Author's Note: So here's Chapter 18. Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. Admittedly, this chapter is kind of a filler chapter, but it does help to set up for future problems. Read, Review, & Enjoy!!

Jason was sitting at the breakfast table in the Great Hall, writing in a journal. Neville walked in and sat down next to Jason.

"You're up early," Neville said.

"Couldn't sleep anymore," Jason said, not looking up from his journal.

"What have you got there?" Neville asked, looking over Jason's shoulder. Jason quickly closed the journal and tucked it into his robe.

"My journal," Jason replied, "It's where I write my thoughts, songs, whatever I feel like writing."

Neville sat down next Jason and kept glancing over to the entrance to the Great Hall. "Waiting for Luna?" Jason asked.

"I can't stop thinking about her," Neville replied, "And since she'll never be mine, this is the only way I'll get to see her."

"Never say never, Neville," Jason said, "Remember, you got me on your side and I made a promise to do what I could to help you out."

Neville sighed as he watched Luna walk into the Great Hall, holding hands with Ernie. "Ernie Macmillan is a much better looking chap than me," he said, "It'd take a bloody miracle to get her to choose me over him."

"Call me crazy," Jason said, "But I doubt someone like Luna is swayed by appearances."

Neville quickly turned to Jason, looking a bit upset. "What do you mean 'someone like Luna'?" he asked.

"Neville, I'm gonna say this cause I feel we're friends," Jason began, "To put it gently, Luna's cheese isn't completely on her cracker."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Neville asked.

"Luna…isn't all there," Jason replied, "I mean there is a reason why her nickname is Loony Lovegood."

"I don't like you saying those things about her," Neville said, getting more upset.

"Let me finish," Jason said, trying to calm Neville down, "Because she's not entirely there, she doesn't strike me as being the superficial type. Luna looks for what's inside, not out. Neville, I'm willing to wager just about anything that you care for Luna far more than Ernie does and you have that on your side. All you need is a way to express it to her."

"And I suppose you can do that?" Neville asked.

Jason nodded. "You have my word that I'll do everything in my power," he said.

"Thanks, Jason," Neville said.

"No problem," Jason replied, "What are friends for?"

Hermione soon wandered into the Great Hall and saw Jason. Jason spotted her and stood up. As he walked to greet her, his journal unknowingly fell out of his robe. Neville leaned over to pick it up and read the pages that were revealed to him.

"Hmm," Neville began, "I could have turned a different corner. I could have gone another place. But then I'd never have a chance to see your sweet face. Hmm, that could probably be changed."

Jason walked to Hermione and embraced her. "Morning," he said, "Sleep well?"

"Not really," Hermione said, resting her head on his chest, "I've gotten so used to sleeping next to you."

"Well, then maybe you should have me over sometime," Jason said with a devilish grin.

Hermione smirked and pushed Jason a bit. "Then I'd never get to sleep," she replied.

Jason laughed a bit and put his arm around Hermione, walking with her back to the table. As they reached their seats, Jason saw Neville reading through a book. Jason quickly reached into his robe and felt nothing. Slightly panicked, Jason walked up to Neville and snatched the book from his hands.

"What are you doing with this?" Jason asked sharply.

"It fell out of your robe," Neville replied, "I was picking it up and happened to see what was written on the open pages."

"Nobody sees this," Jason remarked, "Ever."

"Sorry, Jason," Neville replied, seeing the anger in Jason's eyes.

"This is personal stuff, Neville," Jason said, "I don't like when people go through my personal stuff without my permission."

"Jason, Neville apologized for it," Hermione said, sensing Jason's anger building, "Why's he getting so angry over something like this?"

Jason stuffed the book in his robe, glaring at Neville. "I will not risk everything I worked for, Neville," he said, "Not because your curiosity got the better of you."

Jason turned and started walking to the entrance to the Great Hall when Harry and Ron walked in. "Morning, Jason," Harry said.

Jason said nothing as he brushed past them. Ron quickly grabbed Jason by the arm. "Aren't you going to have breakfast?" he asked.

"I'm not hungry," Jason replied.

"But Jason," Ron began, "Breakfast is the most important meal of--"

Jason cut Ron off and telekinetically shoved him backwards, sending him crashing into Harry. "I told you," Jason began, his eyes turning black, "I'm...not...hungry."

Jason spun on his heels and walked out of the Great Hall, pushing past Alice, Draco, and Ginny as he went. Alice helped Ron to his feet.

"What happened?" Alice asked.

"I'm not sure," Ron replied, "He just stormed out of here."

"It's my fault," Neville said, "Jason dropped his journal and I picked it up and read what was written. Looked like some song lyrics."

"His journal?" Alice asked, "He's writing in it again?"

"Alice, what's the importance of his journal?" Hermione asked, "Why does he guard it?"

"It's a long story," Alice replied, "Maybe later I'll tell you. Right now I have to find Jason." Alice kissed Ron on the cheek and ran off after Jason.

Jason stormed through the hallways, his anger rising. "What's happening to me?" he thought, "My anger is rising beyond my control." Jason's vision began to blur. "I gotta let off some of this pressure," he said.

Jason stumbled through the halls and out to the quidditch pitch. Jason dropped to his knees, the rising anger sending shockwaves of pain through his body. Jason felt his body tightening up as he tried to suppress his rage. All around him, the quidditch pitch began to shake.

"No," Jason whispered, his body beginning to change from the building rage.

Jason closed his eyes as the voice of his dark side echoed once more. "This is my body," the voice hissed, "I'm taking control of it."

"No," Jason said, "I won't let you."

"You can't stop me," the voice hissed, "I have grown too powerful. It's time I rise and show the world my power."

"No," Jason growled.

"And I'll start with this school and everyone in it," the voice hissed, "Including that betrayer Potter and that whore Granger."

"NO!!" Jason shouted.

Jason balled up his fists and released a telekinetic shockwave, cracking the wooden stands of the pitch and shifting the soil. Jason leaned forward and vomited. He lifted his head and saw Alice walking onto the scene.

"This looks familiar," Alice said, "Jason, this has to stop."

"It's not like I don't already know that," Jason said, rolling to his back, "This is going to kill me."

"You have to find a way to suppress this," Alice said.

"There is," Jason replied, "You have to shut me down."

"No way," Alice said, "I won't do that."

"Alice, I blew up at Neville because he read my journal," Jason said, "It snowballed from there and now look at what I did to the pitch. I'm a danger to all around me. You have to shut me down."

"We can't solve this problem by taking away your ability to walk," Alice said, "There has to be another way."

"There is no other way," Jason said, "Now do it. Please."

Alice lowered her head and pulled out her wand, aiming it at Jason. Jason nodded and closed his eyes. Alice took a deep breath and uttered, "Petrificus Totalus." Jason's eyes snapped open in shock as his body seized up.

"Sorry, Jason," Alice said, "But I refuse to let you go back to the way you were. Wingardium Leviosa." Jason's body lifted off the ground as Alice led it back to the grounds of Hogwarts.

On the other side of Hogwarts, Cho was preparing for classes when Neville walked in, looking upset. "Something bothering you, Neville?" Cho asked.

"I think I may have upset Jason this morning," Neville responded, "He dropped his journal and I picked it up. When I did, I saw what looked to be lyrics written on the open page. Jason saw me and got angry."

"I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding," Cho said, "Let Jason calm down and then go talk to him."

Neville nodded and set his bag down. "You and Harry made up yet?" Neville asked.

Cho shook her head. "I don't really run into him anymore and he never comes around," she said.

"He'll come to his senses in time," Neville said, "Don't worry about it."

Cho sighed. "Each day that passes, I lose hope that Harry will ever come back," she said, "I can't believe I made such a mistake." Cho cupped her face in her hands, fighting back tears.

"If you'd like," Neville said, "I can teach the class in your stead. In case you need some time to yourself."

Cho shook her head and composed herself. "There'll be plenty of time for that next year," she said.

"Pardon me?" Neville asked.

"I wasn't supposed to say anything yet," Cho began, "But I spoke to Professor McGonagall not too long ago and she told me you were assigned to be my assistant as part of your electives because you're to be groomed to be Herbology professor after you graduate. If you want the job, that is."

"That's great," Neville said, "I can't believe McGonagall has that much confidence in me."

"Is it so hard to believe?" Cho asked, "I mean you are top of your class in the field of Herbology. You show great promise in that career and on top of that, you show patience enough to share your knowledge with others as a professor."

Cho stood up and collected her lesson plans. "Time to start class," she said." Neville nodded and the two of them walked from Cho's office into the greenhouse.

Harry was leaving his classroom when Hermione and Ron caught up with him. "Any word on Jason?" Harry asked.

"Alice has him in the Room of Requirement," Ron said, "Says we're not to try and see him yet."

"He still angry?" Hermione asked.

Ron shrugged. "Alice wouldn't tell me anything else," he said, "Said she'd let us know when everything was okay."

"If he's not okay by the next Dueling Club meeting, we'll have to accommodate his students in our lessons," Harry said.

"Don't sound so cold about it," Hermione said, "You sound like you're more worried about the Dueling Club than your friend."

"Well, my class is this way," Ron said, taking a sharp turn down a hall, "See you guys later."

Harry and Hermione continued walking. "Who are you to tell me what to be worried about?" Harry said sharply.

"Jason's our friend and you act like he's a burden," Hermione said.

"The way he's been acting lately," Harry said, "He is becoming a burden."

Hermione grabbed Harry by the arm, spun him to face her, and slapped him across the face. "You're the one who's being a burden," she said angrily, "Our friend is suffering from something Voldemort did to him and it's taken its toll on all of us. But through and through, he is our dear friend. You, however, have all but turned your back on him. How dare you?"

"Jason's becoming dangerous," Harry said, rubbing his face, "With each day that passes, our friend becomes more and more capable of killing us all. Mine is the burden of being Harry Potter. Being Voldemort's number one target and because of that, I have to look out for the safety of everyone and if that means treating a friend like a threat, then so be it."

"You are a bastard, Harry," Hermione said.

"And you are too naive to see that your boyfriend is a danger to himself and everyone around and should be kept in that room until this mess with Voldemort is done," Harry said, "If you don't like my opinion, that's too bad."

Hermione swung to slap Harry again, but Harry put his arm up and blocked Hermione's strike, trapping her arm.

"Let me go," Hermione said.

"Not until you calm down and stop trying to hit me," Harry said.

Hermione swung her other arm, but Harry trapped that one, too. Hermione struggled to get free and in a lapse of judgment, pressed her lips against Harry's. Harry released Hermione's arm and wrapped his own arms around her waist, drawing her closer. Hermione reached her hands underneath Harry's shirt and scratched his back. Harry grunted and rested his hands on Hermione's ass, giving it a squeeze.

Hermione's head was spinning, swarming with a million thoughts at once. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she didn't care. She was feeling guilty because her boyfriend, her fiancée, was slowly unraveling mentally and here she was snogging Harry. But at the moment, her biggest thought was finding an empty room and giving in to her sexual frustration. She stepped backwards against the wall, pulling Harry with her. She ran her hands through Harry's hair, rustling it.

Harry knew, deep in his heart, that what they were doing was wrong. She was with Jason and though he didn't want to openly admit it yet, he still did love Cho. But he couldn't deny his feelings for the girl who had been closest to him for seven years. Lately, those feelings had become a physical desire that was brought on by the kiss they shouldn't have shared. Harry knew there would be hell to pay later, but none of that mattered now. In front of him was a beautiful woman who was ready to satisfy his carnal thirst. All they needed was an empty room.

Ron was almost to his class when he realized that Harry still had his quill. He turned around and walked in Harry and Hermione's direction, hoping that he would be able to catch up with them. He hadn't gotten very far when Alice caught up with him.

"Hey, sweetie," Alice said, kissing Ron on the cheek.

"How's Jason?" Ron asked, putting an arm around Alice.

"He's unconscious at the moment," Jason said, "There's a few things I need to tell you all. Help me round everyone up."

Ron nodded and they continued walking. As they turned a corner, they ran into Draco and Ginny. "Hey do you guys have a minute?" Alice asked.

Draco and Ginny looked at each other, then both nodded. "What's up?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I need to talk to everyone," Alice said, "It's about Jason."

"Is he alright?" Draco asked.

"Yes and no," Alice replied, "It's complicated."

"Alice," Ron began, "Take Draco and Ginny and go get Cho. I'll find Harry and Hermione. They shouldn't be far."

"Okay," Alice said, kissing Ron on the cheek.

Draco, Ginny, and Alice turned and walked towards Cho's office as Ron continued on. As Ron continued walking, he thought he heard Harry and Hermione arguing.

"Bloody hell," Ron said to himself, "They arguing worse than me and 'Mione ever did."

Ron turned the corner and what he saw made his jaw dropped. Harry and Hermione were snogging. Ron turned around, hoping that he was seeing things.

"That wasn't them," he thought to himself, "That was just two people snogging. I'm seeing things."

Ron turned around and saw that it really was Harry and Hermione. "What the bloody hell is going on here?" Ron said aloud.

Harry and Hermione both turned their heads to see Ron, his face relaying both confusion and anger. Harry and Hermione turned white as a ghost, their biggest fear being realized. They had been caught.

A/N: Shocking, huh? And the ride only gets bumpier from here. Chapter 19 up soon.