The first Hogsmeade trip of the year had finally arrived. Discretely, they'd spread the word about their plans for a Defense Against the Dark Arts club to people they trusted and set up a time and place for them to meet at Hogsmeade.
After the meeting, Rory and Harry planned on skipping off to have a butterbeer or two together, then sneaking off to the castle early to properly snog in peace for a while. It had been fun fooling around with Harry the past few weeks, though it wasn't something that happened often because they had roommates, quidditch practice, choir practice, and homework to contend with. But the odd moment or two alone was quite nice.
Hermione set the meeting up to happen in the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. There were rumors about the owner having inappropriate relations with a goat (though no one ever specified what on earth that meant), but the pub was usually deserted, and it meant they'd have a nice empty space to congregate.
No Slytherins had been invited because no one was friends with any, and they were all being heavily favored by Umbridge anyway. They didn't want Umbridge or anyone getting wind of this.
But Rory had invited a few people she trusted herself. Namely Stephen Cornfoot, Susan Bones, and Ara Ashe from choir. Luna Lovegood had also been invited at Ginny and Rory's insistence. And though it made logical sense to invite them, even if Rory didn't care for them, Lavender Brown, Zach Smith, and Cho Chang would also be in attendance.
They sat at the Hog's Head, Hermione was getting everything set up just right.
"You think many people will turn up?" Harry asked.
"Hermione thinks so," Rory said. "I know at least the three people I invited plus Luna will be here."
"No offense, but Luna does seem a bit 'loony' to me," Harry said.
Rory frowned. "She's odd, but she means well. And whatever outlandish ideas she might have she's still brilliant. She's Ravenclaw after all."
"You're brilliant and you're decidedly not Ravenclaw," Harry said. "Doesn't it stand to reason that you can be not brilliant and in Ravenclaw?"
"It does, but Luna is just an outside-of-the-box thinker. She's strange, yes, but she's wonderful," Rory said.
Harry nodded. "I'll take your word for it. You have good taste in people so far. Especially your boyfriend."
"You would think that wouldn't you?" Rory asked.
And slowly people started to trickle in until the whole pub was full. Rory was suddenly excited. Here were all these people who believe that Dolores Umbridge might be a crap teacher and that they might need someone to actually teach them what to do. It was exciting. And she felt proud that Harry was probably the one to draw them all in. Who better to learn from than someone who faced Voldemort himself.
And that all these people probably believed him? That meant more than anything. Hermione had said that people would want to learn.
"I guess, Hermione was right," Rory whispered to Harry.
"How many of them are here just to gawk at me?" he whispered back.
"You're quite nice to gawk at. I wouldn't blame them," she replied with a wink.
"Settle down, you," he said giving her shoulder a squeeze. She was happy to see him smile at least. He'd been nervous all morning.
Once everyone was assembled, Hermione took charge.
"I had the idea that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts took matters into our own hands since we're not getting the quality, hands-on education we need. Especially those of us taking OWLs and NEWTs this year," she said.
"I've got a question." It was Zach Smith. Rory stopped herself from rolling her eyes. He played on the Quidditch team for Hufflepuff and, directly in front of Harry last year, he'd asked her out to the Yule Ball. "Can you actually prove that Voldemort's really back?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "If you're only here because you want to know what it looks like when Voldemort kills someone, I can't help you. I'm not going to talk about Cedric, so if that's the only reason you're here, you can all clear out."
Hermione was visibly uncomfortable, but Rory was pleased. If there were any looky-loos present, there wasn't a point to them being here.
"Do you really know how to produce a Patronus? Like a full one?" Susan asked.
Rory smiled at her. There was a reason she loved that girl.
"Uh… Yeah," Harry said.
"My aunt was at your hearing. She told me all about what happened in Surrey this summer. She was quite impressed," Susan said. "What form does it take?"
"A stag," Harry said, stumbling a bit over his words, caught off guard by the question. But everyone was now impressed. "I just want to say that… I almost always had help when I did most of this stuff, and none of it was easy. Sometimes I think I just got lucky."
"So we all turn up to learn from you and now you're telling us you can't really do any of it?" Zach asked.
"Are you here just to be an ass, Zach, or do you actually want to learn something?" Rory asked. "If Voldemort turned up here right now, with a little luck and little help, how well do you think you would fare?" Zach shrank in his seat. "Any other questions?"
He shook his head.
Rory looked back to Hermione, giving her the floor again.
"We should set up a schedule of when to meet," Hermione said.
"Can't interfere with Quidditch," Ron said.
The other Quidditch players in the room chimed in. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"We've got a sheet of parchment here. Any Quidditch practice or other unavoidable extracurricular activities write down your conflicts here. Hermione and I will work it out," Rory said.
"Where are we going to meet?" Cho Chang chimed in.
Rory was trying very hard not to be jealous of Cho Chang because it was ridiculous. Harry and Rory had been together for nearly a year at this point. They were in love. Yes, Harry had had a crush on Cho back before they were dating, but that was ages ago.
Still, it was Rory's knee-jerk reaction to be defensive. So she chose not to be the one who engaged with Cho.
"We're still figuring it out," Hermione said. "But I assure you that as soon as we figure out a time and place for the first meeting we'll let everyone know."
"We've got a sign-up sheet," Rory said. "Put your name down if you're in."
"If you sign up you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge or anyone else what we're up to," Hermione said.
"A blood pact," Matilda said.
Hermione groaned. "We're not making a blood pact, Mattie. Just sign the paper. Don't sign if you're going to tell. If you tell, we will find out it was you."
Hermione had enchanted the paper to hex anyone who decided to be a snitch because Hermione was a badass that way. Not that she or Rory had mentioned this to anyone.
Some people looked nervous as the paper came their way, but they all signed.
Everyone started to pile out of the Hog's Head. Rory was feeling remarkably good about the meeting until Cho and her friend, Marietta, lingered to be the last to leave.
"Bye, Harry," Cho said, grinning at him, and throwing him a wave. She acknowledged no one else and left the pub.
Rory rolled her eyes.
"Michael and Ginny are quite lovely together, aren't they?" Hermione asked casually, clearly having noticed Cho.
"What's this about Michael?" Ron asked.
"Michael Corner. And Ginny," Hermione said. "Dating."
"Dating? Since when?" Ron asked.
"I dunno. I think they started talking at the Yule Ball or something but weren't official until recently," Neville said dismissively.
Ron was shocked. "How could she not tell me?"
"Can't imagine why she'd be reluctant to," Matilda said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're not at all overreacting."
Ron rolled his eyes. "And anyway, I thought she had a crush on Harry."
Rory let out a deep sigh and rolled her eyes this time.
"You all right?" Harry asked.
"Probably just doesn't give a shit about who or who doesn't have a crush on her boyfriend," Matilda said. "Speaking of, what the fuck is Chang's problem anyway?"
"What did Cho do?" Harry asked.
"Aside from gawk at you the whole meeting?" Rory asked.
"Didn't you literally say you don't blame people for gawking at me?" Harry teased.
"There's an exception to every rule, especially if the gawker is going to pretend you don't have a girlfriend sitting right beside you," Rory said.
"Literally everyone knows you're my girlfriend," Harry said, taking her hand.
"That's why I said 'pretend,'" Rory said.
Harry kissed her cheek. "Do you want to go?" Rory nodded. "Thanks for doing this, Hermione."
"Thanks for agreeing," Hermione said. "We'll clean up here."
Harry and Rory left the pub, their hands still linked together.
"You know there are plenty of people that still fancy you even though we're together. Zach asked you out in front of me last year," Harry said.
"Yeah, but I told Zach off because I wasn't interested. You're still as cordial as ever with Cho though," Rory replied trying and failing to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
"So you want me to just tell her off then?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Rory said bluntly. "I told Zach off. I've told everyone off."
"Didn't realize you had so many boys beating down your door," Harry said rolling his eyes.
Rory felt anger swell up inside of her. "If I did, you wouldn't know about it because I wouldn't hang around someone who would make you uncomfortable." She pulled herself out of his grasp. "Might do me the same courtesy instead of just letting some girl flirt with you like I'm not even there all the time."
"Rory, I don't like Cho. I don't care if she likes me," he said. "She's just a friend."
"She's a bit too friendly if you ask me," Rory said.
"I can't believe you're overreacting like this again," Harry said.
Rory glared at him and her blood went hot. "I'm not overreacting. You're just more worried about her feelings than mine."
"I don't care about her feelings more than yours," Harry said.
"Well you're going to great lengths to defend her instead of just listening to me tell you that she makes me uncomfortable and telling her to knock it off," Rory said.
"I just don't think it's a big deal," Harry said.
Rory felt tears sting her eyes. "Fine. Glad I know my discomfort is not a 'big deal' to you."
"Rory-."
"Enjoy the rest of your visit. I'm going back to the castle," Rory said striding off.
"You can't just leave," Harry said.
"I can and I am," she said. "You're being an ass. I don't want to be around you right now."
He called after her, but Rory didn't answer. She walked all the way back to the castle and back to her empty room. She stripped off her cloak and shoes and climbed onto her bed. She buried her face into her pillow and let herself cry.
Harry watched Rory walk off. He'd called after her several times, but she did not respond. He didn't know what to do. He didn't like Cho at all. He loved Rory. Adored her. But she was acting like a crazy person right now.
"Harry?"
He turned to the sound of Hermione's voice. Ron stood with her, along with Neville. Harry was relieved that Matilda wasn't there because Merlin knew that girl would give him an earful right now. He was not in the mood for it.
"Where'd Rory go?" Neville asked.
"Back to the castle," Harry said. "We had a bit of a row."
"About what?" Ron asked.
"Cho," Hermione said simply.
"How do you-."
"Because she's been trying to chat you up since school started," Neville said.
"Rory doesn't like her," Hermione said.
"She made that pretty clear," Harry grumbled.
"So why are you still hanging out with her?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not hanging out with her. Speaking to her when she talks to me is no hanging out with her," Harry said. "Cho is just being nice."
"Rory doesn't care if she's nice," Neville said. "Cho's only nice because she wants to snog you. She doesn't even talk to Rory and the two of you are always attached at the hip."
"It's disrespectful," Hermione said.
Harry looked to Ron, desperate to have someone on his side, but Ron was useless right now.
"You'd better apologize," Neville said. "She's told me a few times she doesn't like the way Cho hangs around you."
"Why wouldn't she tell me that?" Harry asked.
"Because she expects you to ignore any girl that's constantly flirting with you," Hermione said. "Though I suppose you do have trouble recognizing that's happening."
"Do I?" Harry asked.
"Rory said she liked you and you told her you were happy that you were friends. You don't know when people are flirting with you, Harry," Hermione said.
Harry grimaced. Hermione had a point then.
"Fine. So what do I do?" Harry asked.
"Apologize to her. You know her better than us," Neville said.
"I know her better than you?" Harry asked.
"I hope you know her better than I do if you're fooling around," Neville said.
Harry glowered at him.
"Apologize to her," Hermione said. "Even if they're not flirting with her, Rory tells most boys to bugger off. Some girls too."
Harry sighed. He did not want Rory to be mad at him. He loved Rory. Cho was nice and she believed him about Voldemort. It didn't make sense for Rory to be angry about Cho. Because he loved her. He loved her more than anything.
He had to apologize to her.
"Okay. I'll go talk to her," Harry said.
"What are you going to say?" Hermione asked.
"That I'm an ass?" Harry asked. "And I'm sorry?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "What am I supposed to do, Hermione?"
"You know Rory," Ron said.
Harry looked over to him. "What?"
"Well you know Rory, right? You love her. So you know what makes her mad and what makes her happy and all that," Ron said. "So you should know how to apologize."
He should know how to apologize. He was supposed to know how Rory thought and how she felt. And she'd told him that he cared more about Cho's feelings than he did hers. Which wasn't true. All he was thinking about right now was that Rory was angry at him. He didn't care at all about how Cho felt. Just Rory.
Harry knocked on Rory's bedroom door. When he got no response, he pushed the door open. Rory was lying on her bed, still wearing the blue jumper and leggings from before, sleeping. She had a divination book lying on the bed next to her, still open to the page she'd fallen asleep on.
He went over and sat beside her on the bed and gave her shoulder a little shake.
"Hey, Fish," Harry said.
Rory stirred and it took a few moments for her to register he was there.
"What do you want?" she grumbled rolling over and putting her back to him.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm here to grovel. For being an ass."
"Are you?" she asked.
"I don't care about Cho's feelings more than yours," Harry said.
"Sure," Rory grumbled.
"I mean it. I'm sorry," he said. "If you want me to never talk to her again, I will."
"I don't care who you talk to, Harry," Rory said. She sat up. "Do you love me?"
"Of course I do," Harry said.
"Then act like it the next Cho tries to talk to you like I'm not there," Rory said.
"You want me to kiss you when she's trying to talk to me?" Harry asked.
"It would certainly get your point across," Rory said rolling her eyes.
He kissed her. "I'm sorry. Did that get my point across?"
"It helps," she replied.
"I love you," he said. He kissed her again. "And I got you something."
"I don't accept bribes," Rory replied.
"It's not a bribe," Harry said. "It's an apology gift."
"Sounds like a bribe to me," Rory replied.
He held up a small bag. "Treacle fudge."
Fuck. Rory loved treacle fudge. Treacle anything really. One of the things she and Harry had in common.
"I like Cho, like, as a person, I mean. But I love you. And I'm sorry I'm an idiot sometimes," Harry said.
Rory took the bag of treacle fudge.
"I love you," Rory said. "Try to stop being an ass. At least to me."
"Especially to you," Harry said. He kissed her again.
Harry wrapped his arms around Rory. He breathed in the smell of her: coffee and lemon and tea tree oil. An odd combination, but purely her own. Rory smelled like home for him.
"I'm going to be better," Harry said.
"I hope so," Rory said. "I know things are hard for you but… You're not nice sometimes."
"Not nice?" Harry asked.
"I know what it's like when things in your head don't make sense. And you're frustrated and angry and confused," Rory said. "But I'm still patient with my friends who don't understand. I'm patient with you."
"You think I don't understand?" Harry asked.
Rory's face reddened and he knew he'd said the wrong thing.
"Harry, I understand why Umbridge went after you this year. And it's not fair. It's stupid even," Rory said.
"Well, she might not think your dad is trying to overthrow the ministry by spreading lies about Voldemort-."
He watched as tears sprang to Rory's eyes and she turned away from him.
"What is it?" Harry asked, trying not to sound annoyed, but he was still annoyed anyway. He loved Rory, but what did she have going on that was possibly worse than he had?
"It's scarred over, you know. 'Half-breeds don't belong,'" Rory said.
"Because of your dad?" Harry asked. "You know he doesn't think you-."
"Of course, he doesn't," Rory said. "I'm his daughter. I love my dad more than anything."
"Then what-."
"He's spent his whole life dealing with people hating him. Hating everything about him. He can't even keep a job because people hate him so much. And he knows I love him, but he has to deal with the fact that people hate him so much they make his own daughter carve their hate into her skin. And every time he looks at my hand he's going to have a reminder of how much people hate him, and how much people hate me by association," Rory sobbed.
Harry's heart sank. He hadn't thought of this. He hadn't considered that the words on Rory's skin might cut deeper than his own.
"Rory," Harry started.
"I know you think nothing bad ever happens to anyone but you, but that's not true," Rory still crying.
"You know that's not what I think," he insisted.
"Then why are you so angry that no one understands what your life is like as if we don't? As if I don't?" Rory asked.
Harry didn't know the answer to that question, and he didn't trust himself to say anything further on the subject since he'd been digging himself further and further into a hole since he'd walked into the room.
"I know you're probably the only one who really understands," he said. "And I love you. And I'm sorry if I haven't been acting like it lately."
Harry was relieved when she returned her head to rest against his shoulder. He put his arm around her, and she scooted in close to him.
"I love you too," Rory said. She lifted her head and looked over to the clock on her bedside table. "It's still early. We can go back to Hogsmeade if you want."
That sounded like a terrible idea. The last thing he wanted to do was run into their friends and pretend everything was fine after they'd had a row. Harry shook his head. "No. We can stay here. Just us."
"You're sure?" Rory asked, even as she wrapped her arms around him and let her head rest against his chest.
"Positive," Harry said. He brushed her hair out of the way and kissed her forehead.
