Author's Note: Working on the story slowly, but surely. Anyways, here's chapter 13. Read, review, & enjoy!!
Jason's blood had run cold. "Kill Harry?" he thought to himself, "Never. He's my friend."
"He's not your friend," the other voice echoed, "He's a snake in the grass. No worse than Voldemort. He manipulated Dumbledore into ensuring that he get Head Boy and she get Head Girl."
"Hermione got Head Girl on her own," Jason thought, "Her academics speak for themselves."
"And Harry?" the vile voice asked, "What accolades have earned him the right of Head Boy? I'll tell you. Nothing. He manipulated his way in and he did it to be closer to Hermione that you."
"That's not true," Jason thought, "He's my friend and he would never come between Hermione and me."
"Don't be naive, Jason," the vile voice echoed, "If he thought he could get away with it, he would kill you. Make no mistake, he is not your friend. He is your enemy and he must DIE!!"
Jason tried to shut out the voice, but it was no use. Suddenly, he saw the man sitting next to him reading a newspaper. Jason focused on the front page and saw the headline "Death Eater escapes before trial." Jason grabbed the newspaper and read the article.
"The ministry was shocked to find that a Death Eater had escaped Aurors while being taken from Azkaban to the Ministry for trial. Joseph Dunham, who was guilty of using forbidden curses, was being put on trial for other heinous crimes. Late last night, the two aurors who were Dunham's escort were found dead and Dunham was reported missing. Anyone who may have information leading to the capture of Joseph Dunham is to contact the ministry immediately."
Jason's anger was rising. That animal had escaped. Who knows where he could be now. Hermione could still be in danger. Jason balled up his fists and telekinetically shattered the mug on the table. Hermione and Harry saw this and stopped in their tracks. Jason stood up and started waling away.
"Jason, wait," Hermione said, starting after him.
Jason stopped and turned his head, half-looking at her. "Don't follow me, Hermione," he said.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"More than you know," Jason replied as he continued walking.
"Jason, where are you going?" Harry asked.
Jason quickly turned his head and faced Harry. For a moment, Harry turned white as a ghost. Jason's eyes were pitch black. "Don't worry yourself over where I'm going," he said as he turned and walked away.
Harry and Hermione froze in their tracks, watching Jason disappear around a corner. "Did you see that?" Harry asked.
"Yes I did," Hermione replied, "We have to find the others." Harry nodded and turned with Hermione, walking in the direction they saw Alice and Ron go.
Alice and Ron had joined Ginny and Draco in the Quidditch supplies store. The four had been conversing and making jokes about Ron and Draco being team captains for their respective houses. Ron glanced out the window and saw Harry and Hermione walking by. They seemed upset about something. Hermione had begun pacing frantically. Ron watched Harry grab Hermione by the shoulders and pull her into an embrace. Hermione rested her head on Harry's shoulder as the two stood there. Ron raised an eyebrow at this scene. When Harry and Hermione parted, Ron decided to approach them. He walked outside and walked up to the two of them.
"Everything alright, mates?" Ron asked.
Hermione didn't answer. Harry sighed heavily and shook his head. "Something's up with Jason," he said, "We saw him read something from a newspaper and then storm off very pissed off."
"What was in the newspaper that could anger him so?" Ron asked. As Harry and Hermione both shrugged, Cho and Neville both quickly ran up to Harry.
"Where's Jason?!" Cho asked.
"Gone," Harry answered, "Read the newspaper, got angry, and stormed off." Cho and Neville quickly glanced at each other with concerned looks.
"What?" Hermione asked, "What is it?"
Neville reluctantly handed Hermione a newspaper as Draco, Ginny, and Alice walked out of the shop to join the rest. Harry and Hermione both read the article about Joseph and their eyes widened.
"Jason," Harry and Hermione said in unison.
"What's wrong?" Alice asked.
"Joseph's escaped," Hermione said, her own words causing her to start shaking.
"We gotta find Jason," Alice said.
"But we have to get Hermione back to the Burrow where she'll be safe," Harry said.
"Alright," Ron said, "I want Harry, Cho, and Ginny to take Hermione back to the Burrow. Alice, Neville, Draco, and myself will look for Jason."
Everyone nodded and went about their tasks.
Draco and Ron were walking side-by-side as Alice walked in front of them. Neville was behind them, reluctantly following. "Uh, mates," Neville began, "I don't quite understand why I'm here."
"Jason's your friend, too," Draco replied, "You should be concerned about his well being."
"Alice, is there anything you can do to find him?" Ron asked.
"My telepathic abilities still aren't very strong," Alice answered, "I can try, but I don't know if I can find Jason."
Alice concentrated hard and tried to hone in on Jason. She thought she had picked him, but couldn't tell for sure. "Jason's a strong telekinetic," he said, "So he should be easy to locate as long as he's still in the area."
Suddenly, Alice was hit by a sudden wave of alarm. "What is it, Alice?" Ron asked.
"I...I can't tell," Alice replied, "I feel...rage...but I can't tell where it's coming from."
"Is it Jason?" Draco asked.
"I'm not sure," Alice answered.
"Which direction did it come from?" Neville asked.
"That way," Alice said, pointing to the distance.
"We should head in that direction, then," Ron said.
Everyone agreed and began walking the direction Alice pointed out.
Harry, Hermione, Cho, and Ginny had just arrived home. "You're home rather early," Mrs. Weasley said, "And where are the rest?"
"They're still at Diagon Alley," Harry said, "Joseph Dunham escaped last night. Jason found out and took off."
"Dunham?" Mrs. Weasley asked, "Oh dear Merlin. Hermione, are you alright?"
"Yes," Hermione said, "I'm just a little worried."
"You should go upstairs," Mrs. Weasley said, "Harry make sure she's settled. Cho, I want you and Ginny to floo to the ministry and make sure Arthur's aware."
Cho and Ginny nodded and, taking a handful of floo powder, stepped into the fireplace and flooed away.
Hermione sat on her bed, staring out the window. "Do you think Dunham might...might..." she began.
"It's best if you don't think about it," Harry said, "It'll only upset you."
"I wish Jason were here," Hermione said, "I'd feel safer knowing he were alright."
"That kind of hurt, Mione," Harry said begrudgingly.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry," Hermione said, "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that Jason has a strange talent for calming me down. He makes me feel safe."
"He's a lucky guy," Harry said.
"Harry Potter," Hermione said, smirking, "Are you jealous?"
"Absolutely not," Harry said. Hermione smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"Hermione," Harry began, "We've been friends for almost seven years now. And two people like us can't be friends this long without one or the other developing feelings."
"Harry? Do you mean to say...?" Hermione asked.
"Whatever feelings I may have felt for you, aside from our friendship, has been put aside," Harry said, "As a matter of fact, I think it's best if we change subject."
Harry quickly turned and stared out the window. Hermione smiled and stood up. She walked over to Harry and kissed him on the cheek. "You're a good friend, Harry," She said, "Perhaps if things were different..."
Harry turned and planted a kiss on Hermione's lips. Startled at first, Hermione placed her arms around Harry's waist and returned the kiss. They both knew they shouldn't be doing this, but at the moment, they didn't care. Slowly, their lips parted. They stood their, staring deep into each other's eyes.
"We...we should not..." Hermione stuttered.
"I apologize," Harry said, turning a deep shade of red, "I should not have done that. Please don't tell Cho."
"Only if you won't tell Jason," Hermione said. Harry nodded and quickly exited the room.
Hermione laid down on her bed. "What was I thinking?" she thought to herself as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Night had fallen and Cho and Ginny had returned from the ministry. Not too long after them, Ron, Draco, and Alice had returned as well.
"Have you found Jason?" Harry asked.
"We searched everywhere," Ron said, "No sign of him."
"What of Joseph Dunham?" Alice asked.
"We're doing everything we can to try and find him," Mr. Weasley said, "But he is no doubt amongst Voldemort's numbers by now."
"Ron and I will continue the search for Jason tomorrow morning," Draco said.
"I, for one, am tired," Ginny said, "I'm going to bed. Coming, Draco?"
"In a moment," Draco said, "I wanted to speak to Ron and Harry." Ginny nodded and walked out of the kitchen.
Cho squeezed Harry's hand and winked at him. "I'm going to bed, too," she said.
"I'll be up after I talk to Draco," Harry said. Ron kissed Alice as she was walking by.
"Go easy on Draco," Alice whispered, "I read his mind. Saw what he wants to say."
Having said that, Alice walked upstairs to her room. When everyone else had cleared out, Harry and Ron turned to Draco.
"So what's up?" Harry asked.
"Well," Draco began, "This is really hard to say. It's about...it's about Ginny."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"Ron, please don't be angry," Draco said.
"What have to done to Ginny?" Ron asked, his face growing red.
"Ron calm down," Harry said.
"No I will not bloody calm down!," Ron said, "Not till I find out what he's done to Ginny!"
"I haven't done anything with Ginny," Draco said, "That's what I'm trying to talk to you about."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Ginny wants us to be...intimate," Draco said, "And I want to be intimate. But there's something that's...holding me back."
"Draco, I'm not sure I understand," Ron said.
"I have a problem when it comes to intimacy," Draco said.
"Wait a minute," Harry said, "Ginny told me that you told her you were a virgin."
"I am," Draco said, "And it's because of my...problem."
"Okay," Ron said, "Now I'm confused." Draco let out a long sigh and motioned for Ron and Harry to sit down.
"Around the end of fifth year, I was having an evening with a Slytherin girl," Draco began, "Things were getting hot and heavy and...well, I..." Draco leaned in and whispered something to Draco and Ron, causing their eyes to go wide.
"Are you serious?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded. "Ginny is someone I actually want to be with," he said, "But I don't know what to do about this situation."
"Well, Draco," Ron began, "I don't really know what to tell you other than to talk to her about it."
"What if she laughs at me?" Draco asked.
"She's your fiancée," Harry said, "I'm sure she'll understand."
Before Draco could say another word, a loud thump was heard outside. Draco, Ron, and Harry each got up and walked to the back door. They looked outside and found Jason unconscious on the back porch.
"Bloody Hell," Ron said, "He looks awful."
"Let's get him inside," Harry said.
They helped Jason to his feet and helped him inside, laying him down on the couch. "Jason?" Draco asked, "Can you hear us?"
Jason slowly stirred and opened his eyes. "Where am I?" he asked.
"You're back at the burrow," Ron said.
"You're safe," Harry said.
"How long was I out?" Jason said sitting up.
"We don't know," Harry said, "You stormed off earlier today and we didn't hear from you until now."
"Where did you go?" Ron asked.
Jason said nothing as he stared into the fire. He wracked his brain for an answer. Only flashes of anger, violence, and blood would come to him. "I don't know where I went," he said.
"We'll have Alice check you out in the morning," Harry said.
"No," Jason blurted out, "No...I'm fine." Harry eyed Jason suspiciously for a moment.
"I'm going to bed," Draco said as he yawned and walked outside towards the cottage.
"It's far too late to continue this investigation," Ron said, "We should all get some sleep."
Harry nodded as Ron walked upstairs. "Are you gonna be okay?" Harry asked.
Jason nodded. "I just need some rest," he said.
Harry nodded and walked upstairs. Jason continued to stair into the fire. Finally, he stood up and walked upstairs. He walked into his room and saw Hermione sleeping peacefully. He climbed into bed and laid down next to her. Hermione reached her hand up and ran it across his forehead.
"Jason?" she wearily asked.
"I'm here," Jason replied.
Hermione curled up and buried her face in Jason's chest. Jason wrapped his arms around Hermione and drifted off to sleep.
When Jason opened his eyes again, he found himself standing next to the others in the familiar dreamscape. Dumbledore stood before them.
"Why are we here again, professor?" Harry asked.
"Because," Dumbledore began, "As you go back to Hogwarts, you will each receive a vision. A message of sorts. They are related to what you must do in your war against Voldemort."
"What are these messages?" Hermione asked, "How will we know how to find them?"
"You will know in time, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore answered.
"Be honest," Ron said, "Do we stand a chance against Voldemort?"
"The Infinity Pendant and the Red Dawn are your advantage against Voldemort and his armies," Dumbledore replied, "The only thing holding you back is your own fear."
"So who says we're afraid?" Draco asked. Dumbledore smiled at them and winked.
In a lurch, they all awoke. Though they were in different areas, they all seemed to share the same thought. What were they afraid of? And could they conquer their fears and defeat Voldemort? They finally each succumbed to sleep.
A/N: So there's chapter 13. Chapter 14 will be up when I get a chance.