Chaos666: Thanks very much for the review. I'm glad that you liked it, and that I'm keeping you interested. Marietta is very devious. She would make You-Know-Who proud, I think. If she wasn't so smart she would be in Slytheren. But she is so smart, and uses her intelligence for evil intentions.
Froggie2: Thanks for being here as well. Yea, Cho has always been there for Harry from day one. If in OOTP she got his back before anyone else, but those closest to him. If he didn't leave her no where else to go she would have stayed with him, but we all know even in the official book that Cho cheers for Harry. Just because something doesn't work out with someone doesn't mean that you don't back them when they are fighting for the right cause. Cho is someone who is loyal in this fic, and in cannon. I wrote the letter in such a way just for that reason. Cho has been having so much pain in her life lately that she can only usually think the worst when it comes to herself.
EnlightenedKing: Thanks for such high praise. Please post when you can. Cho will of coarse eventually find out, but I'm not sure when. This story has gotten away from me…It's only still the first week of school! I'll try to write as long as I can.
Sigh Okay… where was I? Um, well this chapter sounds a little dirty, but I've tried to be as discreet as possible. More of Hermione not speaking to Ron, and well… other stuff. A surprise awaits next chapter at Hagrid's hut, and I'll see everyone then.
Thanks again to all of you for reading, I'll try to finish this off as soon as possible,
Highice007
Chapter 26: Screams from the Gryffindor Tower.
Harry started up the stairs to his dorm room followed closely by Ron. Suddenly he came to an abrupt stop, and turned around. "Bugger! I forgot to get my wand out of Filches office. I'll be right back Ron." Harry said as he started to pass by Ron on his way back down stairs. Ron grabbed Harry's arm.
"Wait a minute Harry. I've been meaning to ask you about that since we left Professor McGonagall's office. You did say you left it there, but you used it in the game to knock Miggins off her broom, when you got close to her. Katie Bell saw You, but she didn't want to say anything because she didn't think that anyone else did see that that's how you unseated Miggins, and… well we thought that if anyone found out that you had used a wand during a Quidditch game that you would never be allowed on the pitch again. I think from most peoples view you just hit her when you got to close, which is still bad, but not as bad as what it would be if anyone found that you used magic. But anyway what I'm really trying to ask is why did you tell Professor McGonagall that you had lost your wand in Filches office, when we went strait from the Quidditch Pitch to her office, and you had it on the pitch?" Ron asked quizzically. Harry shook his head.
"What are you talking about Ron? I haven't had my wand since I left Filches office, for punishment for running in the halls." Harry replied. Ron raised an eyebrow.
"When were you running in the hall? And you did have your wand at the pitch. Err… Harry check your robe pockets for a minute." Ron said carefully. Harry looked at Ron as if he was joking, but started rummaging through his pockets anyway.
"Come on Ron, I told you I left it….in…Filches…office." Harry slowly spoke the last few words as he with a look of genuine shock on his face lifted a wand out from under his robe. Ron and Harry looked at the wand in awe, as if it was something that they had never seen before. Ron turned back to Harry.
"You really believed it didn't you? You really believed that that wand was in Filches office?" Ron said sincerely. Harry nodded his head. "Again Harry. Do you ever remember Filch stopping you for running in the halls?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head. "Well neither do I. But I do remember Pansy Perkins coming in with that note from Filch. Did she go into his office with you?" Ron persisted. Harry closed his eyes trying to remember.
"I don't remember. I don't… think so." Harry said.
"Well, maybe we can ask Pansy Parkinson what Filch told her, but I don't think she'll be to willing to help us, being in Slytheren and all." Ron finished. Harry put his wand back in his robe, and started heading up stairs, but once more turned to face Ron.
"We'll have to get this all sorted out tomorrow Ron. Don't for get we have to be at the room of requirement at five thirty." Harry said. Ron nodded, and Harry heard a familiar voice from the top of the stairs call his name. As Harry looked back up towards the direction of the voice, he was blinded by a bright flash, and heard a loud pop. Harry closed his eyes but could still see the shape of the flash bulb in his mind. "Collin!" Harry shouted, his eyes still closed.
"Sorry Harry, but I'm trying to use up the last film in this set, I really didn't want to use any of the pictures that I took of you today at the Quidditch pitch because I didn't want them to incriminate you. But I have like seventeen frames left, and I just didn't want to waste them." Collin Creevey said apologetically.
"You took pictures of me at the pitch today?" Harry asked. Collin nodded.
"Yea, but I gave up after a while, you were spending too much time attacking the Hufflepuffs, and encouraging others to as well." Collin said. Harry opened his eyes, and started back toward his dorm room.
"And what do you believe about what happened today Collin?" Harry asked. Collin smiled.
"Well I believe you of course. That you were under the control of You-Know-Who." Collin said. Harry put a hand on Collin's shoulder.
"Thanks Collin, but next time you take my picture… make sure I'm ready, okay?" Harry asked. Collin smiled.
"Sure thing, Harry. Do you want to finish up the role now?" he asked eagerly. Harry shook his head telling him that it was late, and that it would have to be another time.
Harry arrived in the great hall greeted, as usual by several students, who asked him about what went on at the ministry of magic last year. It seemed that people could never get enough information on it. But today Harry was getting other questions as well, questions about what happened at the Quidditch pitch yesterday. One student asked if Harry really pulled a knife on Cindy Miggins, another asked if it was true that Harry tried to turn her into a troll. How stupid, he thought. Why do untrue rumors spread so fast at Hogwarts? And why are some of them so farfetched.
Shouts of passion and a slamming of wood against stone again emanated from the Gryffindor tower, and they could be heard in every dorm room. It was keeping everyone awake. Harry, Ron, and Neville stood over Semis Finnegan's bed embarrassed with dropped jaws, listing to his cries of ecstasy. Semis was thrashing about moaning, and screaming with great pleasure, and the head rest of his bed was slamming against the wall.
"Yes! Yes! Oh god your sooo hot! Come on baby! Do it to me! Oh… Marietta! I'm cuming! I… ahhhhh!" Semis shouted in his enviable dream. Neville shook his head, and looked at Ron.
"Well someone has to wake him up again, or none of us will get any sleep." He said. Harry turned his head away.
"Gross! He's bloody mental! How can he just dream like that all night?" Harry complained, and looked up to see a few more Gryffindors gathered at the door. Among them was Vince Garfield, a seventh year Prefect.
"Look, not that I don't envy Mr. Finnigan his dreams, but I have to get some sleep, and some of the girls can here him clear in their rooms. You three have to keep him quite, or no one is going to get any sleep!" said Garfield sleepily. Ron sighed and shook Semis violently awake.
"Wake up! You horny Irish git! Get up now!" Ron screamed. Semis opened his eyes with a start and sat up in bed.
"What! What's going on?" He asked surprised. Harry gave him an angry look.
"The same bloody thing that's been going on the last three times that we woke you up! You're fanaticizing about that girl again. You have to stop! We all need some sleep and everyone in the castle can here you. Are you mental or something?" Harry said annoyed. Semis now had an upset look on his face.
"Look I… can't help my dreams. I've never dreamed like this in my life. It's the most vivid dream that I've ever had. It's awesome." Semis said nervously. Ron gave a great sigh.
"Yea… well, good for you. We can all see that you're enjoying yourself, but try not to do it anymore or everyone's going to throw you out the window." Ron finished. By now a large collection of guys was gathered at the door much to everyone's embarrassment, and Collin Creevey entered the room in excitement.
"Hey guys one of the female students has a spell to cure him, of the noise he's making! She wants to come in and put a spell on him… just for tonight. Is it okay if she comes in real quick?" He asked. Semis blushed.
"Ab… absolutely not! Look I won't dream anymore tonight. Lets not bring a girl into this." Semis said nervously.
"Sorry Finnigan, but you're even keeping the girls awake." Harry said. He looked around at the walls of the room. "Funny… you'd think that these would be sound proof… being stone and all. Oh well, send her in Collin." Harry said with a shrug. Collin rand down stairs for a minute, and came back up into the room quickly. A Gryffindor girl then parted her way through the crowd and into the dorm room. Ron gasped.
"Her…Hermione!" Ron shouted in surprise. Hermione looked at him for a second with an unreadable expression on her face, and then turned to Semis. She put a hand on his shoulder, and smiled.
"Now listen Finnigan, there is nothing to be nervous about. I'm just going to hit you with a light, easily removed jinx to make your voice inaudible, for tonight, and in the morning, I'll remove the jinx. That way you can dream away without bothering anyone, okay?" she said softly. Semis nodded, and Hermione applied the jinx with a flick of her wand, and a quick blue flash. After a few seconds of silence Collin spoke.
"Did it work?" he asked.
"Only one way to find out." said Ron. "Oy Semis don't forget to leave a note to the house elves to change your soiled sheets." Ron jested. Semis looked at Ron angrily, and his mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Ron smiled.
"Yea, it worked. Harry, help me push his bed from against the wall." Harry did so, and after they had moved the bedpost a few millimeters away from the wall, Ron turned to Semis with a smile. "Well Finnegan, you're all set! Now you can have all the sweet dreams you want. By the way who were you dreaming about? Marietta who?" Ron inquired. Semis mouthed something in silence, but still no sound emanated from him.
"Leave him alone Ron, let him be in peace." Hermione said coldly. She then looked at Semis. "Okay, just meet me down in the common room tomorrow around eleven, as I plan to sleep late, and I'll remove the jinx, and you'll be as good as new." She said. Everyone clapped, and started heading to their respective rooms. When it was just the four roommates, and Hermione, Ron spoke.
"Well done Hermione!" Ron said as he clapped in approval. "How did you know about that jinx?" he asked. Hermione put her nose in the air and told Harry to inform Ron that unless he was willing to a committed relationship that she had nothing to say to him. Ron gave a great sigh.
"Oh come on Hermione, surly you're not starting this again. Look tomorrow's Saturday. I bet we could find a romantic place by the lake. What do you say?" Ron stated with a sly tone to his voice. Hermione started to smile.
"So you're really ready to make a commitment Ron?" she asked with a smile. Ron's face turned to a frown.
"Well… uh… no, but I thought that we could go out on a date tomorrow, and… you know do some Snogging, wouldn't that be romantic?" Ron asked happily. Hermione was livid.
"Damit Ronald Wesley! What the hell is wrong with you! I'm through trying to win you over! You want to date other people? Okay then. But you can forget about ever dating me ever. I'd rather kiss a Crumple Horned Snorack!" Hermione finished. Ron slammed down his hand on his mattress in anger.
"Fucking hell, what's you problem! I just asked you out, and you're still mental over me not wanting to commit. I told you my reasons, now you need to respect them and stop being so stupid. Just go out with me tomorrow, we'll have fun, without worrying about being committed." Ron said agitated. Hermione clenched her fist.
"Look Ron, I…" but she was interrupted by Vince Garfield leaning his head in the room and clearing his throat.
"Excuse me Miss Granger… I'm very grateful that you took care of Semeis's Problem and all, but I think that you need to go back to the girl's dorm, as now you two are keeping me awake." He said casually. Hermione embarrassed started to leave. Ron looked on very sad that they couldn't go out with Hermione tomorrow. He crawled into bed and shut his eyes knowing that he would have another chance to patch things up at the Room of Requirement and Hagrid's house. Harry also looked on sad that his friends were fighting, and realizing that he would have to take Occlumey lessons again with Snape, as he was still to angry at Dumbledore to want to talk to him yet. Harry really hated the idea of going to Snape on his own after last year, but was hoping that Snape would agree, as it was to stop Voldermort from controlling him. Still there was nothing else good about being in the same room with Sevres Snape, and if he didn't agree than Harry would have to go to Dumbledore for help.
Harry made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Ron, Dean Thomas and Semis Finnigan, who were already eating their eggs, bacon, and toast. Harry looked at Semis. "Can you talk Semis?" he asked. Semis gave a nod.
"Yea, me throat feels a little dry, but otherwise good as new." Semis said. Harry then started talking to Ron in a whisper about going to Hagrid's hut, and how tomorrow they needed to get the pitch reserved for some practice, as Harry wasn't sure if it would be his last for a while.
"Damit Ron, if any nonsense this year gets in the way of playing Quidditch, I'm going to go mental. I had to put up with too much last year, and it's not going to happen again." Harry complained. Ron gave him a pat on the back, and reassured him that Dumbledore would get to the bottom of everything. Harry wasn't comforted at the Head Master being brought up, he still was angry at him not being at Sirius's funeral. After a while of chatting Harry overheard Semis mention a familiar name that gave him his undivided attention.
"Semis, what did you just say?" Harry asked. Semis turned to him, and spoke.
"Oh, I was just asking Dean what he thought about Marietta Edgencombe." Semis said casually. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Dean answered first.
"She's cute. I'd give her one." Dean said. Harry's face tightened up as if he had just drank a goblet of pure lemon juice.
"Cute? She's absolutely deplorable!" Harry said with anger. Wow he thought, was he really that upset about what happened to his DA classes? Or was it just that Marietta was sneaking around the castle all the time. Or was it… that she had broken Cho and himself up. No… that, that couldn't be it he thought… could it? Dean looked over at the Ravenclaw table at Marietta Edgencombe, who was talking to some other Ravenclaw girls, and a Slytheren prefect. He looked Marietta over casually, and turned back to Harry.
"No Potter, your mistaken, she actually is pretty cute. Has a bit of a posh attitude, but really cute." Dean said.
"Thomas she got my DA classes busted up last year. She's an evil traitor to this school." Harry said. Dean gave a jovial smile.
"Ha, look Potter I thought you meant physically beautiful, which she is. Now if you mean personality wise… well I don't know her well enough for that. She's just… really cute. I mean I've seen better, but she's not really bad at all. Besides I don't think turning in your DA classes makes her so bad. No offence Potter, but last year everyone thought you were a bit of a criminal. The papers were saying so, so maybe she was under the same impression. I have to admit that even I wasn't sure about you for the most part. I joined the DA to rebel against Umbridge, but I was never really sure myself. Then after everything with the ministry came out in the papers… that's when I knew. So I understand, even though I almost got in trouble for it." Dean finished. Harry looked at Dean disappointed.
"I can't believe that you didn't support me from the beginning Dean." Harry said.
"Sorry Potter… but look at it from My point of view, you had the papers against you, the Ministry, and most of the school. I mean almost no one other than Ron and Hermione got you back from the beginning." He said casually. Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw table for Cho, but didn't see her.
"Yea, well I know some others who were there from the beginning." Harry said thinking of Cho. Semis stood up with a determined look in his eyes.
"Well… I'm going to go talk to her. I mean that was last year, and… I've been thinking about Marietta since last ni… err I mean, I've been thinking about her a lot lately." Semis said. Harry's face became bitter again.
"How could you do that Finnegan, you can't trust her. Is she the Marietta that you were screaming about last night?" Harry asked. Semis was suddenly embarrassed.
"Hey! Shut up about that Potter. Don't discuss that." He said annoyed, and walked off to the Ravenclaw table. Harry, Ron and Dean watched as he chatted up Marietta. She was smiling, and seemed to be quite taken with Semis. She got up, smiled to her friends and walked out of the great Hall arm and arm with him. Dean slammed his fork down on the table, and smiled.
"Damn! How does he always pick up girls like that? Luck of the Irish I suppose. Well good for him." Dean finished. Harry and Ron got up to leave.
"It's not just the DA classes… there is something I just don't like about her." Harry said. Ron nodded in agreement.
"Yea, your right… but so is Dean. She is really cute." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Come on were going to Hagrid's. Let's get Hermione." Harry said to Ron.
A few moments later the trio was walking down the path to Hagrid's hut, and the tension was very thick. Hermione was still not speaking to Ron, and Harry would have to act as a go between, when she said things like "Tell Ron I'm not interested in what he's talking about. But Harry did finally get Hermione to agree to a truce when they reached Hagrid's. "One thing I don't understand Hermione, how did you know to put that jinx on Semis? I mean we never studied that one in Defense Against Dark Arts." Harry said. Hermione smiled.
"Oh that. I studied that one on my own during my second year. One of my roommates has a terrible snoring problem, and it was a good fix… Ahhhhhh!" Hermione suddenly screamed and Harry and Ron looked to where she was staring. The door to Hagrid's hut had a blood trail leading up to it. Harry and Ron could see splotches of the stuff trailing into the forest. The three rushed the door and banged loudly, screaming for Hagrid.
"Alright! Alright! Just a minute!" came the agitated voice from the inside of the hut. After a few seconds Hagrid appeared with a bandaged arm. Splotches of blood were also visible on the bandage. He looked down at Harry and his mates in surprise.
"Oh! You're here early. I wasn't expecting you till tea time. Err… come in please." Hagrid said casually, as if it were normal for Harry to see him with a bandage on his arm.
"Hagrid… What happened? Was it the Snorack?" Hermione enquired. Hagrid gave a difficult smile.
"Oh nooo. It twernt Frosty. He's a gentle sort. I wish I could say it was nothing but… well come on in and I'll explain." Hagrid said worried.