Chapter 30 The training continues, Harry is angry, Sirius gets help, and the girls are right and scary
9th January 1994, Astronomy room, Astronomy Tower (5th floor), Hogwarts
Harry was standing towards the trunk with his wand pointed at the trunk. He was already very sweaty and was heavy panting. He had pushed the dementor back twice, but both times it barely worked and the second time Professor Lupin needed to help Harry as Harry almost collapsed again. It was after dinner but as Harry had a double period of the history of magic Professor Lupin agreed to give Harry another lesson as he knew that Professor Binns as he always had trouble staying awake when he was a student as Professor Binns was also a ghost then.
Harry said "again."
Professor Lupin said, "Harry I am not sure if that is wise."
Harry said while not looking at Professor Lupin "I need to do it. When I was attacked during Quidditch there was more than one. I need to be able to do better."
Professor Lupin saw the determination of Lily and the stubbornness of James if he was set on something like making Lily his girlfriend and later his wife. Professor Lupin knew it, Harry will not back down so he opened it and with a second has his wand in his hand if it was needed.
Harry shouted "Expecto Patronum."
Harry manages to get a shield between him and the boggart-dementor, but it is a small shield. The shield flickers a bit before it disappears and Professor Lupin uses his Patronus to hold the boggart-dementor back until the boggart changes into a light orb when he focuses on Professor Lupin and Professor Lupin didn't say anything just pointing his wand when the light orb became a leprechaun from white light and dance the Irish folk dance with make Professor Lupin snickering a little and forced the boggart back into the trunk. Seconds before the boggart-leprechaun went into the trunk Harry lost consciousness hearing the scream again, but this time he also hears a female voice saying "Please …. I'll do anything."
A few minutes later Harry opens his eyes and sees Professor Lupin above him before giving him a chocolate bar that was from Honeydukes. Harry eats it and when Professor Lupin sees Harry grabbing his wand again Professor Lupin said "Harry this is enough. It is almost curfew and if we go on you end up in the hospital wing or worse. You did very well and you will be able to protect yourself to bring yourself in safety even if you fly in a Quidditch match."
Harry said, "no I am not good enough."
Professor Lupin responded "yes you are Harry. You are only thirteen years old, most adults can barely make a shield and you already surpassed them. Now go to bed you should rest. I will walk you to the Tower."
Harry wanted to argue but he was dead tired and reluctantly agreed that he needs to rest. He said "okay Professor Lupin. Can I ask you a question while we walk to the Tower?"
Professor Lupin smiled kindly and said, "of course."
When they just leave the Astronomy room Professor Sinistra again offered Professor Lupin Harry and asked: "do you know about the Christmas present I got without a note from who send it?"
Professor Lupin said, "yes I heard it was a Firebolt."
Harry nodded and asked "do you know anything else about it? I asked Professor McGonagall doesn't know if I get it back or when and didn't want to say if they found something or that they are far or not."
Professor Lupin said "I don't know much. I was asked to also examine it and we are not very far but it should be getting easier, Professor McGonagall is very thorough, she wants to make sure you are safe and she examines every charm or spell twice at least to make sure it is safe."
Harry smiled at the thought that Professor McGonagall cared for him even if she would do it for everyone and certainly his house. Professor Lupin also smiled that Professor McGonagall was very thoroughly examining the broom. He remembered a few nights ago when he said: "the broom seems safe as I am almost certain there is no danger."
Professor McGonagall gave him a look that reminded him of when she was disappointed and she said menacingly that scared him but also Professor Flitwick that was also present "Remus, I want to know for certain. If you are not completely certain we are doing it again and again until you and we are. I will not let Ha- Mr. Potter gets hurt again as it would feel that I am failing him as my g- as his head of house in Hogwarts."
Professor Lupin didn't call her out on her slip-up as did Professor Flitwick didn't. Professor Flitwick has asked Madam Pomfrey but she sad Professor McGonagall felt sorry especially after last year and the year before but nothing else and those answers didn't answer his question completely why Professor McGonagall said Harry instead of Mr. Potter, she was almost too involved and why she was working on the broom and examine every spell or charms at least twice.
13th January 1994, Astronomy room, Astronomy Tower (5th floor), Hogwarts
Harry was sitting resting while eating some chocolate after he collapsed but this time it was during his second time. He didn't improve at all. The shield may have improved but only on his first try and if what Professor Lupin is true there is no way he would be able to protect himself again one dementor and that is not to mention dozen if not more are at the border of Hogwarts and in Hogsmeade now as it is evening.
Harry was feeling tired not only from the training of the Patronus charm but also from missing his best friend and seeing her always so sad that it hurt him. He hasn't seen it but he hoped she still wore her bracelet as it was to protect her. He thinks about her and the only thing he feels is sadness and despair almost as if dementors were close by. He started to think about it but before he could very far Professor Lupin said: "Harry I was thinking maybe I could help you with some other spells and curses that you can use to defend yourself."
Harry almost completely forgot about Hermione but didn't as protect himself started to change his thought to protecting the people he knows and like and the first one that crossed his mind was a smiling Hermione that made him blush a little that Professor Lupin didn't notice as Professor Lupin was not looking at him but out of the window.
Harry thought about others and when Ginny, Susan, and Katie pops into his mind he blushes a little as every one of them had a radiated smile like Hermione but different. He quickly got the blush under control fast enough that Professor Lupin didn't notice because Professor Lupin was still watching out of the window and started talking.
Professor Lupin said, "Harry to help you defend against Sirius Black I am going to teach you some spells, curses, and counter-curses that will help you, probably not enough to defeat him but enough to hold on until help arrives and protect yourself."
Professor Lupin turns around and said "the spell I want to learn you are also above your year except for the disarming charm. I don't know if you know the spell as most of your year don't know all the first and second-year spells and I didn't go over the spell as I didn't plan it, but maybe it is a good idea. Anyway, it is the disarming spell and that is a second-year spell."
Harry nodded and said "yes I know the spell. The incantation is Expelliarmus and I know the wand movement."
Professor Lupin said "okay. I will pull my wand and you try to use the spell. I will not defend it."
Harry still had his wand in his hand from the recent training. He waited until Professor Lupin was pointing his wand at Harry. Harry almost shouted "Expelliarmus."
Without a problem, Professor Lupin's wand flew from his hand and Harry catches it without problem. They try to use do it a few times and Harry immediately masters the spell. The last time Professor Lupin holds the wand extra tightly and even then it works without fail.
Harry was panting and Professor Lupin said "good job Harry. I couldn't hold on to it."
Harry gave a tired smile. Professor Lupin wanted to stop and said "I think we can better stop soon. You got school tomorrow. I will give you some homework though. I want you to read about the full-body-bind curse…."
Harry interrupts and said "I know that one too. Hermione …. used it in our first year on Neville as he wanted to stop Ron, Hermione and me from doing something important. I read about it and know the incantation and wand movement but never tried it before."
Professor Lupin smiled and said " then read about the exploding charm Bombarda and the Reductor curse as they are quite similar and quite useful in a fight. There is another one but that will we talk about next time. Next time we will work on the Patronus charm again and the three we just talked about."
Harry nodded and said, "I will head back to Gryffindor Tower."
Professor Lupin said, "I will walk you back."
They left the room. Nothing was said on the way back and when Harry entered the Common Room he quickly left to bed leaving Ron and Neville behind in the Common Room. Harry was the first one in bed for the evening falling almost immediately asleep.
14th January 1994, Quidditch pitch (evening), Hogwarts Grounds
Harry was heavy panting from the training from Oliver as they were just done. Oliver even went as far as to not only run but also train arms and hands for everyone with a little training for legs mostly by running. Oliver let Harry also train his torso as he would probably be a sitting duck the next Quidditch match with his shooting star if he wouldn't get the Firebolt back in time. Fred and George would also do torso training so they could help Harry while the chasers were doing extra evasive training as did Oliver so they didn't need the help of Fred or George and they could focus on Harry.
Harry asked Oliver about the Firebolt if he heard anything about it except what Professor Lupin told him after the second training on the 9th of January.
Oliver sighed and said "I only got bad news, Harry. I've just been to see Professor McGonagall before the training asking about the Firebolt. She — er — got a bit shorty with me. She told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch on it first. Honestly, the way she was yelling at me... you'd think I'd said something terrible."
Oliver tried to not look at the stands want this time Professor McGonagall was watching the training and would be able to protect them together with Madam Hooch as Madam Hooch was improving but still unable to cast a corporeal Patronus while Professor McGonagall could.
Professor McGonagall was a little disappointed in Harry as he was nowhere near his normal plays.
Madam Hooch walked to her and sat next to her before saying quietly "Minerva are you sure that we can't release the broom earlier. Mr. Potter is one of the best fliers I have ever seen even better than some professional Quidditch players I see playing. Mr. Potter is doing exceptional things on the shooting star but as you know it is nowhere near his original playing style. How good Mr. Potter is he wouldn't stand a chance as the shooting star. If the snitch was flying straight the Ravenclaw seeker could have a problem with Mr. Potter even with the shooting star but you know the snitch don't and the turns Mr. Potter needs to make on the shooting star to follow the snitch are impossible even with his skill it could be life-threatening. You know Mr. Potter will do his best to catch the snitch."
Professor McGonagall nodded and said "I know Rolanda, but we are not done yet. We are carefully examining the broom as it is weird sending a Firebolt without a note or something. I must admit with Mr. Wood that a nimbus 2000 or nimbus 2001 even a Cleansweep 7 would work and with a Firebolt it would be suspicion even for the bold Sirius Black, but I want to make sure Ha- Mr. Potter doesn't get hurt again like the last two years and earlier this school year."
Madam Hooch nodded understanding Professor McGonagall's reasoning and blew her whistle letting everybody know that the training was over even if they weren't done yet.
Everybody went inside and Harry decided to shower in the bathroom adjacent to the dorm that every year has. There are three showers in each bathroom beside the fifth, sixth and seventh-year dorms as they had the same amount of showers in the adjacent bathroom as the number of people in the dorm while the head boy and girl room had a shower but also a smaller bath (about a half/a third from the prefect's bath).
The other boys take a quick shower in the Gryffindor locker room while the girls take a quick shower in the Gryffindor girl's locker room. Harry wants to leave but he needed to wait until the others are done. It took almost 30 minutes before the girls join the boys indicating they are ready to leave with Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch towards Hogwarts. They went outside of the locker room and walked down the hallway that leads to outside of the Quidditch pitch where Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch were waiting.
18th January 1994, Arithmancy classroom (seventh floor), Hogwarts
Harry was in the arithmancy working with Parvati and Fay while Neville was working with Hermione and Hannah. Padma was also in this class but Padma and Parvati decided to not work together for once as Parvati and Padma wanted to work with their house for once. While Susan with Daphne, Tracey, and Megan as the only group of four. Arithmancy was for the muggleborns, muggle raised and half-bloods that went to muggle primary school in the first half-year from third-year very easy and during the second term until now was mostly repeat as they already learned it in primary school with the new addition what the numbers mean with future and spells.
The arithmancy was like charms, the study of ancient runes and care off magical creatures meaning it was more practical and fun than other classes and most of the time you can walk around certainly when you want help from one of the other students of to want to watch how the others were doing. Professor Vector encouraged students to help each other partially to learn from each other but also to break through the house barriers.
Susan sees a very depressed Hermione and decided she needed to intervene, she knew why as she sends Amelia a letter that Harry had another broom although he couldn't use it yet. She said in her letter that if the Firebolt was cursed and couldn't be used she would send word.
Daphne was talking with Tracey and Megan. When Daphne looked toward Susan and then at Hermione she asked what she was planning. Megan and Tracey noticed but did like they didn't as it wasn't their place.
Daphne knew why but she didn't want to tell Tracey like Susan didn't tell the girls in her dorm (not that she told the boys). Astoria told Tracey about what Daphne did when they were on the train back at Hogwarts and only in a compartment. Daphne was blushing heavily and tried to stop Astoria from saying but didn't manage.
Susan was walking toward Harry and said when she was close "Harry could I talk to you after class?"
Harry said "sure" before he continued working with Parvati and Fay.
The class ended later after that. Susan was doubting about telling about the marriage contract as did Daphne even though Daphne was instructed to not do that. Susan, on the other hand, wanted an answer to why Harry didn't say anything.
18th January 1994, corridor sixth floor, Hogwarts
Harry went to this corridor when Susan said from an empty classroom "Harry here."
Susan saw Neville but fortunately, she suspected that Hannah was with Susan. Hannah walks out of the classroom and said "Neville can I talk to you about Arithmancy I need some help with herbology" (which was true).
Neville was doubting until Harry said, "it is okay Neville I will see you in a bit."
Neville nodded and reluctantly followed Hannah to another empty classroom and almost immediately followed by going to the library within a minute when Hannah asked a herbology question when Neville remembered the right book.
18th January 1994, empty classroom, 6th floor, Hogwarts
Harry walked in and Susan keeps the door open. Harry was a bit shocked when he sees Daphne, Tracey, and Megan inside. Daphne nodded toward Tracey and Megan and they left when they see Hannah and Neville leaving the library. Susan closes the door and now Harry was alone with Daphne and Susan.
Susan said, "please Harry take a seat."
Harry sees one chair near the teacher's old desk as nobody uses this room anymore and takes a seat. Susan and Daphne don't say anything until after almost 5 minutes Daphne asked with a bit of venom "Potter are you stupid?"
Harry expected everything unless this. After a minute Harry answers as he didn't know where they were going "not really, I mean most classes I got a few A's with two EE's with an O in ancient runes which was a lucky shot I am sure just like charms and transfiguration. I also got an O in defence against the dark arts but that isn't new."
Harry thought if he really tries to learn he will get an EE in everything and a few O's probably.
Halfway through the sentence, Daphne groaned as she didn't mean this. Susan said, "Harry, I think Daphne didn't mean that."
Daphne muttered something that Harry barely hears but it sounded a bit like "stupid Potter."
Susan said "Harry what I think Daphne meant is why haven't you forgiven Hermione yet? Before you say anything Hermione doesn't know we are talking to you."
Harry sighed and said, "it isn't that I didn't want to but Ron made a few good points."
Daphne heard that she wasn't looking at Harry and turns around to look at Harry. She put a few steps until she was in front of Harry and slap him that almost sending him off his chair. The slap didn't hurt that much and it was mostly from the shock that Harry jumps up when Daphne hit him again but this time hits his chest hurt because of all the Bludgers that he let hit him so he builds some muscle there and he could withstand the Bludgers but as he was hit almost every two days his chest is sore as is his back.
Daphne was to hit his other cheek but Harry dodge that and when she tries to hit Harry with her other hand to hit the cheek she hit him before Harry grabs her hand and said "I am not here to be hit and hurt. I was nice enough to follow and not leave when I saw you but it seems Slytherins are all just the same, I didn't believe Ron but it seems he was right, but that even you Susan agreed to this if I didn't see it I couldn't believe it. I hope the rest of the years in Hogwarts will be going well as I don't care anymore and don't want to see or talk to you both anymore."
Daphne is for a moment afraid as she sees real anger in his eyes. Harry lets her go and walks towards the door.
Behind him, Susan slapped Daphne against her arm and asks "why did you do that Daphne?"
Harry opens the door and immediately walks away to the Gryffindor tower. Tracey and Megan didn't expect Harry to almost run away. When they see that Daphne and Susan were mad at each other they went after Harry to stop him. When they managed to catch up to Harry in a corridor with only two paintings three turns away from the giant staircase. Megan and Tracey shouted that he should stop. Harry turns around and has his wand pointed at them. When Tracey put one stop on Harry, Harry immediately casts "Expelliarmus" right in front of Tracey.
He said angry "not one step further. The next one isn't a disarmer and I am not going to miss it."
Tracey tries to glare at Harry but she wasn't very good at it as she was the observer while Daphne was the one to glare. When Harry didn't back down Tracey especially when Megan almost dragged her took at least one step back before both Tracey and Megan went back towards the empty classroom.
18th January 1994, empty classroom, 6th floor, Hogwarts
Back in the classroom, Daphne was being scolded by the always kind and nice Susan. Daphne hated herself for what she did but it was a spur of the moment thing.
She thought to herself 'by Merlin why did I do it. It didn't want to hurt him or slap him but Hermione doesn't deserve this and the Weasel convinced Potter, no no it is Harry. He is my future husband, I want that but he hates me now and even worse because of that he hates Susan now too. If nothing chance Harry will hate me and because of that he can break the contract, but he is the best husband I can get and even though he made a mistake I still love him.'
Because of the thought, she gets unshed tears in her eyes and she said "I am so sorry Susan I didn't mean to. I just never thought Harry would listen to the Weasel maybe the Weasel girl or the twins but not Ronald. I don't know what came over me, I wanted to slap his shoulder, not his cheek."
She wanted to cup his cheek and talk to him while looking into his green eyes while on the other hand, she wanted to slap him. As both thoughts went through her head she accidentally slapped his cheek.
Susan also had unshed tears as she had the same thought as Daphne about Harry that he would never love her which could break the marriage contract, but she would always and Susan's marriage contract was only one way. Only she could break it if she couldn't love him. She was so happy but now her chance of happiness was gone sure they would still be married but if she was lucky only one child with Harry or two so her name would continue as she didn't want to make him Lord Bones as he doesn't like her now, she didn't want to give him too much to say in her family.
By the time Tracey and Megan reach the classroom they found a sobbing Susan while she glared at a teary eyes Daphne before they almost fell into each other's arms. After a few minutes, they let go. Daphne said "I need to go. Come, Tracey."
Susan only nodded and said "you can tell Tracey but make sure nobody else knows why we talked to Harry. What she did is okay but don't tell me why she did what she did."
Tracey nodded before leaving and followed Daphne to a bathroom before going to the library and waiting for dinner. Megan asked what happened and when Susan didn't want to say anything Megan said "Susan trust me, please. I know it was about Harry and Hermione, so could you please tell me?"
Susan gave a teary smile and said: "learned that from your niece, Auror trainee Jones?"
Megan said, "she learned me to observe a bit so you could say yes."
Susan said, "okay I will tell you but let's wait for Hannah as I don't want to tell it more than once."
Almost half an hour later Hannah looks in before walking. Susan has said to Hannah that if they were done they would meet at the library otherwise Hannah would come to this classroom. Susan told what happened that made her sob again but she told them at the end when she was sure they were alone and no portraits "I wanted to say earlier but I couldn't with everyone around, but I am betrothed to Harry Potter."
Both girls squealed and Hannah said, "how?"
Before Susan could tell Hannah said, "Sally needs to know this."
Hannah wasn't a blabber, but in their dorm and year, the girls told each other everything. Susan grabbed Hannah's hand and said: "wait, Hannah."
"Harry and I are betrothed through a marriage contract to protect his family line and mine and was drawn up by my parents and his parents. Hannah, I will tell Sally when I can get her alone like this. The marriage contract can be broken by me if I don't love him or care about him. Even if I don't love him I will always care about him, but I know I will always love him even before he saved me, I love him even more after he saved me from Buckbeak. I need to take Veritaserum when I claim it to break it otherwise there would be a large fine and need to offer something else with equal value. Auntie Amelia didn't say that but that is no doubt it."
Susan, Hannah, and Megan waited for a few minutes before leaving the classroom and going to a bathroom to try to mask that Susan has been crying before going to their common room before dinner.
22nd January 1994, Hogwarts grounds
A black dog was walking on the grounds. It was after dinner and he was following a scent. Suddenly he hears a meow and he sees a cat looking at him. The cat is Crookshanks and is part kneazle. Crookshanks walks towards him before rubbing her head against his left leg. Crookshanks takes off and the dog follows.
They quickly enter the forbidden forest. After a short couple of minutes, they enter a small clearing. Crookshanks lies down. The dog wonders why Crookshanks bring him here as Crookshanks clearly wanted him to follow. After almost five minutes a hoot was heard, but that didn't surprise the dog as almost all owls hunt at night and there was a large number of owls nearby. The dog hears a hoot again much closer this time and looks for it. Suddenly a couple of leaves move. The dog looks at the sound of the leaves and sees a beautiful white owl. He looks at the owl and the owl hoots. Crookshanks jumps up and looks like he answered if the owl was questioning Crookshanks.
This goes on for a few minutes until they both stay quiet. In the distance, the centaurs are heard. What none of the animals saw that close by is a large snake that listens. When the snake hears the centaurs coming closer the snake immediately moves to reach one of the underground passages. Which the snake reaches before she is spotted.
The dog barks and the owl listens. A short minute after that the owl kind of nods before the owl takes off. The moment the owl leaves the dog smells the owl smells like Harry not to mention the same owl that came to Harry when he fell off his broom. This must be Harry's owl that is why Crookshanks wanted to follow him. Crookshanks meows and walks back. The dog follows until a few minutes later Crookshanks sits just beyond the reach of the willow. Crookshanks pushes his head to his left foreleg before pushing the dog. He senses that they know why he is here and will try to help him. The dog immediately jumps in the whole before Crookshanks turns around to go to his master that needed him as she was having a hard time.
A few minutes later in the shrieking shack, the dog changes back to his human form and a thin man appears, Sirius Black, he decided to give the owl and Crookshanks a week maybe more before he will go again to find the rat himself. He trusts Crookshanks and the owl but the rat was still his target, not the owl or cat's target. Sirius wait a few minutes before turning back to his dog form and moving to the cave about a mile past Hogsmeade with a great lookout position over Hogsmeade probably filled with dementors and the way from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. The cave is not too warm but warm enough especially if he stayed in his dog form.
25th January 1994, Arithmancy classroom, 6th floor, Hogwarts
Susan and Daphne were friends again after Daphne privately with Tracey, Astoria, Hannah, Megan, and Sally-Anne apologized but Susan and Daphne didn't say that they were betrothed to Harry as Daphne wasn't supposed to let anyone know except Tracey and Astoria. Susan didn't want to say it as Harry didn't acknowledge it and didn't want to surprise him now as she forced him to marry her when their friendship is gone at least for now.
Daphne and Susan saw an even worse Hermione since last week and that made them decide to try to talk to Harry again.
During class Susan again went to Harry and asked "Harry can I talk to you privately after class?"
Harry said, "Miss Bones I am sorry but I have other things to attend to."
Susan said, "oh …. okay."
Susan was starting to get teary eyes again and went back to Daphne, Tracey, and Megan while she shook her head.
Parvati asked, "Harry why wouldn't you talk to Susan?"
Harry said, "I don't want to talk about it but let's just say that she did something that broke our friendship."
Parvati only nodded before she decided to leave the awkward table and look at how her sister was doing the assignment for this class. Daphne knew that no one in her group could convince Harry to talk privately. She noticed Fay was walking around and said to Susan "Susan talk to Fay maybe she wants to help."
Megan said "no we shouldn't get more into problems with Harry. If we lie to him he would get madder than he already is at us. I don't want to make him madder."
Megan blushed a bit that the others didn't notice. Susan said, "I will try as I don't know if she knows."
Susan managed to attract Fay's attention without Harry noticing. Susan said, "Fay I need your help."
Fay asked, "sure what do you need?"
Susan said, "we need to talk to Harry but he won't talk to us if you could invite him to the fourth floor and an empty classroom we can talk to him."
Fay said, "I don't know I am just becoming his friend and I don't want to lie to him."
Susan said "please Fay. We just want to talk to him privately."
Fay asked, "why?"
Daphne was having enough and said "don't you want to help Hermione? The only way to make Hermione herself again is if Harry makes up with her or at least talks to her, but he isn't seeing that or something stops him. We want to make sure that he does that."
Fay said "I agree….. I know I will invite him after dinner to talk on the second floor I know a few empty classrooms there and I will bring Ginny and Ron."
Susan almost shouted "no."
Most look at her but Neville was standing in their sightline of Harry and Hermione hasn't looked up unless a teacher is explaining something or writing on the board. Susan said "don't bring Ron, he is probably the reason why he didn't patch things up with Hermione. Is Ginny on our side?"
Fay nodded "yes the last few days she asks me why Harry hadn't talked to Hermione and that Harry is being too hard on Hermione even though she understands Harry and Hermione. She agrees that Hermione shouldn't have done it but understand that Hermione did it. She tried to encourage Hermione to talk to Harry and try to patch things up but when that didn't work she talked to Harry. Harry wasn't sure but then Ron managed to Harry not to patch things up with Hermione Ginny doesn't know as she was sent away by Ron and Harry was lost in thoughts. She was hurt, she didn't say it but I could see it."
Susan looked at Daphne and Daphne shook her head. After dinner, it would be too difficult to disappear.
Fay saw it too and said "okay I will bring Harry to the fourth floor but you need to go to the third floor quickly as fast as you can. Ginny is having charms right now and is free next hour just like we are."
The class ended quickly after that and Susan nodded to Fay and quickly left. Harry was grabbing his stuff but before he could leave the room Fay asked: "Harry can I talk to you privately?"
Harry's face changed from his tired and worry face when he looked at Hermione's back when she almost immediately leaves the classroom to a smile and said "sure Fay I just need to grab my last stuff."
Harry put the last stuff in his very worn-out bag and followed Fay to the empty classroom she would take Harry as she agreed to with Susan, Daphne, Tracey, and Megan. Neville was also waiting and he said: "Harry do you need me to go with you?"
Harry said, "is that okay Fay?"
Fay said, "normally I wouldn't mind and even enjoy it but not today sorry Neville."
Neville said disappointedly "okay I will see you both later."
25th January 1994, empty classroom 4th floor, Hogwarts
Fay enters with Harry and sees she is the first. She hoped the others would be here fast as she didn't know how long she could stall Harry. She grabs one chair that she put in front of the professor's desk. Harry did notice but thought nothing about it. When he went to get another chair Fay said: "no Harry please sit in that chair."
Fay pointed at the chair she put upfront, Fay decided to ask "Harry, Hermione is feeling bad and she looks worse can you not patch things up?"
Harry said "I want to really because it hurts seeing her like that. It is almost as hard as when she cried or when she was hurt last year. Ron did come up with some good points though and I am still considering what to do but every time I want Ron's words to come back and it stops me or someone stops me. A few times even Professor McGonagall comes to me to say that they haven't found anything but that they weren't done yet."
Fay said, "why don't you go to the library, Ron would certainly not be there and if Professor McGonagall needs you but she sees you there she would certainly not interrupt your studies."
Harry replied, "I thought about it but I didn't want to destroy her happy place with a painful conversation between her and me or that the conversation gets out of hand that she is banned to only get books for class and can't stay like she would like to on most days, afternoons and sometimes evenings."
Fay knew that Harry cared about Hermione a lot and this was the proof, but Harry was only wrong about one thing sure she liked being in the library and it is her happy place but that was only if she wasn't with Harry. She was now mostly there to not let many people see her cry, in bad shape and try to forget about the fight she has with Harry. Hermione's happy place was with Harry.
Fay thought 'Hermione's happy place is getting closer to Harry. In her first year, it was standing beside him, in her second year somehow they touched each other which ended with a hug if this goes on it would be holding thighs looking like a hug but with much more power and passion why doesn't matter and would be a kiss by Yule next year or at the end of our fourth-year.'
Before she could think further the door opens. Daphne, Susan, and Ginny entered the room. Fay also sees Tracey, Megan, and Hannah but Tracey, Megan and Hannah stay outside with their wand drawn at the door she didn't know why when Susan closes the door.
Harry immediately jumps up and said "no, I am going. I said I didn't want to talk to you Miss Bones or you Miss Greengrass."
He looks at Fay and said "Fay, why? I trusted you. I am going goodbye Miss Bones, Miss Greengrass, Miss Dunbar. Ginny, I hope you didn't know about this."
Ginny said "I didn't know Harry. Susan and Daphne asked me if they could talk to me about you and Hermione I didn't know you would be there. I only agreed because there were more Hufflepuffs than Slytherins, no offence Daphne. I know not all are like Malfoy but unfortunately, most are."
Daphne said, "I understand and unfortunately I must agree with that."
Susan said, "Harry please just listen to us you don't have to talk."
Harry wasn't planning to until he felt hope from somewhere. He sees Ginny and when he looks into Ginny's eyes and sees the hope he feels. Before he could think how that was possible Susan again said: "please Harry."
Harry sighed and sat back in the chair he sat in before.
Daphne dropped her whole ice-queen persona for once and said "Po- Harry I am sorry for what happened last time. I didn't want to hit you by slapping your cheek I want to painlessly slap your shoulder but want to grab your head before saying that you needed to make up your own mind. The second slap was a spur of the moment as I was trying to slap you a third time. I am very sorry if I hurt you. I wanted to slap your shoulder as you deserve for hurting Hermione and if you had a little pain so be it as Hermione has probably had much more pain."
Harry sighed before saying "I feel her pain and it hurt a bit."
Harry does really feel her pain and emotions which was new. The pain was intense but Harry has a ridiculously high pain threshold. When Harry says he feels pain even if it is a bit for a normal person it is very painful almost as intense as a 'weak' Cruciatus Curse which is very painful.
The girls didn't think Harry really mean that he feels it but that he can see the pain and that he made her like that was the part why it hurt. That hurt Harry too but he also did feel her, like he felt Ginny's emotion of hope as Hermione is her best friend besides Luna which she spends more time with every week sometimes you barely see her alone at the weekend because she was with Luna.
Ginny, however, did understand what Harry meant as she thought 'is that why I sometimes feel hurt when nothing happened?'
Before she could think more about this year and find the source of the reason Susan was talking again.
Susan said "Harry we understand why you were mad but haven't Hermione been punished enough. I was sure you would apologize within the week and now we are a month further and you still haven't. Why not I asked last time and it looks like you let Ron decide your actions, but like I said this summer Ron is holding you back and now he is holding back your friendship with Hermione and is even hurting her through you, no offence Ginny."
Ginny said "no offence taken. I am also not very happy with Ron at the moment. Believe sometimes I wish he wasn't family or like the twins would say that he should have been adopted. The only thing that proves he is family is his ginger red hair like my family has."
Fay "no Ginny that is not true your hair is so many prettier than Ron has or the twins, but there is one thing that also shows he is family from you. The fast way your family eats."
Ginny said, "thank you for your comment about my hair, but I don't eat anywhere as disgusting as Ron."
Fay said "I don't mean the way he eats I purely mean how fast you can eat. You can eat just as fast as Ron but you still eat properly not like a pig. Even the twins eat proper a bit less than you but still nowhere near a pig, the only ones that come as close to Ron as possible in our year that would be Crabbe and Goyle."
Daphne groaned while she said "please don't remind me. The first few times in my first year I almost threw up. Now I just sit somewhere else as the first two years at least you are suspected to sit with your year mates the closest to the professor's table."
Susan said, "girls we are digressing we are here for Hermione and Harry, not Ronald."
Ginny asked, "Susan why do you call him Ronald and not just Ron right now?"
Susan said, "if I call him Ronald, I happily feel more distance between him and me than if I call him Ron and I want to be as far away as possible from him."
Harry said, "Ron is still my friend."
Susan said "sorry Harry I don't mean it like that. If he is your friend, great but I prefer not to. If I choose a friend from the Weasley family it would be Ginny."
Harry said, "I am friends with both."
Harry felt a surge of happiness especially when he saw Ginny's radiant smile that almost makes him blush but he managed not to.
Daphne said, "we digress again can we just stay on topic."
Susan said "of course. Sorry Harry but why we are here is to ask you to forgive Hermione, hasn't she suffered enough."
Harry said "yes but she broke my trust. She just needed to talk to me to let me decide…"
Ginny said, "because you would have listened to her to make her happy even if you lost your Firebolt as you have now."
Harry just nodded. Fay said, "Harry Hermione just made a mistake …. a lapse in judgment."
Everyone knew from the way how Harry speak that it hurt the most that she broke his trust by going about his back and not talking to him about it, the Firebolt was obviously not the most important part.
Harry sighed and said nothing for a few minutes while the others were just waiting for Harry to speak. Finally, after a few minutes when everything went through Harry's mind he knows he has been foolish, Hermione was the only one that stood by him until now and to a lesser degree was Neville as Ron left him last year after the duelling club fiasco with him being a Parseltongue. Ron didn't call it out on him but he certainly suddenly disappeared until Hermione was petrified at least then he was around all the time.
Harry said "you are all right. I need to patch things up no matter what Ron said. Just give me a few days to think about it."
Daphne said "Harry you can't let Hermione suffer like that. I thought we got through your thick skull when we showed you your small fault even though Hermione isn't blameless."
Harry said "I know, I don't want her to suffer and Daphne as you put it gently you got through my thick skull. I just need a few days to think, I will forgive Hermione I just need some time."
29th January 1994, Quidditch pitch, Hogwarts grounds
Hermione was walking towards the Quidditch pitch and just before she reaches it she sees the black dog again. The dog barks and Hermione slowly walk towards it. She pets the dog when the dog smells her hand which she knows to do even though she is more of a cat person. After the pet the dog whines, not really to be petted again but because Hermione didn't have the scent of Harry anymore while the last time she was almost completely covered in Harry's scent even though it was a little bit faint but definitely noticeable.
Hermione walks into the stand and sits with a few girls about her age the dog (Sirius Black) guess and with a few girls probably younger when red hair brings back memories as he immediately needs to focus to not turn to his human form. That red hair was almost like Lily's hair he hasn't noticed the first time as she wore a hat because of the weather and he was too anxious to see Harry. Sirius wondered if Harry likes her too as most Potter men like red hair it was the curse of the Potters liking red hair and intelligence. Before he could think further he smells Harry and looks at him. He sits with many who are older including the redhaired twins, the three girls that were with them last Hogsmeade and the captain from the Quidditch team. Now he thinks about it, it is the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team except the girl sitting with the captain. It was probably his girlfriend if he must see the looks, the holding hands and whispering in his ear that made him blush sometimes.
Harry was sitting in the stands with the other members of the Quidditch team. Harry was tired. The fight with Hermione drained him including running on the days he didn't train and visiting Medusa and Dobby both in the chamber of secrets. He wanted to make up with Hermione several times but every time Ron said that she made Harry lose the Firebolt. Harry understands Hermione's reasoning, but Ron was also right. The weird part now Ron was much more spending time with Harry. Harry had less time to study but his good grades dropped slightly except in a few classes, but not that he mattered. If he did too good Hermione wouldn't like it as he did everything himself and if his relatives ever found out. They may not know the grades but aunt Petunia probably did.
He was shaken out of his thought when Oliver said: "here they come."
Harry looks and sees that Ravenclaw their next opponent and Slytherin were flying around the pitch before taking their place. At least it seems Malfoy was 'recovered' as he was flying again as did the whole Slytherin Quidditch team, all males on their nimbus 2001.
The match is around 30 minutes underway until both seekers suddenly make a dive before pushing against each other and making turns, going upwards before diving again. If Cho the Ravenclaw seeker grabbed the snitch it would be very difficult for Gryffindor to win the Quidditch cup. Even though for a better chance to win the cup Slytherin needed to win but still everybody from Gryffindor hoped that Ravenclaw wins. The hostility between Gryffindor and Slytherin was at an all-time high because of Malfoy making Harry very hurt besides the normal hostility. There was only one time it was higher was during the rise of Voldemort. There was also a large bit of hostility during the war against Grindelwald but as that happened on the mainland of Europe the hostility was about the same as now probably even a bit less.
The score was 130-40 for Ravenclaw when the seekers went for the snitch. During the chance for the snitch, Ravenclaw managed to score three more times while Slytherin only manages one. Then the snitch was caught by Malfoy of all people and in the end, the score was 200-160 for Slytherin. Oliver tells Harry that because of this if they win from Ravenclaw they would be in second place. If they beat Ravenclaw they needed to defeat Slytherin after that they would probably win the Quidditch math but first Ravenclaw.
Harry said, "I understand Oliver, but with the shooting star I doubt I would be able to come even close."
Hermione heard it that made her hurt more as Quidditch was important for Harry as he liked playing it, he liked flying and Hermione suspect he feels closer to his father when he played even though he has the invisible cloak from his father and pictures of his parent with a couple of Lily pregnant and a couple of James and Lily with baby Harry.
At the end of the game Harry left but before he did he saw two girls from a small distance glare at him and those were Susan and Daphne. When he turns around Ginny stands just a foot away from him and asks "when Harry I thought you would have enough time and if you don't do it soon I will drag you to her and tie you up if I need to and I know a few that would love to help right girls?"
Harry looks to his right side where Ginny looked. He looks to Hogwarts but the girls that were standing there made his blood almost turn to ice. The three vixens and multiple girls from different years, all Gryffindors were standing there. All the girls were nodding or giving a mischievous smiles that made Harry afraid. Harry said "I will I just try to let Ron see reason and Neville helped me a bit with that. Ron at least agreed to try to forget."
Ginny said sarcastically "great" before resuming in a normal voice "then there is nothing to stop you."
Harry nodded before almost running past the girls to catch up with his dormmates while all the other girls laugh when they see an afraid Harry, who fought against the monster in the chamber of secrets and won. Rumours were still going around mostly by the upper years, the story was he just had a small sword like a dagger against a giant compared to other giants and killed it.
Let's end here for now. I didn't get everything I want in the chapter as I already went over my preferred word count like I always do. In the next chapter Harry and Hermione will talk and patch things up, the Firebolt will return and Gryffindor shows Ravenclaw what they are made of while in between Sirius decides to visit the Gryffindor Common Room and dorms.
I changed a few small ones that aren't important right now. They will be important for the later chapter but nothing life-changing at this moment.
Please read and review although PMs are appreciated.