Title: Kiss.

Author: AspergianStoryteller.

Genre: Supernatural/General.

Summary: When a dementor tried to Kiss Harry Potter, it got more than it bargained for. And Harry did not walk away unaffected. Don't own Harry Potter.

Slight edits: football in place of soccer. British people say football.

Chapter 17: Class And In Between.

Nathaniel looked at the clock. 'We've been talking a while. Why don't we move on to patronus treatment now and come back to this later?'

'Imperio!'

A blank expression came over Neville's face.

'Do a backflip,' Moody instructed.

The rest of the class were sceptical about this. The Imperious could make you do some crazy stuff but Neville Longbottom back flipping? Yeah right.

Neville leapt into the air and flipped his body around through a passable back flip.

There was a stunned silence. Moody grinned. 'Now a somersault.'

Again Neville performed the gymnastic act.

'Wow...'

'Somersault, cartwheel, double back flip cartwheel, forward flip, matrix.'

As Neville executed the impressive routine his fellow Fourth Years watched in amazement and cheered him on.

'Go Neville!'

'This is surreal.'

'Can you believe it?'

'Look at him go!'

'How does Professor Moody know this gymnastic routine?'

When he was released from the spell, Neville was very surprised to find himself on the other side of the class room, perched on a desk with everyone clapping.

'Amazing Neville!'

'What did I do?'

'Alright Longbottom,' Moody growled. 'Come back and watch.'

Neville rejoined his classmates by the wall and the next person was called upon to experience the curse. Eventually, it was Harry's turn. He recognised the tingle of Dark magic before it washed his mind clean of thought. He was all floaty and free.

'Jump onto the desk...'

Jump onto the desk? Oh alright then. Harry bent his knees in preparation, then paused. Hang on a moment, why would he want to jump onto a desk? Kind of a dumb thing to do. What was the point?

'Jump on to the desk...'No thanks. But... He really wanted to obey that voice, because, somehow, everything would be alright if he did.

'Jump on to the desk...' In the end part of Harry jumped and part of him tried not to. He banged his head onto the hard side of it and was knocked out of the trance.

'You see?' Moody cried. 'He fought it! Let's go again Potter, everyone watch his eyes.'

By the time the lesson was over, Harry walked out if the class room feeling mentally and somewhat physically exhausted. Moody had kept cursing him until he could throw off the imperious completely.

'Are you alright Harry' Hermione asked in concern. She had been told to lead Parvati in a tango. She didn't know the tango, so they wound up waltzing instead but the boys and Parvati still enjoyed it. 'You look exhausted.'

'I'm fine,' he answered. 'Just tired.'

'Moody really had in for you today,' Ron ('That chair is a broomstick. Ride it.') commented.

'Hooray. He really takes his job as Defence teacher seriously.'

'If you're still worn out later you have an early night,' Hermione advised.

'Maybe. Lunch might bring my energy back though.'

During lunch Harry was just exiting a space out when Dean spoke up from a few seats away. 'Hey guys, up for a football match and a swim later?' It was mostly muggleborns and halfbloods that played muggle sport as well as flying. A few purebloods joined them out of curiosity. Fred and George were good with hockey sticks which they used like their beater's bats.

'Sure,' Harry muttered, remembering what Healer Nathaniel said about exercise. This time his space out had left him feeling a bit dizzy and crowded. Unfortunately, his pills were all up in the dorm. I should use a smaller container for them to keep in my bag... Food helped. Lovely sandwiches on the table today, and fruit. 'I'm alright,' he replied to Hermione's concerned look.

Feeling better after lunch, Harry went up to his dorm to swallow an "astral travel sickness" pill, which tasted gingery and bubbled pleasantly going down. Almost immediately he felt calmer and more settled. He wrapped a few more pills in the cleanest sock he had and stowed it in his pocket before leaving again.

When classes were over for the day, Harry and Ron joined the football game on the quiditch pitch. Ron preferred quidditch, but was still happy to play goalie for their team of six. Harry was glad to play any position now that a team actually wanted him as opposed to primary school.

'Yeah Ron!'

'Nice save!'

Ron blocked the Ravenclaw on the other team. These small teams were mixed usually due to the few people participating.

After the match (4-3 to Ron and Harry's team) the sweaty students changed into their togs or shorts and (or light swimming robes) and enjoyed themselves in the marked out area in the lake supervised by a Prefect. (Having been taught (dragged and thrown in first) to swim by the Weasleys in their pond Harry felt fairly confident that he wouldn't drown.) Hermione and Neville sat by the shore reading with their feet in the water. By the time they had dried, changed and had dinner Harry was ready to sleep and went to bed a little earlier than usual.

XXX xxx XXX

Ron slipped into his dorm room after his shower, keeping quiet in case Harry was already asleep. The bed next to his had the drapes drawn.

Today had been a good day. Defence was, interesting. Funny watching others do weird things, albeit kind of disturbing as well, knowing that they had no control over their actions and would do anything, anything, if ordered to. Harry had eventually thrown it off, which both impressed and inspired envy in Ron. He would have to try harder to catch up to his friend. Football was a bit strange at first and had nothing on quidditch, but it was fun. His keeper skills extended to goalkeeping, a good sign. And the swim afterwards was great on a hot day.

Ron pulled on his pajama top, shivering. For such a hot day it was oddly cold tonight. Could he be catching cold? It had been warmer than this downstairs...

He walked between his and Harry's beds to turn off the lamp on their shared bedside table. Blimey, it's even colder over here.He glanced over at the window. It was shut. What's going on? Feeling apprehensive, he drew back the drapes to check on his friend.

'Oh Merlin's beard...'

Harry was floating inches above his bed, above the sheets. His face was pale, twisted in despair and terror and wet with tears. His hands fought an invisible grip on his neck, trembling.

Ron gasped in horror and stumbled back. Weak but noticeable depression and chill poured through the gap in the drapes.Oh Merlin, what do I do? I have to help him, but how?

When Harry whimpered helplessly, Ron gathered the courage that put him in his House and leapt through the curtain, tackling Harry down onto the bad.

'Harry wake up!' The shorter boy's skin was cold and clammy and shivering. 'Wake up!'

'W-what? Ron?'

'It's me. Are you okay Harry?'

'Yeah. Sort of.'

Harry's eyes were still wide with fear and wet, but the terrible despair had gone. Ron shifted into sitting position and Harry leaned over the bed to get a couple of anti-depression pills out. Harry swallowed the pills with water from a jug by the window and sat next to Ron.

'Sorry about that. Did I wake you up?'

Ron could feel his friend's body shaking. 'No. I just came in and noticed the cold.'

'Okay. So no one else saw that?'

'Nah, they're still in the bathroom or downstairs.'

'Thanks for waking me up.' Harry wiped his face dry.

'You're welcome.'

They sat quietly for a moment, and Ron wondered what he should do next. Usually when someone in their dorm had a nightmare the boy would be woken up and offered water or a snack if they needed it. Talking was left until morning.

'... It was like being attacked again,' Harry murmured. 'Like being near a dementor, except I couldn't fight it.'

'...'

'But it was only a dream,' he continued. 'They've happened before and I'm alright.'

'Yeah. Hey, do you want a hot chocolate or something? A pick-me-up sounds good.' At home hot chocolate, hugs and comfort were given when nightmares were bad. Summer after her first year Ginny had needed a lot of that.

'I could go for a hot drink.'

'Good. Brush your hair then or something.' Ron nudged Harry playfully and went over to his bed to finish changing while Harry changed out of his sweat soaked pyjamas. Spelling them dry just wasn't the same.

They went downstairs where there were still some students awake getting homework finished and got hot chocolate from the table near the the fire place, which was rather like the tables in the Great Hall.

'I wish there wasn't an age limit on the Tournament,' Ron said. 'It's not fair.'

'I know,' Harry agreed. 'It's going to be wild. But, Hermione's probably right as usual. It must be really dangerous. And we end up doing dangerous stuff every year. Might be nice to just watch this time.'

'I guess. Nice to imagine though. I wonder what the tasks are going to be?'

'... A giant chess match?'

Ron laughed. 'How about snakes and ladders with broomsticks and basilisks?'

'Or a maze of devil's snare? They should base the tasks on the stuff we've done, minus Voldemort's involvement.'

Ron flinched. 'For sure.'

They talked about the Tournament in anticipation and didn't go back to bed until almost everyone else had gone.

XXX xxx XXX

*Quoted from the book.* What do you think? Too fast paced? Does anyone seem ooc so far? Am I getting better at flow?

By the way, about what I said about sticking close to cannon: it won't always be like that. There will definately be some differences.

Am I describing body language enough? Feelings? Thanks for reading!