thought hated him, comfort him in this way. He just couldn't get the memory of what he had done away from his head. All he wanted to do was forget it ever happened and most of all he wanted to forget the last three months. He called them the three months of hell on earth, as to him they were and nothing anyone said or did wouldn't change that. He was still in that hell and wanted badly to get out but didn't know how. He looked up at Pansy who was still learning on him and smiled weakly, wanting her to think he was alright. Suddenly out of nowhere, Pansy's face got closer to Harry's and before he knew it, she was kissing him. Harry pushed her back in shock and disguist. He stood up quickly and spat on the floor.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" He spat, rage filling him
"I thought you wanted that, I thought it was the right thing to do" She replied, wanting Harry to feel the same as she did
"I'm gay you dumb idiot, do you understand what that means. I love boys not girls like you"
Pansy got up and just nodded not replying to him, for a few reasons one of them was so she didn't get into a fight with him.
Harry pointed to the portrait and huffed. Pansy just turned around and left the passageway, not saying one more word. Harry was disgusted with what just happened. Everyone at Hogwarts knew Harry was gay so why would Pansy try it on with him and particularly at this terrible moment in his life. He got himself together and left the passageway. As soon as he stepped out he heard rapid footsteps closing in on him, getting closer and closer. Harry knew who it was as soon as he heard them so he ran towards them, wanting to be with his friends after what just happened. After turning the corner he saw Ron and Hermione running towards him, Hermione with her arms extended and Ron with his hands in his pockets. When they reached Harry, Hermione hugged him and once again Ron just stood there. After Hermione had parted from the hug she hit Ron on the arm.
"What have I told you about running with your hands in your pockets?" She huffed
"Oh god you sound like mum, and now that is just creepy" He chuckled, rubbing his arm at the same time
Hermione frowned and then turned back to Harry. Harry rolled his eyes and then walked away, wanting both of them to follow him and they did just that. They were a few yards away from him, to give him his own space. They knew he was devastated as to what just happened in the great hall so they knew that was what he wanted to talk about. After walking through most of the castle, They reached the gate to the qudditch pitch. They walked through the stands, trying to find the gate onto the pitch, which was the only place they knew no one would come as it was far from the castle. Harry jumped over the stands and landed perfectly, like a feline. Ron tried it and fell on his face and Hermione did it perfectly just like she did everything. She helped Ron up and then burst out laughing before running to Harry, holding Ron's hand to make sure he didn't trip up on his own shoelaces. Harry kept walking until he was at the bottom of the goalposts. He slid down the pole and sat on the sand, feeling that it was sticking to his trousers. Hermione and Ron sat down either side and him and Hermione took his hand in her own.
"What's going to happen?" Harry asked, looking at the floor, not making eye contact with any of them
Ron shook his head and Hermione just stroked Harry's hand before replying
"Well Dumbledore knows what you are going through so I think he will let you off but not before giving you a stern talking to. I read somewhere that one student cursed Dippet about fifty years ago and no Harry before you ask it wasn't Riddle" She said, speaking very slowly so it sunk into both their heads.
"But what about the minister, I mean he would of head of this somehow and I will go to prison for sure" He replied to both of them, this time he made eye contact with both of them and then looked out to the field
"Well not always, I'm sure Dumbledore would want to keep this under wraps so i know he would do something to make sure it didn't reach the Minister, you just have to trust him" This time it was Ron who spoke
Harry sighed "I do trust him, of course I do, Am I just worrying over nothing?" Harry asked
"Yes Harry, look if you would feel better, why don't we go and talk to him.
Hermione stood quickly up from where her and her two best friends were sat. She spun herself around and extended both of her hands, One towards Ron and the other towards Harry. Hermione felt a tug on her left hand as Harry tugged himself up from the grass and stood beside her. They both looked down at Ron who was still sat on the floor, staring up at Harry with a emotionless face. Both Harry and Hermione looked to each other and then looked back to Ron. Hermione bent down and snapped her fingers in front of his face. Ron shook his head and then smiled up at Hermione. He then tugged on her hand and pulled himseld up from the Grass. He then started to walk fast to the exit to the qudditch stadium. Before Hermione knew it, Ron was already running towards the exit, not looking back at either of his friends. Hermione started to worry about why Ron was acting diffently towards herself and Harry. But she couldnt worry about that right now, She only had enough head space to worry about one of her friends at only one time and her head was filled with ways of helping Harry at this moment in time. As they walked across the fields, Hermione entwined her hand with Harry's. She knew he could do with some comfort, even if it was from a friend. No words were spoken as they walked through the field but in a way Hermione was glad as she didn't know what she would say to Harry, which was a first for her as she was always the one to keep a strong head when things took a turn for the worse. It wasn't until they turned the corner to Dumbledore's office that Harry stopped both of them and turned to Hermione.
"Can you find out what is up with Ron, I don't know why but I get a feeling like he doesn't want to talk to me" Harry pleaded. Hermione knew he was desprate as the tone of his voice showed her just how upset he was that his best friend was acting weird.
Hermione didn't reply, instead she just nodded and then hugged Harry tight, wrapping her arms around his neck. She let go and pushed Harry forward, to go to the statue that stood outside the headmeasters office. Hermione then put one foot forward and dragged Ron from in front of her to beside her. She turned to him and frowned, letting him know that he was in trouble later. When both Hermione and Ron turned back around they saw that the staircase had appeared and that Harry was already travelling up to the headmasters office.
"Stay down here while I talk to him, Please?" Harry asked, seconds before he went out of sight and up to Dumbledore's office. Hermione worried about what would happen to him this time. He could get expelled and end up living with Sirius with no real magical abilites and no qualfications at all. He could get his wand taken away from him and never use magic again.
After Hermione was through with thinking about Harry for the time being, She turned back to Ron and grabbed him by the sleeve of his robe and dragged him to a bench only a few feet away from them. She pointed to the right side of it and Ron sat down quickly and Hermione sat the other side of him. She took his hand and held it softly against her own. She looked at him with those soft eyes that she knew always worked on him when she wanted him to tell her the truth. Ron sighed deeply and dropped his head so he didn't have to look at Hermione.
"Ron I know what is wrong with you, not that there is anything wrong with it but you have to tell him, if not for your sake, then for his because I don't know what it is but there is something about it when he looks at you, It's different then when he looks at me or any other friends. With you it is like something has finally slotted into place" Hermione explained what she meant until she had finished and Ron was sat there with his mouth wide open, gawping as her.
"But what if he isn't ready for that yet. He is still upset about what happened with Cedric and I don't want to make things worse by telling him. What if he doesn't feel the same, then I have made things awkward for no reason and I can't put the genie back in the bottle can I" Ron replied back, with a hint of sadness in his face at the chance that he could lose Harry from his life.
"Didn't you just hear what I said. I know that he likes you more then a friend because of the way he looks at you. He used to look like that at Cedric all the time, with those deep green eyes fillied with so much love for one person that he couldn't hold it in. He does love you Ronald and if you can't see that then you are going to go through life wondering what would of happen if you told Harry that you were in love with him" She said calmly, trying to show Ron that Harry did in fact love him.
Before either of them could do anything Harry appeared behind them and smiled. Just from that smile Hermione knew everything was going to be alright and she doesn't have to worry about Harry anymore.
"So what did he-" Hermione began before Ron cut her off by putting his first finger to her lips.
Ron pushed himself up from the bench and faced Harry. He cupped Harry's face with his hand and smiled.
"Harry, I love you, I always have and I-" Ron got cut off before he could finish by the touch of Harry's lips against his own.
Everything felt right in the world in that moment of time for Hermione. Harry was finding comfort in someone he could trust more then anyone and it looked like for the first time in a very long while that Harry and Ron were both Happy and if they were happy then so was Hermione. All was right in their little world right now and Hermione hoped that things would stay like that for a very long while.
Chapter three for everyone. I'm sorry that I change from Harry's P.O.V to Hermione's but in the one on my other account, Hermione's P.O.V is another chapter. I hope you enjoyed this one and review it. Thanks for reading.